New box jellyfish with 24 eyes discovered in Hong Kong

Researchers have discovered a new kind of jellyfish that's a relation of our own tropical stingers - the box jellyfish dubbed the most venomous animal in the ocean.

The tiny cube-bodied jellyfish, measuring about 1.5cm, were found in Hong Kong's Mai Po nature reserve by researchers from the Hong Kong Baptist University.

"This box jellyfish connects the base of its tentacles and its bell with a flat base that looks like a boat paddle, making it distinct from other common jellyfish," Professor Qiu Jianwen from the HKBU Department of Biology said in a video online.

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"Another feature of the box jellyfish is that it has six eyes located on each side of its body."

That adds up to 24, though only two have lenses for focusing, while the other 22 can merely perceive light.

The species was named tripedalia maipensis, after the nature reserve where it was discovered.

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It is the first box jellyfish ever discovered in Chinese waters, and researchers hope it's an indication of undiscovered marine life yet to be found.

It's not yet known if the new species is able to sting humans.

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