“The scientific quest to identify and defend against a tiny but deadly Australian marine killer: the nearly-invisible Irukandji box jellyfish”

For decades, emergency rooms in northern Australia struggle to treat a medical enigma.
During the summer, swimmers and divers from around the world experience mysterious symptoms after exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Sweating, vomiting, muscle cramps and pain beyond measure… sometimes even death. Yet on their bodies there is hardly a scratch. Some doctors believe it's a heart attack, others drowning.

This documentary takes a scientific look at the nearly invisible predator, the Killer Jellyfish. Barely the size of a human finger nail, how can something so small affect so many lives?

In Australia, 2001 and 2002 were the deadliest years on record, but is the worst yet to come? Nets are able to keep out larger species but not irukandji. Killer Jellyfish documents the symptoms of two scientists who get apparently trivial stings by sea wasps and have days of agonizing pain.

One of the most pernicious examples of the dangerous box jellyfish is the thumbnail-sized irukandji or ‘sea wasp’. The poison emitted by its nematocysts is the most potent known in the animal kingdom. The instantly fatal nature of the poison is an important part of the box jellyfish's feeding strategy.

The creature sounds so bizarre that it seems alien, yet it thrives off the Australian coast without many people ever seeing them.

This DVD is accompanied by a beautifully illustrated 24-page hardback reference book. Watch the close-up wildlife film and at the same time read the book to learn about habitats, diet, life cycle and more. The book is packed with intriguing facts, illustrations, photography and a 'Test your knowledge' quiz.

For a preview of this documentary watch the YouTube clip at the bottom of this page.

English narration by Sean Pertwee
Directed by Richard Fitzpatrick
Produced by Brett Shorthouse for Digital Dimensions (2006)
As seen on Animal Planet.

 To watch a pre-view of this DVD please visit YouTube or watch it at the bottom of this page