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Physalia physallis, Portuguese man-of-war
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Physalia physallis, Portuguese man-of-war
Portuguese man-of-war painting by Pieter de Bevere. From the Loten Collection (dated 1754-57) held at the Natural History Museum, London
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Media ID 8607492
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10710060
1722 C1781 18th Century Cnidaria Cnidarian Coelenterata Coelenterate Hydrozoa Hydrozoan Jelly Jelly Fish Jellyfish Leptolida Leptolina Leptolinae Loten Man Of War Medusa Jellyfish Medusozoa Physalia Physaliidae Invertebrata Physalia Physalis Pieter Cornelius De Bevere
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This stunning 18th-century illustration by Pieter Cornelius de Bevere depicts the enigmatic and fascinating Portuguese man-of-war, Physalia physalis. The Portuguese man-of-war is not a true jellyfish but rather a colonial hydrozoan, belonging to the class Hydrozoa and order Physaliidae. This complex organism is composed of a floating colony of polyps, known as the float, which is topped by a large, translucent sail-like structure called the pneumatophore. The man-of-war's tentacles, which can reach up to 30 feet (9 meters) in length, are not part of the main organism but rather specialized feeding polyps called leptocodia or leptolinae. The Portuguese man-of-war is native to tropical and subtropical waters around the world and is infamous for its painful sting, which can cause severe pain and even death in humans. The tentacles are armed with tiny, harpoon-like structures called nematocysts, which inject venom into their prey. The man-of-war feeds primarily on plankton and small fish. This exquisite painting, part of the Loten Collection held at the Natural History Museum in London, dates from 1754-57. The intricate details and vibrant colors showcase the beauty and complexity of this remarkable marine organism. Pieter Cornelius de Bevere (1683-1752) was a renowned Dutch botanical and zoological illustrator, whose work was widely published in Europe during the 18th century. His illustrations of various marine species, including the Portuguese man-of-war, were highly regarded for their accuracy and artistic merit.
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