Dangerous Creatures: Portuguese Man-of-War

(Tropical seas worldwide)

   One sting is usually enough to render a victim paralysed. The man-of-war, and relatives like the sea anemone, are well armed.
   They’re closely related. But the jellyfish is a single creature, whereas the man-of-war is an entire colony.
   It starts off as a single polyp, and ends up as a colony of thousands of polyps – and a gas-filled sail. This is the man-of-war.
   A slimy mucous protects the sea cucumber – and, similarly, the little fish that live with the man-of-war.
   Clownfish and sea anemones have an unusual relationship.
   Video: A man-of-war is not just one creature: it’s a whole colony. The gas-filled balloon keeps the colony afloat, while the stinging tentacles below keep it fed.
   Advice: A man-of-war’s tentacles can sting long after the creature is dead. So don’t touch any part of a man-of-war that you might find on a beach.

Next: A man-of-war looks harmless, but it has a very painful sting. Similarly, a tiny blue-ringed octopus may look like a toy, but it has a deadly bite.