Portuguese man o' war
Portuguese man o' war
Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis), also known as the man-of-war, is a marine hydrozoan of the family Physaliidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its long tentacles deliver a painful sting, which is venomous and powerful enough to kill fish or (rarely) humans.
Pronunciation
- /ˌpɔːrtʃʊˈɡiːz mæn ə ˈwɔːr/
Etymology
The name "Portuguese man o' war" comes from the man-of-war, an 18th-century armed sailing ship and the supposed resemblance of the hydrozoan to the Portuguese version of the ship.
Description
The Portuguese man o' war is not a common jellyfish but a siphonophore, which, unlike jellyfish, is not actually a single organism, but a colonial organism made up of many minute individuals called zooids. Each of these zooids is highly specialized and, although structurally similar to other solitary animals, they are all attached to each other and physiologically integrated to the extent that they are incapable of independent survival.
Sting
The venomous sting, which delivers a toxin to its prey, is also a danger to humans, especially those exposed to multiple stings. Its sting is a severe threat to swimmers, surfers, and divers. In some cases, the sting can result in cardiac arrest and death.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Portuguese man o' war
- Wikipedia's article - Portuguese man o' war
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