Malo kingi is an Irukandji jellyfish

Irukandji jellyfish

Irukandji jellyfish are tiny and extremely venomous jellyfish that inhabit marine waters of Australia and which are able to fire their stingers into their victim, causing symptoms collectively known as Irukandji syndrome. Its size is roughly no larger than a cubic centimetre...

 named after victim Robert King, a tourist from the United States who died from its sting. It was first described to science in 2007, and is one of two species in genus Malo

Malo (jellyfish)

Malo is a genus of box jellies. It contains two species, Malo kingi and Malo maximus . They were described by the Australian marine biologist Lisa-Ann Gershwin in 2007 and 2005, respectively. Both species are extremely venomous Irukandji jellyfish....

. It has some of the world's most potent venom

Venom

Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...

, even though it is no bigger than a human thumbnail

Thumbnail

Thumbnails are reduced-size versions of pictures, used to help in recognizing and organizing them, serving the same role for images as a normal text index does for words...

. As an Irukandji, it can cause Irukandji syndrome

Irukandji syndrome

Irukandji syndrome is a condition that is induced by venomization through the sting of Carukia barnesi, a species of Irukandji jellyfish, and other cubozoans. The condition is rarely fatal, but if immediate medical action is not taken, within only 20 minutes the victim could go into cardiac arrest...

, characterized by severe pain, vomiting

Vomiting

Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...

, a rapid rise in blood pressure

Blood pressure

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...

, and death.

External links

• Killer jelly named after victim Cairns Post February 26, 2008.