Malo kingi

Malo kingi or the common kingslayer is a species of Irukandji jellyfish. It was first described to science in 2007, and is one of four species in the genus Malo.[1] It has some of the world's most potent venom, even though it is no bigger than a human thumbnail.[2] As an Irukandji, it can cause Irukandji syndrome, characterized by severe pain, vomiting, and rapid rise in blood pressure.

Malo kingi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Cubozoa
Order: Carybdeida
Family: Carukiidae
Genus: Malo
Species:
M. kingi
Binomial name
Malo kingi
Gershwin, 2007

It is named after victim Robert King, a tourist from the United States swimming off Port Douglas, Queensland,[3] who died from its sting.

Anatomy and appearance

M. kingi are Irukandji jellyfish. They are sometimes halo banded, meaning they have halo-like rings encircling their tentacles. They are bell-shaped with light purple nematocyst warts. The bell is transparent, colourless and has height of 31 mm.[1] They also have a frown-shaped rhopaliar niche ostium, perradial lappets that have two rows of warts, palmate velarial canals, and two median lensed eyes. Its primary tentacular cnidae are club shaped. The rhopaliar horns are short, broad, and curved.[1]

Range

M. kingi are local to Queensland, Australia. A very small number of M. kingi are found during the year in late summer and early winter. Non-halo form M. kingi are found more often than the ones with a halo form.[1]

Toxicity

M. kingi are small and inconspicuous, but extremely venomous. This makes it hard for potential victims to see them before they are stung. The death of Robert King is the only proof of their venom being deadly. There have been other incidents of them stinging people. Lisa-Ann Gershwin, an Australian marine stinger advisor, was stung while studying M. kingi. She was stung on both hands, which blistered badly.[1] A week later several layers of her skin peeled off. According to Gershwin, a young girl was also stung and experienced nausea, severe pain, and discomfort.[1] Since there have been different outcomes for people that have been stung, scientists believe that as a M. kingi matures its venom becomes stronger. They also believe that the non-halo forms may be less venomous.[1]

Death of Robert King

In 2002 U.S. tourist Robert King[4] went to Queensland, Australia. While snorkeling he was stung by a M. kingi. King died due to jellyfish sting-induced hypertension and intracranial hemorrhage.[5] His death brought awareness of M. kingi and led to more research being done on them. The species was named in his honor.

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References
  1. Gershwin, L. (2007). Malo kingi: A new species of Irukandji jellyfish (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeida), possibly lethal to humans, from Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa 1659 55-68.
  2. Malo kingi. Science Channel.
  3. "Killer jelly named after victim". Cairns Post. February 26, 2008. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013.
  4. Crew, Becky (7 October 2013). "The Smallest and Deadliest Kingslayer in the World". Scientific American.
  5. Tibballs, James; Li, Ran; Tibballs, Heath A.; Gershwin, Lisa-Ann; Winkel, Ken D. (May 2012). "Australian carybdeid jellyfish causing "Irukandji syndrome"". Toxicon. 59 (6): 617–625. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.01.006. PMID 22361384.
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