Tuesday, May 19, 2026

New Deadly Box Jellyfish Species Found in Singapore

Scientists have found a new type of box jellyfish near Sentosa Island in Singapore. This jellyfish is called Chironex blakangmati.

The researchers from Tohoku University and the National University of Singapore made this discovery. The name blakangmati comes from the Malay words for "Island of Death Behind." This new jellyfish is dangerous. Its sting can kill a human in minutes.

At first, it looked very much like another jellyfish called Chironex yamaguchii. This jellyfish was first seen in Okinawa. People thought they were the same jellyfish for many years.

Lead researcher Cheryl Ames studied this new jellyfish. She noticed it was different from C. yamaguchii. To compare them, she checked an old sample of C. yamaguchii that she had from Okinawa.

Scientists used genetic tests and close examinations to confirm the differences. The new jellyfish does not have pointed canals found in the other three known species. This is how they discovered it is a new type.

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Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON

Accent

discovery/dɪˈskʌvəri/noun
finding something new or not known before

dangerous/ˈdeɪndʒərəs/adjective
likely to cause harm or injury

sting/stɪŋ/noun
a sharp, painful touch from an animal

genetic/dʒəˈnɛtɪk/adjective
related to the genes of a living thing

confirm/kənˈfɝm/verb
show that something is true or correct

species/ˈspiːʃiz/noun
a group of animals or plants that are similar

How much do you know?

What is the name of the new type of box jellyfish discovered near Sentosa Island?
Chironex yamaguchii
Chironex blakangmati
Chironex okinawensis
Chironex smithii
Which universities were involved in the discovery of the new jellyfish?
Harvard University and Stanford University
Tohoku University and National University of Singapore
University of Tokyo and National University of Australia
MIT and Yale University
What does the name 'blakangmati' mean?
Island of Death Behind
Jellyfish of the Sea
Dangerous Creature
Beautiful Guardian
What is a notable characteristic of the sting from the new jellyfish?
It causes mild irritation
It can kill a human in minutes
It is not harmful
It causes instant paralysis
Where was Chironex yamaguchii first seen?
Sentosa Island
Hawaii
Okinawa
Boracay
What did Cheryl Ames use to compare the new jellyfish with C. yamaguchii?
An old sample from Okinawa
Scientific literature
Digital models
Local aquatic life
The new jellyfish was discovered by researchers from only one university.
Chironex blakangmati can be lethal to humans within minutes.
Cheryl Ames is the lead researcher of the jellyfish study.
The new jellyfish has pointed canals found in other known species.
Chironex yamaguchii and Chironex blakangmati were thought to be the same for a long time.
The name 'blakangmati' is derived from Chinese.
The new jellyfish is called blakangmati.
The jellyfish can kill a human in minutes.
The name 'blakangmati' comes from the words for 'Island of Death Behind.'
Cheryl Ames studied the new jellyfish using an old sample from .
Scientists confirmed the differences using genetic tests and examinations.
Chironex yamaguchii was first seen in .
This question is required

Test Your Understanding

Start Quiz
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
Accent
discovery/dɪˈskʌvəri/noun
finding something new or not known before
dangerous/ˈdeɪndʒərəs/adjective
likely to cause harm or injury
sting/stɪŋ/noun
a sharp, painful touch from an animal
genetic/dʒəˈnɛtɪk/adjective
related to the genes of a living thing
confirm/kənˈfɝm/verb
show that something is true or correct
species/ˈspiːʃiz/noun
a group of animals or plants that are similar

How much do you know?

What is the name of the new type of box jellyfish discovered near Sentosa Island?
Chironex yamaguchii
Chironex blakangmati
Chironex okinawensis
Chironex smithii
Which universities were involved in the discovery of the new jellyfish?
Harvard University and Stanford University
Tohoku University and National University of Singapore
University of Tokyo and National University of Australia
MIT and Yale University
What does the name 'blakangmati' mean?
Island of Death Behind
Jellyfish of the Sea
Dangerous Creature
Beautiful Guardian
What is a notable characteristic of the sting from the new jellyfish?
It causes mild irritation
It can kill a human in minutes
It is not harmful
It causes instant paralysis
Where was Chironex yamaguchii first seen?
Sentosa Island
Hawaii
Okinawa
Boracay
What did Cheryl Ames use to compare the new jellyfish with C. yamaguchii?
An old sample from Okinawa
Scientific literature
Digital models
Local aquatic life
The new jellyfish was discovered by researchers from only one university.
Chironex blakangmati can be lethal to humans within minutes.
Cheryl Ames is the lead researcher of the jellyfish study.
The new jellyfish has pointed canals found in other known species.
Chironex yamaguchii and Chironex blakangmati were thought to be the same for a long time.
The name 'blakangmati' is derived from Chinese.
The new jellyfish is called blakangmati.
The jellyfish can kill a human in minutes.
The name 'blakangmati' comes from the words for 'Island of Death Behind.'
Cheryl Ames studied the new jellyfish using an old sample from .
Scientists confirmed the differences using genetic tests and examinations.
Chironex yamaguchii was first seen in .
This question is required

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