Portuguese Man-of-War

Physalia physalis

Explore the Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia physalis) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The Portuguese Man-of-War is a floating colonial hydrozoan found in warm and temperate oceans around Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. Its gas-filled float carries long tentacles armed with stinging cells that capture small animals, and these tentacles can injure swimmers even after washing ashore.

Classification in this archive

Animals › Cnidarians › Hydrozoans › Anthoathecata › Physaliidae › Physalia

Habitat and distribution

Regions in this record: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America

Demonstration note

[DEMO] A Portuguese man-of-war is not one animal but a floating colony of specialised organisms working together.