Physalia physalis

(Portuguese Man-of-War)

Size

Float length: reaching 30cm (12"). Tentacle length: reaching 20m (65')

Recognition Characters

Large, gas-filled chamber that floats on surface of water. Extremely long tentacles extend underneath float.

Color

Bluish purple to translucent purple

Habitat & Depth

Float on surface of ocean.

Distribution at GRNMS

Rare. Small specimen seen on surface.

Geographic Range

Wide Circumtropical distribution. Eastern and Western Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans

Behavior & Notes

Synonyms

References

Ruppert and Fox 1988