'Deadliest thing we've got': Mysterious new type of box jellyfish appears in Sydney
A Sydney swim club has caught the attention of scientists after stumbling across a potentially new species of box jellyfish.
The mysterious deadly jellyfish was discovered in the waters off Cronulla this week.
The unknown creature has experts working to crack the case, while swimmers are being warned of the possible dangers.
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The mysterious species of jellyfish was discovered in the waters off Cronulla this week. Nine
Launceston biologist Dr Lisa-ann Gershwin said the discovery was an amazing find.
"Those thick tentacles scare the bejeezus out of me because the species with the thick tentacles are the dangerous species," she said.
"(They are) the life-threatening species."
Cronulla swimmer Scott Belcher stumbled across the unknown jellyfish about 800 metres from the shore last week.
Cronulla swimmer Scott Belcher stumbled across the unknown jellyfish last week. Nine
Belcher swims most mornings in Cronulla with swimming group the Shark Island Psycho Swimmers.
"I'm the guy with the camera who just happened to be in the right place at the right time," he said.
"This could be the deadliest thing we've got at Cronulla, I hope not."
However, Gershwin said they couldn't begin to understand how dangerous and toxic it is until they learn what the exact species is.
Gershwin is now working with the Australian Museum to identify the jellyfish.
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