Other Free Encyclopedias :: Animal Life Resource :: Jellyfishes, Sponges, and Other Simple Animals

Box Jellies: Cubozoa - Behavior And Reproduction, Sea Wasp (chironex Fleckeri): Species Account - PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, BOX JELLIES AND PEOPLE, CONSERVATION STATUS

SEA WASP (Chironex fleckeri): SPECIES ACCOUNT

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Box jellies have a cube-shaped body, or bell, also called an umbrella. The mouth is inside the bell. Tentacles are attached to each of the four lower corners of the bell. Some box jellies have several tentacles attached to each corner, and others have only one tentacle at each corner. A structure near the base of the bell contains one balance organ and six eyes.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Box jellies live in warm coastal waters worldwide.

HABITAT

Box jellies live over sand just above the sea bottom during the day and move toward the surface at night.

DIET

Box jellies eat fish and crustaceans (krus-TAY-shuns), which are water-dwelling animals that have jointed legs and a hard shell but no backbone.

BOX JELLIES AND PEOPLE

Box jellies are often known as "killer box jellies," although only one type, the sea wasp, is lethal to humans.

KNOW YOUR STINGER

Although it keeps undischarged box jelly stingers from firing, vinegar stimulates stinger firing from other jellyfish.

DEADLIEST

The sting of a box jelly can kill a person in thirty seconds. The venom from one sea wasp can kill sixty adults.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Box jellies are not threatened or endangered.