by Ramasamy Santhanam (Author)
Seas and oceans cover 71 % of the earth’s surface and they are home
to 80% of all life found on the planet . Among the different components
of marine life, the phylum Cnidaria (formerly Coelenterata) has been
reported to be responsible for more envenomations than any other marine
phylum. It is believed that 2% of its known 11000 species are venomous
to humans. Incidents caused by jellyfish are common all around the
globe, with serious manifestations and occasional deaths reported in
some countries. The Australian box jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri ,
has been reported to be very dangerous to humans, as contact with its
tentacles can provoke immediate cardiovascular collapse and death within
minutes. Though other volumes on venomous marine fauna are
available, this is the first comprehensive book focusing on venomous
marine cnidarians. It is a valuable text-cum-reference resource for
researchers, teachers and students of various disciplines, including
fisheries science, marine biotechnology and marine biology and for
university and college libraries. It is also a useful guide for
beachgoers, divers, physicians and environmentalists.
