JELLYFISH is a beautiful free swimming marine animal. They are bestowed with umbrella shaped bells and trailing tentacles, although a few are not mobile, being anchored to the seabed by stalks. The bell can pulsate to provide propulsion and highly efficient locomotion. Due to climate change, jellyfish are found everywhere. They have no brain, [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] no eyes, no spine, not even blood, but they have a remarkable capacity to reproduce and can pack an impressive sting, both literally and figuratively.
Jellyfish have tiny stinging cells in their tentacles to stun or paralyze their prey before they eat them. Inside their bell-shaped body is an opening, that is their mouth. They eat and discard waste from this opening. The pain comes from venom delivered via millions of microscopic barbs in the creatures’ tentacles. Most jellyfish stings will only have a localized effect on the victim such as redness, swelling, and discomfort where the barbs make contact with the skin.
Some, however, will prompt a systemic, whole body, reaction. These may take several hours to emerge and can include symptoms such as headaches, nausea and drowsiness. In rare cases, the sting can be fatal. This is true of the box jellyfish, which is spreading into waters that had previously been too cool to support it. Its venom causes a severe reaction that can cause death within minutes. [/ihc-hide-content]
