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ALARM ON POPULAR BEACHES, A TERRIFYING CREATURE HAS APPEARED: The sting is extremely painful, don't touch it even if it's dead! DANGER LURKS IN THE SHALLOWS! (VIDEO)
The Portuguese man o' war is reappearing along the beaches of the southern United States, from Texas to Florida, carried by ocean currents and winds through the Gulf of Mexico. In some areas, lifeguards have raised red and purple flags to warn swimmers of the presence of dangerous marine organisms.
TL;DR
- Portuguese man o' wars are appearing on US Gulf Coast beaches from Texas to Florida.
- Lifeguards have raised red and purple flags to warn swimmers.
- These organisms are siphonophores, not jellyfish, and are colonies of genetically identical individuals.
- Their tentacles can reach tens of meters in length and contain stinging cells that can paralyze prey.
- Contact with tentacles causes severe pain, burning, and skin changes; the venom remains active even after the organism is on shore.
- The Portuguese man o' war floats passively, propelled by winds, with a part of its body acting like a sail.
- Increased numbers near the coast occur during changes in weather, with stronger winds and favorable currents.
- They are common in tropical and subtropical waters but appear less frequently in the Mediterranean.