Ahoy all!
Today I have to prove myself! I have to prove to the Australians that I actually know something about the Great Barrier Reef in order to win “The Best Job in the World.”
I haven’t gone underwater yet, so I better get crackin’! Here are 5 interesting characters that live in and around the Great Barrier Reef:
The Box Jellyfish can have up to 15 tentacles three meters in length, and up to 5,000 nematocysts or “stinging cells”. The Box Jellyfish is possibly one of the most dangerous creatures on the reef. It has the potential to inflict fatal stings to humans. You have virtually no chance of surviving the sting as the pain is so excruciating that you most likely will go into shock and drown before reaching the shore. “Stinger Season” is from November - March.
The Blue Ringed Octopus is about the size of a golf ball with eight arms covered with suckers. The female will carry its young under her arm for 3-6 months and then die. The Blue Ringed Octopus beak can penetrate a wetsuit, and has enough poison to kill 26 human adults in minutes. The blue rings light up on the body when the octopus feels threatened. There is no known antidote.
The Cone Shell looks really pretty with stripes and speckles, but has one of the most potent toxins known to man. Cone Shells have teeth like small harpoons that can penetrate a wetsuit. The poison contains neurotoxic peptides that trigger neurological symptoms such as lack of coordination, vision, hearing and speech.
The Lion Fish has zebra-like stripes and belongs to the Scorpion Fish family. The Lion Fish has venomous fin spines that can cause very painful puncture wounds. Typically, a Lion Fish sting will cause nausea, convulsions and possibly collapse. Fatalities are rare, but recovery may take months. If left untreated, the results of a Lion Fish sting can cause gangrene.
The Beaked Sea Snake is about 1.2 meters long with a special flattened tail for swimming. It has eyes that are black and pointed upwards. The Beaked Sea Snake should be treated with respect, as it has been known to attack divers with no apparent provocation. It is considered to be one of the most poison snakes on earth causing 90% of sea snake fatalities.
Well that about sums it up for today’s dive. You didn’t think that diving in the Great Barrier Reef was all cuddles and snuggles, did you? Stay tuned for up-coming adventures under the sea!
1 comment so far Click to reply »
March 15th, 2009
Hi Marcella:
Interesting post! Although I didn’t see you list ‘Crown-of-thorn’ starfish… it was one of the few things I discovered while researching for BJW, it was quite fascinating & perhaps you can share some w/ your readers in future?
Jessica