creature feature. box jellies phylum cnidaria; class cubozoa (box jellies) best known for their...
Post on 19-Dec-2015
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Box Jellies • Phylum Cnidaria; Class Cubozoa (box
jellies)• Best known for their extremely
powerful venom• Highest risk period for the box jellyfish
is between October to May
• Abundant in the warm waters of northern Australia and Indo-Pacific
• Global warming is allowing them to inhabit new areas!
Sea Wasp (Chironex fleckeri)• Tentacles are covered in a high
density of nematocysts• Sting causes excruciating pain and
can kill in as little as 3 minutes• Amount of venom in one animal is
enough to kill 60 adult humans• Is believed to be the most
venomous creature in the world• Live on a diet of prawns and small fish • Preyed on by turtles, which are the only creatures
known to be immune to their stings
Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia barnesi)• 2.5 cm (with bell and tentacles) in
diameter• Sting causes symptoms which are
collectively known as "Irukandji syndrome“
• Initial sting is typically mild • Followed, minutes to hours later, by: – Vomiting– Profuse sweating– Headache and agitation– Rapid heart rate and very high blood pressure
• Range in size from 6-12 inches
• Ambush predators• Are primarily
associated with coral reefs
• Venomous dorsal spines are used for defense
• Stings can last for days and cause extreme pain, sweating, and respiratory distress
• Widely used in the aquarium trade
• 2000 -2003, 49 lionfish sightings were reported at 16 different shipwrecks and natural hard bottom locations.
• Summer 2004 NOAA scientists collected 155 lionfish at 19 different locations off the North Carolina coast alone.
• Indicates that the lionfish is reproducing in the Atlantic Ocean
Invasive?
• Released from broken aquariums during hurricane Andrew in 1992
• Released as unwanted pets– Grew too large for tank– Ate other fish in tank
• The Gulf Stream likely transported buoyant lionfish eggs and larvae from Florida northward
Problems• They were not likely to survive long
in the colder waters• Predators and competitors present in
the marine community in the Atlantic are very different from the native range of the lionfish.–May outcompete native
species (ex. Grouper and Snapper)
Saccopharyngiformes
• Order of unusual ray-finned fishes
• Lack several bones, and have no scales, pelvic fins, or swim bladder
• 3-6 feet in length
• Found in all tropical and subtropical seas at depths ranging from 900 to 8,000 m (3,000 to 26,200 ft)
• Lateral line is raised – increases sensitivity
• Due to its specialized body shape, they are poor swimmers
• Relies on the luminescent organ at the tip of its tail to attract prey– Consists of numerous tentacles, which – Glows pink and gives off occasional bright red
flashes– Lunges and snaps up prey
• Mouth is loosely-hinged• Stomach can stretch and expand to accommodate
large meals• Typically eats fish, copepods, shrimp, and plankton
• Reptile• 70 year lifespan• Average 1,000 lbs• Average 13-17 ft in length• Population estimates
range from 200,000 to 300,000 worldwide
• Protected species in Australia
• Cruise at 2 to 3 mph• Swim 15 to 18 miles per hour in short bursts
• Spend the tropical wet season in freshwater swamps and rivers
• Move downstream to estuaries in the dry season• Sometimes traveling far out to sea
• Opportunistic apex predator• Eat pretty much ANYTHING
they want!!
• Prefer to bask during the day
• Hunt at night/dusk
Attacks by Crocs!
• Keep croc areas well posted• Most attacks are fatal• Usually only one or two
attacks• Most unreported attacks
most likely occur in New Guinea