Portuguese Man-of-War

Physalia physalis

This creature sails along on the water surface, changing shape to catch the wind and alter its course. The Man-of-War Fish lives among the poisonous tentacles without harm, acting as a lure to other fish while receiving protection and fragments of food from the man-of-war.

Look For : A floating, balloon-like, translucent jellyfish with an iridescent blue or pink tinge. Tentacles of different lengths, some more than 60' long, containing blue, beadlike stinging cells.

Length : Floating part up to 12" long, 6" high, 5" wide.

Habitat : Ocean surface.

Range : Florida to Texas and Mexico. Driven ashore by storms from Gulf Stream as far north as Cape Cod.