Discovery of a deadly species of box jellyfish Chironex indrasaksajiae in Palk Bay, southeast coast of India

Abstract

Abstract The current study documents the occurrence of Chironex indrasaksajia, a potentially deadly box jellyfish species, in Palk Bay. This is the first time a species of Chironex has been discovered along the Indian coast, and up to now, no box jellyfish from the genus Chironex has been documented. As a result, fishermen need to be aware of how to manage stings in an emergency and prevent severe envenomation. Further study on the species distribution around Indian coastal water is required to understand its distribution. This study confirms the westward distribution range of this species from its previously reported area Gulf of Thailand. Among the three species of Chironex, this is the first species reported from Indian waters.