Portuguese man of war (Physalia Physalis) washed up on beach on Cayo Levisa, Cuba, Caribbean showing its gas-filled bladder or pneumatophore

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The man-of-war comprises four separate polyps. It gets its name from the uppermost polyp, a gas-filled bladder, or pneumatophore, which sits above the water and somewhat resembles an old warship at full sail. Man-of-wars are also known as bluebottles for the purple-blue color of their pneumatophores. The tentacles are the man-of-war's second organism. These long, thin tendrils can extend 165 feet in length below the surface, although 30 feet is more the average. They are covered in venom-filled nematocysts used to paralyze and kill fish and other small creatures. For humans, a man-of-war sting is excruciatingly painful, but rarely deadly. But beware—even dead man-of-wars washed up on shore can deliver a sting.

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Size: 6205px × 4236px
Location: Cayo Levisa, Cuba, Caribbean
Photo credit: © Gary Blake / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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