The cnidarian phylum is made up of various kinds of aquatic animals that impress with their beauty and their particular features, which differentiate them from other species. Within this group we find the class Cubozoa, which includes species known as box jellyfish, named for their box- or cube-shaped body.
Some of these marine invertebrates have developed powerful poisons that make them deadly, not only to the prey they feed on, but also to humans. In this tab of our site we introduce you to the sea wasp, a type of box jellyfish with one of the deadliest poisons in the ocean. Read on and meet this dreaded animal.
Characteristics of the sea wasp
The characteristic features of the sea wasp are as follows:
- He althy specimens have a cubic-shaped bell, hence one of their common names.
- This bell can be transparent or have a very faint coloration and usually has a diameter between 16 and 24 cm, although some wasps of sea they get to measure much more.
- It is considered one of the largest box jellyfish in existence.
- In each corner of its bell up to 15 tentacles are grouped, so that they add up to at least 60 in the whole body. These structures are fairly light blue in color and can reach lengths of up to 3 meters.
- They lack a brain and central nervous system, however, they have sensory organs made up of groups of eyes that add up to 24. Although these do not work like in other animals, they are known to be able to perceive light and it is estimated that also certain shapes.
- In each tentacle there are millions of nematocysts through which it inoculates its victims with poison. It is highly toxic and lethal even to humans. This makes the sea wasp one of the most poisonous animals in the world.
- The poison causes serious complications in the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems of people, as well as damages in the contact area, and can cause death within a few minutesof the accident.
- It has been determined that, depending on the region where it is found, its poison may have some differences in composition.
Sea Wasp Habitat
The distribution range of the sea wasp includes waters of Oceania, in Australia, and Southeast Asia It may be find specimens in some regions of the Indian Ocean, the Pacific and the Great Barrier Reef. The main habitat is shallow marine waters In the case of some areas of Australia it is common to be in turbid areas.
But when there are storms, these animals go into deeper areas to avoid damage from the movements that occur in the water. On the other hand, the sea wasp can also move towards mangrove channels in one of its reproductive phases. Afterwards, the youngsters will travel back to the sea.
Wasp Customs
Most jellyfish move mainly by the flow of ocean currents, however, the sea wasp is able to swimactively, moving around on their own. During the day it tends to swim more slowly than at night, probably for reasons related to feeding. It usually takes breaks at the bottom of the sea, where it sits without moving unless disturbed. It also resorts to this place when surface waters are affected by natural phenomena that alter its stability.
The absence of a central nervous system limits part of the knowledge about this animal in terms of some of its customs. However, it is known that the sea wasp is attracted to light and tends to avoid dark colored objects. In addition, he can perceive vibrations. It is estimated that communication between individuals of this species takes place mainly chemically.
Sea Wasp Feeding
This cnidarian has a type of carnivorous diet Younger individuals consume mainly shrimp, but as they grow they expand their diet and they also go on to hunt fish and prawns, in addition to including zooplankton. The sea wasp relies on its tentacles to hunt, loaded with large numbers of nematocysts through which releases poison to capture and paralyze its prey Once immobilized and trapped the animal, brings it closer to its bell to start devouring it.
If you are interested in learning more about what jellyfish eat, don't miss our article on what jellyfish eat.
Sea Wasp Reproduction
As is common in other cnidarians, the sea wasp reproduces in two ways, one sexual and the other asexual In the First, adults release sperm and eggs into the water for fertilization to occur. Subsequently, the planula is formed, one of the phases that this animal goes through. The planula looks for a safe place to fix itself to transform into a polyp.
The latter will measure about 2 mm and will be sessile, feeding on zooplankton that it manages to capture with one of its two tentacles. The sea wasp polyp divides asexually to give rise to a small jellyfish after metamorphosing. It will now be able to swim and move to other areas to continue its development.
Sea wasp conservation status
The sea wasp is not considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, so it is not subject to serious dangers. Due to its high levels of toxicity, this jellyfish has almost no natural predators, with the exception of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), which is capable of feeding on this box jellyfish.
