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Latin Name: Physalia physalis
Species: Marine Invertebrate
Conservation Status: Not Evaluated
The Portuguese Man O’ War is not a single animal but a floating colony of specialized organisms called polyps that work together as one. Its gas-filled float, known as a pneumatophore, measures about 6–12 inches long and keeps the colony on the water’s surface. Long tentacles, called dactylozooids, can stretch up to 100 feet and are lined with stinging cells that capture prey. Gastrozooids handle digestion, while gonozooids are responsible for reproduction. With its translucent, blue-to-violet float, the Man O’ War is often mistaken for a jellyfish but is actually a siphonophore—a collection of organisms living as one unit.
Range & Habitat
This species is found in warm ocean waters around the world, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Caribbean Sea and Sargasso Sea. In U.S. waters, it is most commonly seen near the Florida Keys, along the Atlantic coast, and in the Gulf of Mexico, where it drifts on the surface carried by winds and currents.
Diet
The Man O’ War primarily feeds on small fish, plankton, and other tiny sea creatures. Around 70–90% of its diet consists of fish. Prey that brushes against its tentacles is stung by specialized cells called nematocysts, which inject venom to paralyze the animal before it is drawn in and digested.
Life History
Reproduction occurs seasonally in the fall, when reproductive polyps (gonozooids) release eggs and sperm into the water for external fertilization. The resulting larvae develop into new floating colonies without ever settling on the ocean floor. Peak spawning takes place in fall, and young colonies are most abundant in winter and spring.
Significance
Ecologically, the Man O’ War is an important food source for sea turtles, particularly loggerheads, and is also eaten by some fish and crustaceans. For humans, its sting can cause painful welts, blisters, fever, and occasionally shock, though fatalities are rare and usually linked to pre-existing health conditions.
Threats & How You Can Help
There are currently no known threats to the Portuguese Man O’ War, and it has no special conservation status.
Additional Info
It is the only species in its genus and has limited ability to regenerate damaged parts, which sets it apart from other jellyfish-like species. Scientists continue to debate whether siphonophores like the Man O’ War are among the most specialized or simplest forms of hydrozoans.