It’s typically called the Portuguese man o’ war, but its proper name is Physalia physalis. The man o’ war appears to be a jellyfish but is actually a siphonophore, meaning it’s not a single creature but many minute individuals living together. Each individual creature, called a zooid, is highly specialized for a specific purpose essential for the survival of the entire organism and are incapable of surviving independently.
The animal usually lives near the surface of the Pacific and Indian oceans and is moved by the wind, tide, and currents because it is incapable of propulsion. The man o’ war is made up of four types of polyp. One makes the gas-filled bladder, known as the sail, and allows the creature to float. The other three are clustered and make up the tentacles, which can reach up to fifty meters or 165 feet long.
These tentacles are responsible for catching fish and other marine creatures and stinging them with venom until they die. Once the man o’ war has killed its prey, it drags the body into digestive polyps that break down the animal and digest it for nutrients. Although it appears to be one organism, when studied closely this amazing creature is an excellent example of the breadth of natural cooperation for survival.
