The striking YouTube footage of a Portuguese Man o’ War was captured on a beach at Olivenca, Bahia, in Brazil. The stunning clip includes some close-up shots of this unique creature. But what is it doing out of the water, and why does it look like a balloon? Read on to find out.
Why Do Portuguese Man O’ Wars Look Like Balloons?
Air-filled pneumatophores keep Portuguese Man o’ Wars afloat.
©Gonzalo Jara/Shutterstock.com
Portuguese Man o’ Wars belong to the Cnidaria phylum, like jellyfish, and they closely resemble them. However, they are an entirely different type of organism. They belong to the Hydrozoa class and are siphonophores. These creatures are actually colonies made up of genetically identical individuals called zooids, each performing specialized functions.
The structure that resembles a pale blue balloon is called a pneumatophore. It is filled with gas (so, in theory, it can pop), can reach up to six inches in height, and floats on the ocean surface. The pneumatophore resembles the sail of an 18th-century Portuguese warship, which is where the creature gets its name. It has a crest that catches the wind and propels the animal along the surface, while its tentacles (which can be up to 165 feet long) trail beneath the water to catch prey.
Beached Portuguese Man o’ Wars
Portuguese Man o’ Wars would prefer not to be on beaches! This is not their natural habitat, and they cannot survive out of water for long. However, they cannot swim or propel themselves, so they are at the mercy of the winds. When there are strong swells and increased wind speeds, they often find themselves deposited around coastlines. Onshore winds can push Portuguese Man o’ War onto the beaches of Hawaii, sometimes in large numbers, although the frequency and timing of these strandings vary from year to year.
Why Is No One Helping It?
You have to be extremely careful if you try to help a beached Portuguese Man o’ War. They have specialized stinging cells called nematocysts on their tentacles, which can deliver a dangerous sting even if the animal is dead. Tentacles that have ripped off a Portuguese Man o’ War and washed up on a beach can still sting you!
The nematocysts are microscopic capsules loaded with coiled, barbed tubes that inject venom. The venom is powerful enough to kill fish, but it is rarely deadly to humans unless someone has a severe toxic reaction. However, the sting can cause extremely painful welts on your skin. In severe cases, blisters and welts resembling a string of beads may develop. So, if you spot one of these creatures on a beach, the safest approach is to admire its beauty from a distance.
The post Why the Portuguese Man o’ War Looks Like a Floating Balloon appeared first on A-Z Animals.
