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13132571. Portuguese man o war, Physalia physalis, at sunset
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13132571. Portuguese man o war, Physalia physalis, at sunset
Portuguese man o war, Physalia physalis, at sunset. The gas-filled bladder, or pneumatophore, remains at the surface, while the remainder is submerged. Portuguese man o war have no means of propulsion, and move passively driven by the winds, currents, and tides. Strong winds may drive them into bays or onto beaches. Often, finding a single Portuguese man o war is followed by finding many others in the vicinity. Because they can sting while beached, the discovery of a man o war washed up on a beach may lead to the closure of the beach. Stings from a Portuguese man o war are often extremely painful. They result in severe dermatitis characterized by long, thin, open wounds that resemble those caused by a whip. These are not caused by any impact or cutting action, but by irritating urticariogenic substances in the tentacles. Using its venomous tentacles, a man o war traps and paralyzes its prey while reeling it inwards to the digestive polyps. It typically feeds on small marine organisms, such as fish and plankton. Azores, Portugal Date
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Colonial Copy Diving Jellyfish Jellyfishes Night Poisonous Portuguese Space Sting Tentacles Venomous Vertical Physalia Physalis Siphonophore
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Sunset Surprise - A Portuguese Man o' War's Colorful Adventure!
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. In this breathtaking print captured by Mary Evans Picture Library, we witness the enchanting beauty of a Portuguese man o' war at sunset. As the golden rays paint the sky, this unique creature floats effortlessly on the water's surface, its gas-filled bladder keeping it afloat while its body remains submerged. But don't be fooled by its serene appearance! These fascinating creatures have no means of propulsion and rely on winds, currents, and tides to move around. Sometimes strong gusts even push them into unexpected places like bays or beaches. And guess what? Where there's one man o' war, there are often many more nearby! However, encountering these beach invaders can lead to some serious consequences. Their stings are known to cause excruciating pain and result in long whip-like wounds resembling those caused by a whip. Ouch! No wonder finding a stranded man o' war may prompt beach closures. But let's not dwell on their stingy side too much because these venomous tentacled wonders also play an important role in nature. Using their tentacles as lethal weapons, they trap and paralyze prey before reeling it towards their digestive polyps for a tasty meal of small marine organisms like fish and plankton. So next time you stumble upon one of these captivating creatures washed up ashore or gracefully floating in the sea, remember to admire from afar and appreciate nature's incredible creations!
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