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TWO NEW SPECIES OF TOXIC JELLYFISH (WITH NOT TENTACLES) FOUND IN AUSTRALIA

A giant and extremely venomous jellyfish found off West Australia's north-west coast has researchers stumped because it appears to have no tentacles.

The Keesingia gigas is one of two new species of irukandji jellyfish recently discovered by Marine Stinger Advisory Services director, and jellyfish expert Lisa-Ann Gershwin.

While irukandji jellyfish are normally only the size of a pinky fingernail, the Keesingia gigas species is the length of an arm and believed to cause the potentially-deadly irukandji syndrome. The condition can cause pain, nausea, vomiting and in extreme cases, stroke and heart failure.

The two new species bring the total number of jellyfish believed to cause irukandji syndrome worldwide to 16 and

Researcher said the species could shed its tentacles as a means of defence, like some bioluminescence jellyfish who drop their glowing tentacles in order to distract predators, but there was no evidence that any irukandji had that capability

Photo Keesingia gigas by Image courtesy John Totterdell/MIRG Australia.