Portuguese man-of-war: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	Physalia physalis • Physalia

Photos

Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis) floating at the ocean surface with long, dark tentacles trailing beneath in clear blue water.

A Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis) with a translucent, bluish float and trailing tentacles rests on sandy beach near the shoreline.

Magnified view of nematocysts, or stinging cells, on a Portuguese man-of-war tentacle, showing oval structures with coiled tubules inside stained in pink and blue.

Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis).

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