New box jellyfish species documented in PH waters

New box jellyfish species have been documented in the Philippines, which scientists noted as a vital contribution to the country’s growing database of marine biodiversity.

Through on-site observation, the first Philippine records of the box jellyfish species Alatina alata, Carybdea cuboides, Malo sp., and Morbakka virulenta were documented.

The researchers also confirmed new records for Copula sivickisi and Malo filipina, which are types of Irukandji jellyfish, a tiny and extremely venomous type of box jellyfish.

“These discoveries enhance our understanding of where carybdeid box jellyfish—many of which can potentially cause Irukandji syndrome—occur and how widely they are distributed,” the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science said in a statement.

Dr. Sheldon Rey Boco of the Philippine Jellyfish Stings Project, one of the scientists behind the study, said examining box jellyfish is important since they are part of the marine food chain, and “their presence or absence can indicate the condition of marine ecosystems.”

“Many carybdeids [a type of venomous jellyfish] have venom strong enough to send people to the hospital. Figuring out how that venom works could lead to better treatments and save lives,” Boco said.

On-site observations are done using high-resolution underwater photography and videography, with citizen science initiatives that were verified through digital authentication.

The marine researchers conducted several blackwater dives over open water from 2017 to 2021 and in 2024 as part of their documentation.

However, one of the challenges they faced was verifying if the images were genuine.

“With artificial intelligence now capable of creating convincing fake jellyfish pictures, we treated each submission like evidence in an investigation,” Boco said.

The team examined metadata, lighting, water conditions, and anatomical details in the photos and videos to confirm authenticity.

Boco also said his team aims to make citizen science more convenient for participants.

“This way, more participants can contribute quickly, and we still gather the key data needed for solid research. We also want to improve our nighttime blackwater dives,” Boco said.

He added that his team also aims to conduct more on-site experiments to learn more about the jellyfish's behavior, movement, and environmental conditions in real time.

They hoped to predict where these jellyfish species would appear in the future.

The study is titled “New and first records of carybdeids including Irukandji box jellyfish (Cnidaria: Cubozoa; Carybdeida) in the Coral Triangle (the Philippines).” —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News