Strange Quark Today

Meet the Irukandji Jellyfish, a really tiny but dangerous and fatal Jellyfish. This one cubic centimeter jellyfish is found in the ocean waters around Australia, inducing a condition known as Irukandji syndrome. Two different types of Irukandji Jellyfish exist, Carukia Barnesi and Malo Kingi. Irukandji syndrome was first documented in 1952 by Hugo Flecker, named after the Irukandkji people who inhabit the coast just north of Cairns, in Queensland. The first species of Irukandji Jellyfish, Carukia Barnesi was identified by Dr. Jack Barnes in 1964. Wanting to prove that this jellyfish had caused these symptoms, Dr Barnes stung himself by it along with his son and a local life guard. [...]

The Lion’s Mane jellyfish has the distinction of being the largest jellyfish known to man. The largest specimen on record had a bell shaped body with a diameter of 7 feet 6 inches and its tentacles were 120 feet long. It was definitely longer than a blue whale and is considered to be the longest animal known to the world. [...]