Common names

Size

1-2cm diameter, can get to 10cm

High risk months

Picture courtesy of Patrick Hamilton

Distributions

Tropical Australian waters north of Agnes Water Queensland, all Northern Territory waters and Western Australia south to Exmouth. Different species may occur coastally and on the reefs and island; at times they may occur in epidemic proportions close to shore. Irukandji stings are occassionally reported in subtropical and temperate regions of the world, including Moreton Bay, Fraser Island, Sydney and Melbourne.

Description

Originally attributed to just one small sized jellyfish (Carukia barnesi), this term is now used to encompass a group of small to medium-sized carybdeids (box jellyfish with just one tentacle in each corner).

Size and appearance

Small transparent box jellyfish, one to two centimetres in diameter, usually never seen: some newly described species may be larger (up to 10 centimetres).

Symptoms and Signs

This jellyfish causes an initial minor skin sting followed 5—40 minutes later by severe generalised muscular pain, headache, vomiting and sweating. The sting from some species can cause very high blood pressure that may be life threatening. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as Irukandji Syndrome.

First Aid

Call for help — Dial 000 for Ambulance
Emergency care — CPR if needed
Treat the sting — Pour vinegar onto sting
Seek medical aid — Transport to hospital

Fact Sheet 3 — irukandji

Download Fact Sheet (.pdf | 169kb)