Portuguese Man O' War (Physalia utriculus)

Also known as Bluebottle, Bluebottle Jellyfish, Fullsail Jellyfish, Indo-Pacific Portuguese Man-of-War, Man-of War, Pacific Man-O-War, Sailing Jellyfish, Stinging Bluebottle, Stinger

Description

Also known as Bluebottle, Bluebottle Jellyfish, Fullsail Jellyfish, Indo-Pacific Portuguese Man-of-War, Man-of War, Pacific Man-O-War, Sailing Jellyfish, Stinging Bluebottle, Stinger.

Found sometimes in huge numbers, near the surface, drifting in bays, estuaries, lagoons and out in the oceans, moving with the currents, winds and tides, where they are often blown ashore in bad weather. They have long tentacles hanging down in the water, it is these tentacles that carry the venom and can deliver powerful stings. A few of it's predators are The Blue Sea Slug - Glaucus Atlanticus, Blanket Octopus, Ocean Sunfish and Loggerhead Sea Turtles.
They feed on fish and zooplankton.
Length - 15cm
Depth - Surface
Widespread Indo Pacific

Portuguese Man O' War are often found with the fish Nomeus gronovii - Man-of-war fish and the sea slug Glaucus atlanticus - Atlantic Glaucus:- http://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/atlantic-glaucus/1984
They drift along with them feeding off their tentacles!

These are not true jelly fish they are Siphonophore a colonial organism made up of zooids.
Jellyfish are 95% water.
They have no heart, brain, blood, or gills. The body of the Jellyfish is called a bell. They do have a mouth, tentacles and arms around their mouth. They use their arms around their mouth to help sense and find food that ends up inside their mouth. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_man_o%27_war

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