Interactions

With Humans:

One of the most frightening interactions this box jellyfish has is with humans. When this occurs, we hear on the news how a jellyfish attacked a person. However, these jellyfish are not the ones doing the attacking. Instead, it's usually the human doing the 'attacking' on the jellyfish. Chironex fleckeri is known to swim away from dark objects, including human figures in the water. Therefore, when a victim is stung, it's because they entered the jelly's habitat too quickly and didn't allow them time to swim away. In many cases, it's because the victim accidentally brushed up along their tentacles flowing meters behind the actual bell of the individual. With nearly 90 documented kills in the past century, and many life-threatening stings recorded every year, this species is not one that you want to mess with.

 If the human skin comes in contact with this species, excruciating pain occurs immediately and causes the victim to feel a searing, burning sense. It's almost like being branded by a hot iron. Along with this pain, the victim  is continuously struggling to relieve their body of the tentacles. With this increased movement, the venom is absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream and travels up to the heart much faster, causing the life-threatening conditions to occur more rapidly to the victim. To learn more about this box jelly's venom visit the Facts page!

 

With Aquatic Animals:

Along with humans, these jellyfish interact with other animal species as well. This species is a predator of numerous fish and crustacean species in their general habitat. When fully grown, the Chironex fleckeri hunts down their prey and attacks them with their venomous stinging cells. Along with fish and crustaceans, they are also predators of shrimp and other small invertebrates living in the ocean. However, sea turtles pose an issue for any individual of this species. The turtle's thick, leathery skin and dense shell don't allow the jelly's cnidocytes to sting them. Because of this, some sea turtle species can prey on this species of box jellyfish, turning the tides on this highly venomous species.

 

 

 

 

To continue learning about this box jellyfish, visit the Facts page.

 

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