1. Classification
Order corallimorpharia: Corallimorphs very coral-like, but they do not secrete a skeleton
phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Radially arranged tentacles or pseudo tentacles, if present. The most popular varieties contain symbiotic zooxanthellae,

2. Discosoma (=Actinodiscus) nummiformis blue form from Indonesia
Discosoma (=Actinodiscus) nummiformis blue form from Indonesia. To keep this bright blue color they require strong illumination.

3. Discosoma (=Actinodiscus) nummiformis blue pinstripe form from Indonesia. These don't require as much light as the solid blue form.

4. Types Corallimorpharians are found in all oceans
tropical to polar & shallow to deep waters
Most common types six genera: Actinodiscus, Rhodactis, Discosoma, Amplexidiscus, Psuedocorynactis and Ricordea
Psuedocorynactis are rare, orange ball corallimorph are the most photographed

5. Discosoma (=Actinodiscus) nummiformis Red form from Indonesia
Discosoma (=Actinodiscus) nummiformis Red form from Indonesia. These fluoresce brilliantly under blue or green light.

6. Discosoma sp. from Indonesia.

7. Characteristics
Resistant to disease, & extremely competitively dominant
Nothing seems to settle near corallimorpharians,
Never seen anything able to take over space occupied by corallimorpharians

8. Discosoma carlgreni from Florida

9. Discosoma neglecta photographed at Riverbanks Zoo and Aquarium

10. Characteristics
Co-existence with other species is possible, but the corallimorpharians never seem to "lose a battle
Only animals able to resist nearby settlement & competition by Aiptasia anemones. For this trait alone, they must be admired!

11. Amplexidiscus fenestrafer was photographed on a reef slope in the Solomon Islands each polyp is 10 inches in diameter

12. giant green metallic mushroom from Indonesia is an undescribed Rhodactis sp

13. Characteristics
Coelenterates are animals classified in the phylum of aquatic invertebrates, which is responsible for more envenomations than any other marine phylum
Almost 9000 species of coelenterates exist; approximately 100 are toxic to humans

14. orange Ricordea yuma.

15. Colorful varieties of Ricordea yuma from Indonesia

16. Ricordea yuma are beautiful
Ricordea yuma are beautiful. This solitary specimen was photographed in deep water in the Solomon Islands
Anemone shrimp

17. Characteristics
Coelenterates have a gastrovascular cavity with a single opening, which functions for both digestion and circulation
Another feature is the presence of stinging cells called nematocysts

18. Characteristics
The phylum is divided into 4 major classes, as follows:
Hydrozoa (Portuguese man-of-war, fire corals)
Scyphozoa (true jellyfish)
Cubozoa (box jellyfish)
Anthozoa (sea anemones)

19. Disease Severe rash and itching or pain
Unset in 1st 12hrs, may be able to penetrate lycra wet suit
Nematocysts are poison mechanism

20. Portuguese man-of-war
The Portuguese man-of-war is a free-swimming organism with tentacles hanging from the float (ie, main body)
Two species of Portuguese man-of-war exist
The larger species, Physalia physalis, lives in the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean Sea

21. Types
The smaller species, Physalia utriculus, lives in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The tentacles may be 100 feet long and may contain as many as 1 million nematocysts
Even detached tentacles are a hazard on the beach because they are capable of releasing venom for several weeks
Two confirmed deaths caused by P physalis have been reported

22. Types
The fire corals Millepora typically are encountered off the Florida Coast and in the Caribbean
The hydroid corals are sessile creatures that attach to rocks, coral, seaweed, or pilings
Mild stinging sensation occasional burning pain and lymphadenopathy

23. Types
In US the true jellyfish are the most common species causing envenomation
The sea nettles Chrysaora & Cyanea are located along the Atlantic coast, with a high concentration near the Chesapeake Bay
Envenomations caused by scyphozoans are less severe than those caused by the Portuguese man-of-war

24. Types Box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri
Sea wasp Chiropsalmus quadrigatus are the most toxic marine organisms
Found in northern Australian waters but not in North American waters

25. Types
Sea anemones and the corals are sessile creatures, and the anemones found within the US tidal zones have minimal toxicity
Corals are important components of living reefs, and the risk of infection from a coral cut is of greater concern than its toxic effects

26. Pathophysiology
Most toxins contain a complex mixture of polypeptides and proteins, including catecholamines, histamine, hyaluronidase, fibolysins, kinins, phospholipases, and various hemolytic, cardiotoxic, and dermatonecrotic toxins

27. Pathophysiology
The toxin of coelenterates is located in the nematocysts. Only toxic organisms have nematocysts capable of penetrating the human skin and releasing the toxins.

28. Pathophysiology
Nematocysts are present on the outer surface of the tentacles or near the mouth
Nematocysts are contained within the cnidoblast or the outer capsule
Cnidocil (ie, trigger point) is on the external surface of the cnidoblast and can be triggered by mechanical or chemical stimuli. A hollow, coiled, sharply pointed, threaded tube containing venom is at the base of the cnidocil.

29. Mortality/Morbidity:
Fatal envenomations caused by the box jellyfish occur in tropical waters of northern Australia
At least 63 deaths have been documented

30. Disease
The most common presentation is a painful papular-urticarial eruption. Lesions can last for minutes to hours, and the rash may progress to urticaria, hemorrhage, or ulceration.
Ocular contact has resulted in conjunctivitis, chemosis, corneal ulcerations, and lid edema.

31. Disease
Chronic reactions include keloid formation, hyperpigmentation, fatty atrophy, contraction, and vascular spasm. Uncommon local reactions include angioedema, recurrent reaction, contact dermatitis, and papular urticaria

32. Disease: Sea bathers' eruption
Sea bathers' eruption is an intensely pruritic maculopapular eruption developing on skin that has been covered by swimwear. It probably is caused by the larvae of thimble jellyfish (Linuche unguiculata). A rash develops approximately 24 hours after exposure and may last 3-5 days.
Systemic reactions include headache, malaise, fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle spasm, pallor, respiratory distress, hemolysis, and acute renal failure.

33. Irukandji syndrome
Ingestion of jellyfish has resulted in abdominal pain, cramping, and generalized urticaria.
Irukandji syndrome (consisting of backache, arthralgias, myalgias, vomiting, sweating, pyrexia, tachycardia, dyspnea, and hypertension) may occur after envenomation by the small jellyfish (Carukia barnesi). Although the systemic reaction can be significant, the sting is frequently not visible.

34. Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
Carukia barnesi has a single retractile
tentacle, from 50 to 500 mm long,
hanging from each of the four corners
of its bell.
image by L. Gershwin
Small jellyfish approx 2cm diameter bell, responsible for an unusual
and dramatic syndrome observed following stings in northern
Australia, especially north Queensland
Irukandji is the name of an aboriginal tribe that once lived in the
area around Cairns in north Queensland.
Unlike Chironex fleckeri (Box Jelly Fish), Irukandji are found
mostly in the deeper waters of the reef, although they may
be swept inshore by prevailing currents
Divers and snorkellers are particularly at risk

35. Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
Stings have occurred from Childers to Broome, and a similar syndrome has been described elsewhere in the Pacific.
Greater than sixty people are hospitalized with this potentially fatal syndrome
Initial sting is usually not very painful

36. Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
5-45 (avg 30) minutes after being stung, severe backache or headache & shooting pains in their muscles, chest & abdomen
Nausea & vomiting, anxious, & restless, HBP
Rare cases pulmonary edema potentially fatal if untreated

37. Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
1964, Dr. Jack Barnes spent several hours in a wetsuit lying in the water near Cairns searching for a jellyfish responsible for “irukandji syndrome”
To Dr Barnes' delight, a thumbnail-sized jellyfish swam past his mask

38. Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
He stung himself, his son and a surf life saver to check that the jellyfish he had caught was responsible for 'irukandji syndrome‘
All three ended up in hospital
For Dr Barnes' dedication, the tiny jellyfish was later called Carukia barnesi

39. Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
In January 2002, a tourist swimming near Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays died after being stung by a jellyfish
His death was reported by the press to have been caused by an irukandji
58-year-old man had a pre-existing medical condition that made a jellyfish sting fatal
He had a valve replacement and was taking warfarin to thin his blood
After he was stung, his blood pressure increased which caused a brain hemorrhage leading to his death. 

40. Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)
Treatment with narcotic iv and anti-emetics
Topical vinegar & shaving or scraping skin
Supportive iv fluids and electrolytes

41. Chironex fleckeri
15 tentacles
On each or 4
corners
Up to 9 tentacles
On each of 4
corners
Does not cause
Irukandji synd
Chiropsalmus