SINGAPORE: Scientists from Japan and Singapore have identified a previously unknown species of box jellyfish in Singapore waters, a discovery they say sheds new light on marine biodiversity in the region.
The newly identified species, named Chironex blakangmati (C. blakangmati), was discovered by researchers from Tohoku University and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Their findings were published in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.
At first, the jellyfish appeared almost identical to other members of the Chironex genus. However, genetic testing revealed that it was in fact an entirely distinct species.
Researchers later confirmed the finding through a detailed morphological analysis, which found several physical characteristics unique to C. blakangmati that are not present in other known Chironex jellyfish.
The species was discovered in waters around Sentosa Island, which was historically known as Pulau Blakang Mati, Malay for “Island of Death Behind,” inspiring the jellyfish’s ominous scientific name.
Cheryl Ames of Tohoku University and the university’s Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC) said the species initially resembled Chironex yamaguchii, a jellyfish she had previously discovered in Okinawa during her master’s studies.
