Fun fact: this is not a single animal.
This Portuguese Man O’ War (Physalia physalis) is a colony of animals
called a siphonophore. Although it resembles a jellyfish, the PMOW is
comprised of a colony of four types of separate polyps, called zooids.
Although they are individual animals, these zooids are so specialized
that they cannot live without each other. The large, gas filled float at
the surface of the water is made of an
individual polyp called a pneumatophore. Generally translucent and
usually tinged with a beautiful purple, pink or blue hue, the float can
be up to 15 cm high. The feeding tentacles are made of polyps called
gastrozooids, the defensive/prey tentacles are made of polyps called
dactylozooids, and the reproductive part of the PMOW is made of polyps
called gonozooids. Amazingly, the tentacles can grow as long as 165
feet.
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/
http://
Photo credit: http://www.speciesblog.com/
Fun fact: this is not a single animal.
This Portuguese Man O’ War (Physalia physalis) is a colony of animals called a siphonophore. Although it resembles a jellyfish, the PMOW is comprised of a colony of four types of separate polyps, called zooids. Although they are individual animals, these zooids are so specialized that they cannot live without each other. The large, gas filled float at the surface of the water is made of an individual polyp called a pneumatophore. Generally translucent and usually tinged with a beautiful purple, pink or blue hue, the float can be up to 15 cm high. The feeding tentacles are made of polyps called gastrozooids, the defensive/prey tentacles are made of polyps called dactylozooids, and the reproductive part of the PMOW is made of polyps called gonozooids. Amazingly, the tentacles can grow as long as 165 feet.
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/
http://
Photo credit: http://www.speciesblog.com/
This Portuguese Man O’ War (Physalia physalis) is a colony of animals called a siphonophore. Although it resembles a jellyfish, the PMOW is comprised of a colony of four types of separate polyps, called zooids. Although they are individual animals, these zooids are so specialized that they cannot live without each other. The large, gas filled float at the surface of the water is made of an individual polyp called a pneumatophore. Generally translucent and usually tinged with a beautiful purple, pink or blue hue, the float can be up to 15 cm high. The feeding tentacles are made of polyps called gastrozooids, the defensive/prey tentacles are made of polyps called dactylozooids, and the reproductive part of the PMOW is made of polyps called gonozooids. Amazingly, the tentacles can grow as long as 165 feet.
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/
http://
Photo credit: http://www.speciesblog.com/
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