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To date, only five specimens of this species have been found with halo bands, four at Mackay and one at Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia
However, many more specimens of the non-halo form have been found from Port Douglas to Townsville and far out on the reefs and islands (Hartwick Collection, unpublished).
Specimens of M. kingi were found in very small numbers throughout the year, but were most abundant in late summer and early winter.
Swimmers, divers, and other water sports enthusiasts in particular should give this cube jellyfish a very wide berth as a precaution.
The regular name Malo kingi tells us little at first, besides the Irukandji jellyfish, Carukia barnesi, one of the most poisonous jellyfish in all the world's oceans, the cube jellyfish is also said to cause Irukandji syndrome in humans after contact with the tentacles and can kill people, see description of the species by Dr. Lisa-ann Gershwin.
Symptoms:
Severe poisoning occurs with very severe pain in the upper body, violent vomiting, and oxygen deprivation due to pulmonary edema, and in special cases, death of the human.
The particularly treacherous thing is the tiny size of the cube jellyfish in the animal kingdom, the small jellyfish with their long tentacles covered with stinging cells can hardly be recognized in time.
With its stinging cells, the jellyfish kills its potential prey, tiny shrimp and fish fry, in a very short time.
An antidote for humans who have had contact with the cube jellyfish does not exist.
Etymology.
This species was named in honor of Robert W. King, the second person in history proven to have died from Irukandji syndrome. Irukandji syndrome died; Bob had no preexisting conditions and presumably died Bob had no preexisting conditions and presumably died of toxin-induced hypertension resulting in multiple intercranial hemorrhages.
The nematocysts on his body and clothing (Huynh et al. 2003) are consistent with those for this species.
The coming decades will prove that his unfortunate death and his partner's efforts, not in vain, were a significant turning point in knowledge of the Irukandji and in efforts to manage them.
It is for this second reason in particular that I am pleased to honor Bob King by naming this species.
However, many more specimens of the non-halo form have been found from Port Douglas to Townsville and far out on the reefs and islands (Hartwick Collection, unpublished).
Specimens of M. kingi were found in very small numbers throughout the year, but were most abundant in late summer and early winter.
Swimmers, divers, and other water sports enthusiasts in particular should give this cube jellyfish a very wide berth as a precaution.
The regular name Malo kingi tells us little at first, besides the Irukandji jellyfish, Carukia barnesi, one of the most poisonous jellyfish in all the world's oceans, the cube jellyfish is also said to cause Irukandji syndrome in humans after contact with the tentacles and can kill people, see description of the species by Dr. Lisa-ann Gershwin.
Symptoms:
Severe poisoning occurs with very severe pain in the upper body, violent vomiting, and oxygen deprivation due to pulmonary edema, and in special cases, death of the human.
The particularly treacherous thing is the tiny size of the cube jellyfish in the animal kingdom, the small jellyfish with their long tentacles covered with stinging cells can hardly be recognized in time.
With its stinging cells, the jellyfish kills its potential prey, tiny shrimp and fish fry, in a very short time.
An antidote for humans who have had contact with the cube jellyfish does not exist.
Etymology.
This species was named in honor of Robert W. King, the second person in history proven to have died from Irukandji syndrome. Irukandji syndrome died; Bob had no preexisting conditions and presumably died Bob had no preexisting conditions and presumably died of toxin-induced hypertension resulting in multiple intercranial hemorrhages.
The nematocysts on his body and clothing (Huynh et al. 2003) are consistent with those for this species.
The coming decades will prove that his unfortunate death and his partner's efforts, not in vain, were a significant turning point in knowledge of the Irukandji and in efforts to manage them.
It is for this second reason in particular that I am pleased to honor Bob King by naming this species.
