The Portuguese Man of War is a jellyfish that can ruin your holiday. Why is the “Portuguese man-of-war” dangerous? Portuguese Man of War meaning in nature

A jellyfish sting is very unpleasant and cruel. Jellyfish are armed with nematocysts. Upon contact with the tentacle, millions of nematocysts penetrate the skin and inject venom. But only the venom of some species causes an adverse reaction in humans.

Effects range from mild discomfort to severe pain and death. Most jellyfish stings are not fatal, but box jellyfish (Irukandji jellyfish), such as sea wasps, can become lethal by causing anaphylaxis (a form of shock). In the Philippines alone, jellyfish kill between 20 and 40 people a year.

Peculiarities

The Portuguese man-of-war has a close resemblance to the jellyfish and is actually a siphonophore. It is essentially a colony of tiny individual organisms working in tandem as a “single” organism (kind of like coral reefs).

Their tentacles can grow up to 50 meters long, longer than a blue whale!

In most cases, the jellyfish sting itself is not fatal, although the venom sometimes interferes with the functioning of the heart or lungs, and can potentially lead to death.

Most Portuguese man-of-war sting deaths are actually caused by the swimmer panicking and drowning while trying to swim to shore.

These ocean dwellers cannot move on their own. They are swimming in large groups, where the wind and currents accept them.

Dangerous, but very beautiful

If you were asked to talk about the most dangerous animals on earth, you would probably start the story by describing stereotypical killing machines such as lions, tigers, bears (ouch!), sharks, crocodiles, alligators, other large animals with scary teeth and claws.

Because these animals have long been associated with danger and, of course, they should be taken seriously. Nature, however, is complex. Not all dangers are obvious.

In fact, many of the most dangerous animals on earth you wouldn't even think to be afraid of until it's too late.

Claws, razor-sharp teeth are certainly scary, but Mother Nature has provided some sea ​​creatures much less obvious weapons, also deadly (if not more): poisons and toxins.

There are countless animals that release toxins into their victims in order to incapacitate them.

For some it is a way to obtain prey, others use it as a means of self-defense. Either way, the results for the victim are the same - excruciating pain and death.

In Thailand - Naithon, Nai Yang and Layan. The reason for the emergency measure was the invasion of poisonous physalia, the bite of which is dangerous to humans.

Physalia, or, as it is also called, Portuguese man of war — close relative jellyfish, but it's not a real jellyfish. Physalia belong to very primitive invertebrate organisms - siphonophores. In fact, it is a floating colony consisting of many polyps that perform a specific role. Some get food, others process it, others are responsible for reproduction, and others are responsible for protection. All polyps together are a whole organism.

The most common type of physalia is the Portuguese man-of-war. It received this name because of its bright color and shape, reminiscent of the sail of a medieval Portuguese ship. From the gas-filled swim bladder, short digestive organs- gastrozoids. Behind them are spirally twisted movable tentacles - dactylozoids. In most physalia they reach 10-20 cm; in the Pacific physalia, one of the tentacles, the so-called lasso, can reach 13 or more meters in length. At the ends of each tentacle there are poisonous stinging cells. When the fish stumbles upon them, the poison from the capsules paralyzes the prey, and the tentacle pulls it towards the mouth.

Why are physalia dangerous for humans?

In contact with the physalia, a person can receive a large, painful burn. Blisters appear on the victim's skin, lymph nodes become enlarged, sweating increases, nausea appears, and it becomes difficult to breathe. A victim of a bite may experience swollen or numb arms or legs. If the tentacles touch the spine, this can lead to paralysis, which is deadly when swimming in a pond.

In physalia washed ashore, the poison retains its properties. Even a dried tentacle that lands on the beach as a result of a storm causes irritation and an allergic reaction.

Where are physalia found?

Physalia are found in the tropical Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, off the Hawaiian Islands and off the coast of southern Japan. Portuguese ships often fall into the Gulf Stream and are carried by this current into the English Channel to the shores of England and France.

What precautions should you take?

If while swimming in the sea you see a boat approaching, you should immediately swim away from it, it is better to go ashore.

You should be careful in the physalia habitat area and on the beach. If a storm has recently passed, the wind can easily carry the poisonous tentacles of physalia along the coast. This phenomenon is called “purple rain”.

If you are bitten, consult a doctor immediately.

Many people have encountered a jellyfish at least once in their lives. This meeting was not pleasant for everyone, since some species sting upon contact with the skin, that is, they leave burns, and often very painful ones. The Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish, among other things, is also famous for this.

A little about jellyfish

Probably most people have encountered these organisms in one way or another. They are absolutely extraordinary and fascinating in the water, but on land they don’t look so impressive. We are talking about jellyfish - a stage of development of some organisms. They may look very different, but they also have something in common, so that even those who see them for the first time will be able to recognize them quite easily: they are often almost transparent and resemble a dome or parachute in shape.

There is a huge variety of jellyfish living in different parts planets, so you can collide with them both on southern resort, and in northern latitudes. Usually most of them are not too dangerous, although such a neighborhood can hardly be called pleasant when you want to swim in the warm sea. There are also several species traditionally classified as jellyfish, which are extremely dangerous to humans. "The Man of Portugal" is one of the most serious of them. At the same time as its beautiful and unusual form, it is terribly poisonous. What kind of jellyfish is this?

"Portuguese man-of-war" - where does this name come from?

She really is very beautiful. swim bladder unusual shape, iridescent in the light, purple on top and turning blue below, long threads of tentacles. From the water, it may not be visible at all to those who are focused on something else. You can also mistake it for a rubber cap or a soap bubble, especially when you see it for the first time.

But do not be deceived by the beauty demonstrated by the “Portuguese man-of-war” - this jellyfish is in second place in terms of danger to humans. But where does this come from? unusual name? Physalia - and this is what this creature is called scientifically - looks like the sails of a military Portuguese ship, bright and noticeable.

Description and features

The "Portuguese man-of-war" jellyfish, a photo or drawing of which almost everyone has probably seen in a textbook on a school subject." The world", - this, strictly speaking, is not one creature, but a whole colony belonging to the order of siphonophores.

A transparent bubble up to 30 centimeters in size, visible above the water, is filled with gas and serves to support the creature on the surface of the water, and also to some extent acts as a rudder. Below it, the siphosome is asymmetrically located - bundles of processes that perform certain functions to ensure the life of the colony. The “Portuguese boat” moves due to the current and wind, without taking any independent action due to the lack of appropriate organs.

This creature has long tentacles that can reach 50 meters when extended. And at the same time, they are poisonous, and can be extremely dangerous for some categories of people; even deaths have been recorded.

Physalia mainly feeds on zooplankton and small fish. They, in turn, are eaten by some shellfish. Well, people should just avoid them.

Habitats

You want to see such beauty with your own eyes, and not in a picture, so it’s not surprising that so many people want to see the “Portuguese man-of-war” for themselves. Where does this amazing creature live?

As a rule, physalia prefers warm seas and latitude, occurring in the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, as well as off the coast of Australia and Japan. However, currents often throw them into colder places, and when their accumulations are observed near popular beaches in England, France, Florida, etc., all media announce the alarm, and all services prepare to treat the burns of careless and inattentive swimmers.

Danger

As many people know, you should be especially careful not with the dome, but with the tentacles, where the stinging cells are located. The "Portuguese Man of War" is no exception to this, especially since its poison is quite strong. Tactile contact with the siphosome feels like a blow from a whip or a discharge of electricity - it is a very strong and sharp pain. Burn marks immediately appear, which can become inflamed in the future.

Children, allergy sufferers, people with chronic diseases, etc. should be especially careful. And it wouldn’t hurt for others to keep their eyes open when swimming in the warm sea, and promptly sail away when they see something similar to a “Portuguese man-of-war.” This is truly a case where it's better to be on the safe side. By the way, it is worth remembering that even a physalia thrown onto land remains dangerous for some time, so you should not approach it at all, much less touch it.

Consequences of the meeting

Apart from pain and burning of the skin in contact with the physalia, general health rarely remains good: the victim may suffer from chills and nausea, may feel pain in the heart, and sometimes even experience spasms and convulsions. The discomfort may last for several days, after which it will pass. In some difficult cases lesions of the central nervous system and spasms of the respiratory system are observed, hematopoiesis suffers.

There are also known cases deaths after meeting with physalia, but most of them were from weakened organisms. Do not neglect the basic safety rules, because it is not so difficult. And, of course, you should closely monitor your children if there is reason to believe that there is a cluster of Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish nearby in the sea. A photo of these creatures, of course, will retain impressions of their beauty for a long time, but scars left on the skin for life are unlikely to evoke pleasant memories.

First aid and further actions

First of all, after contact has occurred, you need to get out of the water so as not to drown. Under no circumstances should you try to rub the mucus or wash it off. fresh water- this activates the stinging cells, so that these actions will cause even more terrible pain to the victim. Usually the acute burning sensation goes away within a few minutes, but the discomfort may persist for several days.

There is an opinion that the surest way to neutralize the poison for which the Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish is famous is three percent vinegar, which must be moistened with the skin. However, there is an opposite point of view, according to which the use of this remedy is categorically not recommended. If the poison gets into the eyes or the pain does not go away for a long time, and there are doubts about a successful outcome, it is best to immediately contact local doctors.

Treatment of burns

Unlike most other jellyfish, an encounter with a physalia is unlikely to ever be erased from the victim’s memory. Actions after providing first aid depend on how the victim who collided with the “Portuguese man-of-war” feels. Burns often become inflamed and irritating salty water, so if an unpleasant encounter at sea occurs immediately after arrival, it can greatly ruin your vacation. For several days, there may be no time for entertainment at all due to the unsuitable state of health, but then everything will only get better. Burn marks may last a lifetime, although they will fade and become less noticeable over time. To some extent, this can even be considered an adventure.

Portuguese man-of-war (lat. Physalia physalis) belong to very primitive, but very interesting invertebrate organisms - siphonophores, close relatives of the jellyfish familiar to us all. This is perhaps one of the most numerous inhabitants of the ocean surface.

They are held on the surface by an air bubble - a pneumatophore, sometimes having impressive dimensions - up to 15-20 cm. Relatively short digestive organs - gastrozoids - hang down from the pneumatophore, and among their thick fringe, spirally twisted hunting tentacles - dactylozoids - go down. Their sizes often reach 30 meters, and they can shrink to 1/70 of their original length.

Physalia tentacles are very formidable weapon. Woe to the crustaceans or small fish that touch them: thousands of poisoned arrows stick into their body, causing paralysis and quick death. I have repeatedly had to experience their aggressive temper on myself - often the backbone of the tuna fishing line is entangled with the tentacles of physalia, which in the heat of fishing passions are not always possible to notice in time. A thin thread fluttering in the wind, like a merciless whip, burns the unprotected body.

The physalia are very brightly colored: the pneumatophore sail is blue, violet and purple, and the long dactylozoans are ultramarine, and it is very difficult to see them in the water. Physalia move along the surface of the water without expending energy. The obliquely set pneumatophore crest plays the role of a rigid sail and forces the physalia to swim under acute angle to the wind.

The spectacle of such a sailing flotilla sailing in one direction is impressive. Their method of movement on the surface has long been compared to the movement of a sailing ship. They received their name “Portuguese boat” back in the 15th century after the famous caravels of Henry the Navigator.

Physalia are widespread in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans. In the Sea of ​​Japan they are observed relatively rarely; they are brought here in summer period Tsushima Current. They can also be found in the south of the South Kuril region.

Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Ichthyology, Institute of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Candidate biological sciences A. S. Sokolovsky.

An amazingly beautiful creation of nature - the Portuguese man-of-war (physalia) - is as dangerous as it is attractive.

The Portuguese man-of-war (lat. Physalia physalis) belongs to very primitive, but very interesting invertebrate organisms - siphonophores, close relatives of the jellyfish familiar to us all. This is perhaps one of the most numerous inhabitants of the ocean surface.

In some physalia, the swim bladder protrudes above the surface of the water, acting as a sail. From the hydrostatic apparatus (pneumatophore), a special trunk goes down, to which the remaining individuals of the colony are attached; their number can reach several hundred. In short, physalia is not a separate organism. Physalia belong to the colonial forms. Numerous tentacles of physalia are equipped with a huge number of stinging cells containing a poisonous secretion. The tentacles are almost colorless, they merge with sea ​​water and are difficult to distinguish for swimmers.
The length of the animal (pneumatophore) is about 20–30 centimeters. Dactylozoids reach 50 meters in size, but very often they are in a “folded” state.

It is a colony of four types of polyps coexisting together. Each of them performs its assigned function.
Thanks to the first polyp - a gas bubble, the beauty of which we admire, the Portuguese man-of-war stays afloat and can drift in the ocean waters. Another polyp, dactylozooids, are hunting tentacles, along the entire enormous length of which there are stinging cells that inject poison into the prey. Small fish, fry, and crustaceans die immediately from it, and paralysis occurs in larger ones. Thanks to the hunting tentacles, the caught prey is dragged to the third type of polyps - gastrozoids, which digest food, breaking down proteins, carbohydrates and fats. And the fourth type - gonozoids - perform the function of reproduction.

The Portuguese man-of-war can only move due to the current or wind. In the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic or Indian Oceans you can meet a whole flotilla. But sometimes they “deflate” their bubbles and dive into the water to avoid danger. And they have someone to fear: despite their toxicity, the boats serve as prey for some species of animals. For example, sea ​​turtles(loggerhead, loggerhead turtle), sunfish or shellfish (nudibranch, yantina) can significantly thin out the ranks of sailfish. But the shepherd fish lives among the long tentacles of the physalia as a parasite. The poison has no effect on this fish, but it reliably protects it from numerous enemies, and the shepherd itself feeds on the remains of the patron’s prey and the dead ends of dactylozoids.

On the surface of the water this animal is very beautiful. Its upper part is brightly colored and vaguely resembles the colors of old Portuguese sailing ships, hence the name of this animal. If you look closely at the physalia, which rises above the surface of the sea by about 30 cm in length, you can see how it shimmers with blue, violet and purple colors due to the reflection of the sun's rays from its faces.

It is not known for certain how physalia reproduces. All that scientists have found out is that physalia reproduces asexually and in the colonies there are polyps responsible for reproduction. It is they who found new colonies.
Since jellyfish have the ability to reproduce without interruption, a colossal number of jellyfish are born in the seas and oceans. It is assumed that this jellyfish is capable of reproducing in another way - there is an opinion that the physalia jellyfish - the Portuguese man-of-war, when dying, throws into the ocean whole clusters of jellyfish-like organisms, which form reproductive products that serve to create new jellyfish.

It is already known that the Portuguese man-of-war is a stinging animal, which means it has a formidable weapon in its arsenal - stinging cells. These physalia cells are filled with poison that affects not only animals, but also humans. The toxic substance that fills the stinging cells has a paralytic effect, causing death in the inhabitants of the oceans who were unlucky enough to become victims of physalia. In humans, the poison of the Portuguese Man of War causes a burn. It is believed that you should not wash a burn with fresh water, because whole stinging cells may still remain on the skin, which are quickly destroyed by such water, and it turns out that the poison gets back onto the skin.

INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PORTUGUESE SHIP...

Physalia is a joint colony of modified jellyfish and polyps, so closely related to each other that they exhibit all the features of a whole organism.
- This jellyfish was nicknamed the “Portuguese man-of-war” by sailors of the 18th century, who talked about a jellyfish that floats like a medieval Portuguese warship.
- The most poisonous variety of physalia lives in Indian and Pacific Oceans, her poison represents mortal danger for a person.
- By the way, even when dried, the tentacles of the Portuguese man-of-war remain very dangerous to humans.
- A burn from the Portuguese Man of War is comparable in toxicity to a bite poisonous snake. But only in in rare cases physalia burns lead to death.