portuguese man-of-war

Andale Counters.

Ok, you found it. My introductiory on the Portuguese Man of War. This will help public awareness because I belive it will help others thing twice before entering the ocean waters. Or, at the very least, know what is out there. The pain from this dangerous sea creature is something I will never forget. If you come across somebody who has been stung by one, it's like sharing a war combat story--- you don't have to explain the pain. They remember, even if a long time ago. They pack a powerfull and painful sting-- that's all I can say. And, I respect them.. Just a little quick information:

This stinging animal is called the Portugese Man of War because it looks a bit like a Portuguese battleship with a sail. It's not built like a battle ship. The body is a gas filled float which can be blue to pink in color (it looks like a bag.) It can be anywhere from three to 12 inches (nine to 30 centimeters.) Underneath the float are clusters of polyps which coiled tentacles hang off of. The stinging tentacles can be up to 165 feet (about 50 meters) long. Sometimes the gas bag will flop over in the water but its muscles pull itself back up. The crest above the float is only a few inches tall and acts like a sail. It relies on the wind to move it from one place to another.

Since it has no control over where it goes man-of-wars are often found washed ashore, especially during winter and when the wind is bad. The bag that keeps it afloat must be kept wet. If the bag dries then the Man-of-War dies. To keep it from drying out the animal dips its sail in the water once every so often. When it's in the water, it will use its stinging tentacles to capture small fish, plankton and crayfish. The tentacles paralyze prey by contracting its muscles and then the tentacles can move fairly quickly.

The stings of the Man-of-War aren't just painful to their prey. It can cause some serious pain and effects to people too. This includes fever, shock as well as heart and lung problems. If you're stung by a Man-of-War pick off any visible tentacles, then rinse with fresh or salt water. Put ice on the area. Because you might go into shock it is important to get medical help as soon as possible. The toxins from tentacles are about 75 percent as powerful as cobra venom. Even dead Man-of-Wars stranded on the beach can still sting so don't touch them and keep out of the water if they are present.

Public safety and our beaches is another area that needs to be explored. Warning systems in my opinion are inadequate and beach goers are at risk. I recommend asking the lifeguard what is going on in the area as far as the aquatic wildlife. When you step in the water, you are entering a completely new world. Some of the aquatic wildlife around beach areas is stingrays, sharks, jellyfish, and Portuguese man of war. In other parts of the world, you have to be aware of one dangerous creature called the Box Jelly or Sea Wasp. Mostly found in Australia and parts of the Caribbean, the venom is stronger then the man of war by 700 times. A sting from box jellyfish can cause severe fatalities (death) in about 4-5 minutes.

Other aquatic wildlife or dangerous sea creatures can be the barracuda and moray ell. In Florida, alligators have been found swimming in salt water, needless to say, be on alert in areas of known gator swimmers. The intercostals waterway (ICW) is a connection of mini rivers that allow alligators to traverse between ocean and fresh water. Most people think that the man of war is usually found in warmers climates. This is further from the truth. Anywhere you can find ocean water; you will find the man of war. Of course, they prefer warm waters and in Connecticut where I live, I have been told you can see floating in the sound (Long Island Sound) during the summer months.

Bermuda is one of the first places I encountered a Portuguese man-of-war, that is visual confirmation only--- no skin contact. It was the month of May and the long tentacle buggers were floating in by the hundreds (at our hotel beach area). It was so bad, they had a hotel worker scooping them out and putting them in buckets. One person made contact and ended up in the hospital. That experience stuck in my mind and when I had contact with the man of war, I knew I was in trouble. Bermuda is great on warning signs and marking off swimming areas with nets. However, some get through or people think the creature (some think it is a jellyfish) is cute; not realizing this is not a toy. I remember being in the water and the man of war was bobbing about 10-12 feet from me. My wife told me to get out and stop messing around. Can you believe that!!!. Well, that was about 20 years ago; I am older and wiser now.

In retrospect, I have to say, the marvels of the Portuguese man-of-war is fascinating. The way it propels itself (like a jet engine), feeds and lives. One can only have respect for these fine creatures. Remember, they are not looking for us, they are just swimming along looking for food (small fish to paralyze with its venom, long tentacles and nematocyst ) and bump into one big human; sensing it is in danger. So, then comes the stings and pain. There you have it. Don't blame them, your in there waters.

So, in summary, be aware of your surroundings and the water. Happy swimming!