|
|
Stinging Mechanism
Last Updated: 08/16/2010
|
All jellyfish have the ability to sting with specialized organelles called nematocysts.
These are essentially capsules full of poison expelled through a microscopic lance. When triggered by contact with prey or a predator, pressure inside the nematocyst builds as high as 2,000 lb/in2, causing the lance to spring out, pierce the skin and inject the poison. Contact with a jellyfish tentacle delivers millions of stings and the venom from some species is so toxic it can kill a person in minutes. Jellyfish would be very vulnerable to predation if they did not have nematocysts as a defense mechanism. Their only natural predators are a few species of fish and sea turtles that are immune to the stings.Jellyfish species vary in their ability to sting people. Although all jellies have nematocysts, only the venom from some species is potent enough to inflict pain on people. The Australian sea wasp has some of the most potent venom of any animal on the planet and has killed dozens of people on record. Conversely, the jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake in Palau have evolved out of their ability to sting. Tourists flock to this lake in order to swim with the jellyfish.
The Jellies Zone provides detailed pictures and descriptions of nematocysts
Tags:
jellyfish sting, nematocyst, stinging cells, jellyfish tentacle, nematocysts, jellyfish sting remedy, jellyfish sting treatment, jellyfish kills fish, jellyfish attacks fish, jellyfish eats fish, jellyfish killing fish, jellyfish attacking fish, poison
|
|
