⚙️ how
How Do Jellyfish Sting?
oceansanimalsbiology
Quick Answer
Jellyfish sting using cells called cnidocytes, which fire microscopic harpoon-like threads that inject venom in a fraction of a millisecond.
The Full Story
Jellyfish tentacles are lined with thousands of stinging cells, each containing a capsule called a nematocyst. Inside is a tightly coiled, hollow thread under high pressure. When touched, or triggered by chemicals, the capsule fires the thread outward with enormous acceleration, piercing the skin and injecting venom. This is one of the fastest movements in biology. Most jellyfish stings are mild for humans, but the Australian box jellyfish can be deadly.
Key Facts
1.Nematocyst discharge happens in less than a microsecond in some studies.
2.Box jellyfish have up to 15 tentacles on each corner, each up to about 3 metres long.
3.Vinegar is used on box jellyfish stings to stop unfired stinging cells discharging.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The fastest harpoon in nature: inside a jellyfish sting."