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What the sources say

Irukandji JellyfishCarukia barnesi

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Irukandji Jellyfish profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 44 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Courtney, Browning & Seymour 2016

Courtney, Browning & Seymour (2016). Early Life History of the 'Irukandji' Jellyfish Carukia barnesi. PLOS ONE.

The page saysOpen water around coral reefs and islands
The source saysthe medusae stage is considered oceanic, planktonic, has been found around coral reefs or islandsNote: stats.habitat
The page saysoff north-eastern Australia
The source saysthey are present along the north-eastern coast of Australia from Lizard Island to Fraser IslandNote: stats.habitat
The page saysA 2016 study says the bell height reaches up to 35 millimetres
The source saysCarukia barnesi is a small species in the family Carukiidae with a bell height of up to 35 mm
The page saysthe tentacles up to 1.2 metres
The source saystentacles up to 1.2 m longNote: The 2015 study gives up to 750 mm; the body attributes 1.2 m to the 2016 study only. ADW's '50 to 500 nm' is a unit slip and is not used.
The page saysThe medusa, the free-swimming jellyfish stage, is present in north Queensland waters between November and May.
The source saysThis species is present in north Queensland waters between November and MayNote: 'the free-swimming jellyfish stage' glosses medusa; juveniles are medusae too, so not 'adult'
The page saysIt is present along the north-eastern coast of Australia from Lizard Island to Fraser Island.
The source saysthey are present along the north-eastern coast of Australia from Lizard Island to Fraser Island
The page saysThe medusa is considered oceanic and planktonic, and has been found around coral reefs or islands.
The source saysthe medusae stage is considered oceanic, planktonic, has been found around coral reefs or islands
The page saysIn a lab study, most fertilised eggs developed into larvae called planulae that paused for between six days and six months before hatching.
The source saysmost eggs developed to an encapsulated planula stage and then paused for between six days and six months prior to hatching as ciliated planulaeNote: 'most eggs' in the source; planula glossed as larva
The page saysIn the same study, the hatched larvae settled and turned into polyps.
The source sayseventually settled and metamorphosed into primary polyps
The page saysMature polyps budded off swimming polyps from their sides.
The source saysMature polyps reproduced through asexual reproduction via lateral budding producing ciliated swimming polypsNote: 'from their sides' glosses lateral
The page saysA polyp that made a medusa was left behind, still able to reproduce asexually.
The source saysMedusae production for this species was in the form of monodisc strobilation, which left behind polyps able to continue asexual reproduction.
The page saysA newly detached lab medusa had a bell height of 0.33 to 0.80 millimetres.
The source saysdetached medusae were positively phototactic, congregated on the surface of the containers, and had a bell height that ranged between 0.33 to 0.80 mm

Source
02

Courtney et al. 2015

Courtney et al. (2015). Prey Capture Ecology of the Cubozoan Carukia barnesi. PLOS ONE.

The page saysA box jellyfish that fishes for larval fish by twitching its tentacles like lures.
The source saysduring light conditions, this species extends its tentacles and 'twitches' them frequently. This highlights the lure-like nematocyst clusters in the water column, which actively attract larval fish that are consequently stung and consumed.Note: tagline
The page saysCrustaceans when young
The source saysJuvenile C. barnesi feed predominantly on crustaceansNote: stats.diet
The page sayslarval fish as an adult
The source saysAdult Carukia barnesi medusae feed predominantly on larval fishNote: stats.diet
The page saysTwitches its tentacles like fishing lures to draw in larval fish
The source saysthis species extends its tentacles and 'twitches' them frequently. This highlights the lure-like nematocyst clusters in the water column, which actively attract larval fishNote: stats.superpower
The page says*Carukia barnesi* is a small box jellyfish.
The source saysCarukia barnesi is a small (approximately 20 mm bell-width), oceanic, planktonic Carybdeid
The page saysA 2015 study gives its bell, the jelly body, as approximately 20 millimetres wide.
The source saysCarukia barnesi is a small (approximately 20 mm bell-width)Note: 'bell-width' read as the width of the bell; 'the jelly body' is a gloss
The page saysFour tentacles hang from the four corners of the bell.
The source saysThis species has four tentacles in total and each extends from a pedalia attached to each corner of the bell.
The page saysEach carries clusters of stinging cells in an alternating pattern of large and small.
The source saystentacles ... have an alternating pattern of large and small nematocyst clustersNote: nematocyst = stinging cell
The page saysAdults use those clusters as bait.
The source saysthis species extends its tentacles and 'twitches' them frequently. This highlights the lure-like nematocyst clusters in the water column, which actively attract larval fish
The page saysIn a tank, in light, the jellyfish extends its tentacles and twitches them.
The source saysduring light conditions, this species extends its tentacles and 'twitches' them frequently
The page saysThe average twitch rate in the light was 6.3 twitches per minute, and no twitching was recorded in the dark.
The source saysThe average twitch rate during the light was 6.3 twitches per minute however no twitching was recorded during the dark.
The page saysLarger animals twitched their tentacles more often than small ones.
The source sayslarger animals 'twitch' their tentacles more frequently than small specimens
The page saysThe clusters attract larval fish, which are then stung and eaten.
The source saysactively attract larval fish that are consequently stung and consumed
The page saysIt has four sets of six eyes, which is typical among cubozoans, the box jellyfish group.
The source saysCarukia barnesi have four sets of six 'eyes', which is typical among Cubozoans
The page saysOne pair in each set are complex eyes with a cornea, a lens and a retina, though how sharply they see, and what they are used for, is unknown.
The source saysa pair of complex eyes that each has a cornea, a lens, and a retina [ 24 , 29 , 36 , 37 ]. However, the acuity and use of these eyes is unknown.Note: 'how sharply they see' glosses acuity
The page saysYoung jellyfish feed predominantly on crustaceans.
The source saysJuvenile C. barnesi feed predominantly on crustaceans
The page saysAdults feed predominantly on larval fish.
The source saysAdult Carukia barnesi medusae feed predominantly on larval fish
The page saysIn light, the jellyfish twitches its tentacles about 6.3 times a minute
The source saysThe average twitch rate during the light was 6.3 twitches per minuteNote: vibe.reason
The page saysshowing off lure-like clusters of stinging cells that attract larval fish
The source saysThis highlights the lure-like nematocyst clusters in the water column, which actively attract larval fishNote: vibe.reason

Source
03

Pereira et al. 2010

Pereira et al. (2010). Intracerebral hemorrhage and death after envenoming by the jellyfish Carukia barnesi. Clinical Toxicology.

The page saysA 2010 case report describes the death of a healthy 44-year-old man stung while swimming in north-eastern Australia.
The source saysA 44-year-old healthy male was stung while swimming in NE Australia. ... This is the first case of a death because of Irukandji syndromeNote: abstract only (publisher 403)
The page saysHe developed Irukandji syndrome, then a bleed inside the brain.
The source saysHe rapidly developed Irukandji syndrome. He had a rapid deterioration in conscious level because of an intracerebral hemorrhage.
The page saysThe authors call it the first death from the syndrome where Carukia barnesi was shown to be the cause.
The source saysThis is the first case of a death because of Irukandji syndrome where the jellyfish Carukia barnesi has been demonstrated to the causative creature.

Source
04

Huynh et al. 2003

Huynh et al. (2003). Severity of Irukandji syndrome and nematocyst identification from skin scrapings. Medical Journal of Australia.

The page saysCairns Base Hospital records for the year from July 2001 to June 2002 showed 128 patients with marine stings, and 116 of them had Irukandji syndrome.
The source saysA retrospective case series of 128 patients, identified from Cairns Base Hospital emergency department records with discharge diagnoses of marine stings between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002. ... 116 patients retrospectively identified with marine stings had Irukandji syndrome.Note: abstract only (publisher 403)
The page saysSkin scrapings from 50 patients were checked, and 39 held stinging cells consistent with Carukia barnesi.
The source saysOf 50 patients who had skin scrapings, 39 had nematocysts consistent with Carukia barnesi.

Source
05

Underwood & Seymour 2007

Underwood & Seymour (2007). Venom ontogeny, diet and morphology in Carukia barnesi, a species of Australian box jellyfish that causes Irukandji syndrome. Toxicon.

The page saysIn one study, tentacle venom from young and mature animals showed different protein bands.
The source saysSodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed differences in protein banding of tentacular venom between immature and mature animals.
The page saysThe authors link that to the shift from invertebrate prey in young jellyfish to vertebrate prey in mature ones.
The source saysThis correlates to a change in diet from invertebrate prey in immature C. barnesi medusae to vertebrate prey in mature medusae.

Source
06

Tibballs et al. 2012

Tibballs et al. (2012). Australian carybdeid jellyfish causing 'Irukandji syndrome'. Toxicon.

The page saysIrukandji syndrome is linked to this jellyfish, and other small Australian box jellyfish may be linked to it too.
The source saysThe Australian carybdeid jellyfish associated with Irukandji syndrome is Carukia barnesi, (Barnes' jellyfish). Other Australian carybdeid jellyfish that may be associated with the syndrome include Carukia shinjuNote: carybdeid glossed as box jellyfish; 'may be associated' kept as 'may be linked'
The page saysThe sting behind it is characteristically relatively minor.
The source saysThe syndromic illness, resulting from a characteristic relatively minor stingNote: syndrome-scoped, as in the source
The page saysThe syndrome develops after about 30 minutes and consists of severe muscle pains, especially of the lower back, muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, agitation and high blood pressure.
The source saysdevelops after about 30 minutes and consists of severe muscle pains especially of the lower back, muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, agitation, vasoconstriction, prostration, hypertensionNote: 'high blood pressure' glosses hypertension; the source's vasoconstriction and prostration are left out
The page saysIn severe cases there can be acute heart failure.
The source saysin cases of severe envenomation, acute heart failure

Source
07

Ramasamy et al. 2005

Ramasamy et al. (2005). The in vivo cardiovascular effects of the Irukandji jellyfish (Carukia barnesi) nematocyst venom and a tentacle extract in rats. Toxicology Letters.

The page saysEnvenoming by *C. barnesi* may produce life-threatening Irukandji syndrome.
The source saysEnvenoming by Carukia barnesi may produce life-threatening Irukandji syndrome.

Source
08

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Carukia barnesi. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysNot Evaluated
The source sayshas not been given special conservation status. ... IUCN Red List Not EvaluatedNote: stats.conservationStatus. The prefetch (2026-10-11) found no Red List assessment DOI: GBIF holds no category for Carukia barnesi, so no IUCN reference is cited. ADW lists the species as Not Evaluated (page last updated 2012).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.