Don’t Get Boxed In The Open Water
Dr. Angel Yanagihara of the Pacific Cnidaria Research Lab and the Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology in the Pacific Biosciences Research Center in Honolulu, Hawaii shared her extensive knowledge of some of the most venomous creatures in the world:There are over 40 species of box jellyfish or cubozoans. These are divided into the Carybdeidae and the Chirodropidae.
The Carybdeidae have only four tentacles, one on each pedalia while the Chirodropidae have up to 15 per pedalia or 60 total.
In Hawaii, there are only carybdeids. Only one species, Alatina moseri (previously reported as Carybdea alata) comes up from the deep ocean with lunar cyclic periodicity 8-10 days after the full moon. In contrast to the case of Alatina, the smaller carybdeids, these animals feed every night.
There are a number of carybdeids that come to the surface to feed approximately 70 minutes after sunset or at nautical twilight. In either case, these animals are present year round.
Scary…
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Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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