cubozoan

Cubozoan refers to a member of the class Cubozoa, a group of cnidarians widely known as box jellyfish or sea wasps. They are distinguished by cube-shaped medusae and some of the most potent venoms in the marine environment. Box jellyfishes inhabit warm and tropical seas and are capable of rapid stings that can cause severe pain, cardiovascular collapse, and death in extreme cases.

Anatomy and senses: Adult cubozoans have a roughly cubical bell with four corners from which tentacles or clusters of nematocysts extend. The bell is thin and transparent, and the animal blends with the water column. Around the margin are sensory structures called rhopalia, each housing image-forming eyes with lenses, as well as balance organs. The animals possess cnidocytes containing nematocysts for prey capture.

Life cycle: They have a metagenic life cycle with an obligate polyp stage and a free-swimming medusa stage. Polyps reproduce asexually by budding to form ephyrae, which mature into adults. Mature medusae reproduce sexually to release planula larvae, which settle to form new polyps and continue the cycle.

Distribution and ecology: Cubozoans are most common in warm, shallow coastal waters across tropical and subtropical regions, though some species extend to temperate areas. They are carnivorous, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and other planktonic animals, using their venomous tentacles to capture prey and deter predators.

Taxonomy and notable species: Cubozoa is divided into two orders, Chirodropida and Carybdeida. Notable species include Chironex fleckeri, one of the most venomous known marine animals, and Carukia barnesi, a source of box jellyfish envenomation studies.