User:Peytonw27/Box jellyfish

Lead
'The scientific name of the box jellyfish is Cubozoa'' and it is invertebrate that has an average life span of 1 year. The box jellyfish can average up to 10 inches wide and 10 feet long and weigh up to 4.4 pounds. The toxin found in the box jellyfish has a toxin which is one of the strongest to be found in nature. The box jellyfish venom contains toxins which will attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells if ever used in an attack. Survivors of the sting can have experiences of considerable pain that can last up to weeks in this often leaves significant scarring from where the tentacles have made contact.'''

Age and growth

It has been found that the statoliths, which are composed of calcium sulfate hemihydrate, exhibit clear sequential incremental layers, thought to be laid down on a daily basis. This has enabled researchers to estimate growth rates, ages, and age to maturity. Chironex fleckeri, for example, increases its inter-pedalia distance (IPD) by 3 mm (1⁄8 in) per day, reaching an IPD of 50 mm (2 in) when 45 to 50 days old. The maximum age of any individual examined was 88 days by which time it had grown to an IPD of 155 mm (6 in).

'''The life cycle between other jellyfish and the box jellyfish are similar. The adult jellies which are called medusas will release eggs and sperm into the water. The sexually mature medusa will develop planula which our cells group together after fertilization. This will soon develop into a polyp which are sessile and small and look like a living ball with two tentacles. What’s the polyp has developed into a small medusa it will travel from freshwater rivers to the seat. Once it has reached to see the mature box jellyfish will grow until it reaches its full size of 16 to 24 cm .'''

Behavior
The box jellyfish actively hunts its prey (small fish), rather than drifting as do true jellyfish. They are capable of achieving speeds of up to 1.5 to 2 metres per second or about 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).

The venom of cubozoans is distinct from that of scyphozoans, and is used to catch prey (small fish and invertebrates, including prawns and bait fish) and for defence from predators, which include the butterfish, batfish, rabbitfish, crabs (blue swimmer crab) and various species of turtle including the  hawksbill sea turtle and flatback sea turtle. It seems that sea turtles are unaffected by the stings because they seem to relish box jellyfish. '''There are more predators of the box jellyfish which also include the mega mouth shark which can grow to be 18 feet long. Another is the Greenland shark which is a large stocky fish that has a torpedo like body and will swallow the entire prey. The osmeriforms species consume the poisonous tentacles of box jellyfish and is one fish that feeds on stinging cells of a box jellyfish.'''

First aid for stings

Although commonly recommended in folklore and even some papers on sting treatment, there is no scientific evidence that urine, ammonia, meat tenderizer, sodium bicarbonate, boric acid, lemon juice, fresh water, steroid cream, alcohol, cold packs, papaya, or hydrogen peroxide will disable further stinging, and these substances may even hasten the release of venom. Heat packs have been proven for moderate pain relief. The use of pressure immobilization bandages, methylated spirits, or vodka is generally not recommended for use on jelly stings.

'''It should be known when dealing with a sting from a jellyfish the person should avoid touching or compressing the staying. It should also be known that the person should avoid rinsing the area with freshwater since the application of this substances could make the sting worse.'''