The Portuguese Man O' War is a unique looking sea creature with bright blue, pink, and purple colors on its translucent body that one can easily mistake for a floating plastic bag in the water.
Well, please don't touch it.
While its sting is not often fatal, it can result in red welts on the skin, muscle cramps, the urge to vomit, and an increased heart rate. In rare cases though, it can lead to a full cardiovascular collapse that can lead to death.
Terengganu Fisheries Department director Ruzaidi Mamat has said that four Portuguese Man O' Wars were found at Pantai Kelulut and Pantai Pulau Kerengga in Marang, Terengganu, Malaysia.
"There may still be other jellyfish along the coast and monitoring is under way. Visitors are advised to immediately report to the department if they come across this jellyfish," he said.
"Even though the jellyfish is dead, people are advised not to touch the carcass as it is still poisonous and very dangerous. If stung, immediately go to a nearby clinic or hospital for treatment."
Why are they appearing now?
The phase of the Northeast Monsoon season contributes to this. The Man O' War does not swim; it moves according to the currents and tides as it floats along the water's surface. When the wind is strong, it can result in them washing up on the beach.
This isn't the first time Malaysia has had a visit from these creatures. In February 2020, these creatures were spotted on three beaches in Terengganu, and the public was advised to avoid going into the water lest they get stung.
Very similarly, beach visitors have now been advised to practice caution while on the beach and in the water. Even if the Man O' War has been washed up and dead, it is still very dangerous.
Jellyfish or not?
While it is often called a jellyfish, the Portuguese Man O' War (Physalia physalis) is actually a species of siphonophore, which is closely related to jellyfish. A siphonophore is made up of a colony of specialized, genetically identical individuals known as zooids or polyps.
A Man O' War consists of four main polyps, each with their own function. The first one is the pneumatophore, which is the gas filled float that gives it its distinctive bubble shape that can go up to 15 centimeters (5.9 inches). It also allows them to have some form of buoyancy control; when the Man O' War feels threatened, this airbag atop will deflate, and it can briefly sink into the water. The other polyps are the gastrozooids (the feeding tentacles), the dactylozooids (the capturing tentacles), and the gonozooids (the reproductive tentacles).
Scary sea creature with a cool name.
The Portuguese Man O' War gets its name from its resemblance to an 18th-century Portuguese warship at full sail. These epically named creatures float around in the ocean, sometimes alone, sometimes in legions, and are definitely a sight to behold.
Just don't get near it, okay?
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Cover image sourced from SoyaCincau and Bernama / Free Malaysia Today.
