Common Name
Portuguese Man O' War
Scientific Name
Physalia physalis
Description
Although commonly thought of as a jellyfish, a Portuguese Man O’ War is actually a siphonophore—a colony of specialized polyps and medusoids.
The Man O' War has no means of propulsion and is pushed by the winds and the current. The balloon-like float is filled with air and changes shape to catch the prevailing wind. The bladder must stay wet to ensure survival; every so often it may roll slightly to wet the surface of the float. To escape a surface attack, the pneumatophore can be deflated allowing the Man O' War to briefly submerge.
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