Despite thier appearance, the Portugese Man O' War is not a Jellyfish, instead they are a siphonophore, a colony of specialised cells that are combined together to create a single, deadly entity. The upper, gas-filled sac acts as a sail, allowing the winds to direct the Man O' War across the water and keep them afloat. This gas bladder contains a mixture of carbon monoxide, nitrogen, oxygen and argon. If threatened, this sail can be deflated allowing the organism to submerge. The tentacles can reach up to 50 m in length, and each bears stinging, venom-filled nemocysts. These entangle, sting and kill small fish and other sea creatures, which are then dragged up into the main body to be consumed.
Being stung by a Man O' War is a painful experience, with serious side effects such as fever, shock and interference with heart and lungs.
No comments:
Post a Comment