Physalia. Why is a Portuguese boat dangerous for a person? Portuguese warship

Portuguese boat (lat. Physalia physalis) belong to very primitive, but very interesting invertebrate organisms - siphonophores, close relatives of jellyfish familiar to all of us. 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, which sometimes has impressive dimensions - up to 15-20 cm. Relatively short digestive organs- gastrozoids, and among their thick fringe spirally twisted trapping tentacles - dactylozoids go down. Their dimensions often reach 30 meters, and they can be reduced to 1/70 of their original length.

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

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

The sight of such a sailing flotilla sailing in one direction is impressive. The way they move on the surface has long been compared to the movement of a sailing ship. Its name " portuguese boat” they received back in the 15th century by the name of the once famous caravels of Henry the Navigator.

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

Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Ichthyology, IBM FEB RAS, Candidate biological sciences A. S. Sokolovsky.

An amazingly beautiful creation of nature - the Portuguese boat (physalia) - is as dangerous as it is attractive. In order not to get burned, it is better to admire them from a distance.

And, one might say, there is something to admire: above the surface of the water, the “sail” gently silvers and shimmers with blue, purple and purple, similar to those that adorned medieval ships. Its top, crest, is bright red, and the lower part, from which long, sometimes up to 30 meters, trapping tentacles extend, is blue.

Portuguese boat - a jellyfish or not?

It must be said that although this creature and close relative jellyfish, but it still does not apply to those. The Portuguese man-of-war is a siphonophore, a primitive invertebrate organism. It is a colony of four types of polyps coexisting together. Each of them performs the function assigned to it.

Thanks to the first polyp - a gas bubble, the beauty of which we admire, the Portuguese boat keeps afloat and can drift in the waters of the ocean.

Another polyps, dactylozoids, are trapping tentacles, along the entire huge length of which poison is injected into prey. Small fish, fry, crustaceans die from it immediately, while larger ones experience paralysis. By the way, even when dried, the tentacles of the Portuguese boat remain very dangerous for humans.

Thanks to the trapping tentacles, the caught prey is dragged to the third type of polyps - gastrozoids, which digest food by breaking down proteins, carbohydrates and fats. And the fourth type - gonozoids - perform the function of reproduction.

Amazing flotilla

The Portuguese boat can only be moved by the current or the wind. In the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic or Indian Oceans you can meet a whole flotilla of physalia similar to elegant inflatable toys.

But sometimes they "deflate" their bubbles and dive into the water to avoid danger. And they have someone to fear: despite the poisonousness, the boats serve as a coveted prey for some species of animals. So, for example, (loggerhead, bighead turtle), moonfish or yantina) can significantly thin out the ranks of "sailboats".

But the shepherd fish lives among the long tentacles of the physalia as a freeloader. The poison does not affect this fish, but it reliably protects against numerous enemies, and the shepherd boy feeds on the remnants of the patron's prey and the dead tips of dactylozoids.

"Medusa" Portuguese boat is dangerous as a cobra!

The ship is especially dangerous for children and the elderly, as well as for those who suffer from allergic reactions. A painful swelling forms at the site of the burn, and muscle cramps may begin. The victim has a fever, chills, nausea and vomiting.

Don't wash the affected area fresh water it will only make the pain worse. But vinegar can neutralize the poison of physalia. Therefore, they are treated with burns, after scraping the skin to remove the remnants of stinging cells.

But best of all, having seen a flotilla of glamorous "sailboats" from afar, leave the water as soon as possible, admiring them from afar. Alas, this beauty is scorching!

The Portuguese boat (lat. Physalia physalis) only looks like a jellyfish. In fact, this is a whole colony of heterogeneous organisms coexisting together.

© Photos by Matty Smith; Aaron Ansarov Photography

So, the Portuguese boat consists of four types of polyps. The first polyp is a floating shell (pneumatophore), which in appearance resembles a transparent air bubble that shimmers in the sun. The sink is continuously filling atmospheric air enriched with carbon monoxide, which is secreted by a special gland.

This gas-filled bladder, the length of which can reach 30 centimeters, rises above the water, allowing an organism from the siphonophore order to stay afloat. A multi-colored comb, flaunting on the shell, performs the function of a sail. Other polyps of marine physalia are hidden under the water column. They are grouped, although they are responsible for different functions.

Dactylozooid polyps are trapping tentacle threads with many stinging cells, the poison of which is also dangerous for humans. Tentacles, the length of which in an extended position sometimes reaches 50 meters, are responsible for the defense and food of the Portuguese boat. Along the entire length of the tentacles are dotted with microscopic poisonous capsules that sting and paralyze prey, in particular fish and other small ones. marine life. Other members of the colony are already responsible for digesting food.

Each tentacle has contractile cells that help pull the catch to the third type of polyps - gastrozooids. When caught prey appears, the tubular "stern" bodies expand and cover the entire surface of the prey. Coating their prey in digestive juices, they dissolve the prey's flesh, absorbing the nutrients.

The last type of polyps - gonozooids - performs the function of reproduction. Physalia are found in pale blue, pink, purple or purple. Moreover, they are characterized by bioluminescence.

In a person, even a short-term contact with a Portuguese boat can cause a sharp burning sensation and pain shock. IN severe cases there is difficulty breathing, loss of vision and hearing. A lethal outcome is not ruled out.

Don't touch poison boat either in ocean waters or on land. Even in a dried state, the thread of the Portuguese boat has a stinging ability.

The few creatures that are resistant to the venom of the Portuguese man-of-war are the tiny shepherd fish that live in its formidable tentacles.

As a rule, Portuguese boats slowly drift in warm waters of the oceans, straying into groups of a thousand or more individuals. The colony moves solely under the influence of wind and current. Only in the event of a threat can the Portuguese ship “blow off” its gas bubble in order to hide under water for a short time. Most of the time it's unique. sea ​​creature can be found in the subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Portuguese warship, physalia, bluebottle jellyfish - most famous titles this jellyfish. Lives in warm waters (Florida, Cuba, Mediterranean Sea, Australia, Japan). Often the Gulf Stream brings them to the shores of England and France. When they accumulate off the coast of England and France or, for example, near the beaches of Florida, television, radio and the press warn the population of the danger.

Jellyfish are poisonous even when washed ashore. The shoots reach a length of up to 10 meters (which is like a thread in the sand).
The "Portuguese boat" got its name from the multi-colored swim bladder, which is shaped like the sail of a medieval Portuguese sailing ship. The lower part of the bubble is blue, and the upper one is bright red, while the bubble constantly shimmers with purple colors. The bell of this jellyfish shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow from blue to purple, similar to a rubber cap.




Beauty, however, is deceiving.
"Portuguese boats" are often mistakenly attributed to jellyfish. In fact, they belong to the order of siphonophores ("physalia siphonophora"), which can only move under the influence of the force of the wind and the current of water. The length of the tentacles of the "Portuguese boat" can reach 50 meters, and contact with them threatens lethal outcome.

The poison of the "boats" is very dangerous. Allergy sufferers are especially affected by it, who are advised to immediately consult a doctor in case of contact with physalia, otherwise the case may be fatal. The most common consequence of contact with the "boat" is prolonged pain at the burn site and inflammation of the wound. A person may develop nausea, chills, pain in the heart.
If a person touches it, blisters will appear on the skin as if burned. It will hurt for 5 hours. Rubbing the mucus will not help, on the contrary, it will only get worse.
Doctors strongly advise not to wash off the poison of the "Portuguese boats" with fresh water, because this will only increase the pain. A reliable remedy that will relieve an unpleasant burning sensation is three percent vinegar, which must be moistened with the affected areas.
The general condition will also worsen and will last for several days. Seeing this beauty in the water, immediately swim away from her as far as possible. Turtles feed on these jellyfish.


In any case, if you feel a sharp pain, like from a whip or electric shock, you can safely scream. Firstly, from surprise, and secondly, you may urgently need help. The poison of the physalia is very close in its action to the poison of the cobra. The introduction of even a small dose under the skin of laboratory animals ended tragically for them. If you are allergic, then help should be immediate, if not, then you still need to be prepared for some unpleasant consequences.


First of all - a rather long pain at the site of the burn, followed by inflammation of the wound. Muscle twitches, chills, nausea, vomiting may develop, all of which can respond with pain in the heart. Our famous traveler Yuri Senkevich described his condition after contact with the "ship" as severe and rather long. And the worst thing is that sea ​​water then it irritates the wound for a long time, and if such a nuisance happened in the first days of rest, then it’s up to you to decide what to do. The only thing that can be safely advised is to consult a doctor, and not be content with the ointments that you will be offered at the hotel (along with sympathetic looks).

In the event that you are not on a tour, and for some reason you do not have insurance, do not despair. In most countries there are free hospitals, and some of them will give odds to Russian paid ones. And no policy is required, which is interesting.


dangerous beauty
So, burns are far from always fatal, although the Portuguese warship is considered the second most dangerous jellyfish in the world (in the strict sense of the word, this is not quite a jellyfish, but a whole colony of one to two hundred jellyfish and polyps).
A doctor is desirable, more precisely, even obligatory in order to remove intoxication and infection. The trace remains, perhaps for a lifetime, but fades, turns pale over the years ... And who knows, maybe it will become a wonderful memory, or, it is possible, a subject of some pride for you?

Even if you are an excellent swimmer, water is always not the most native element for a person. Of course, you should not be afraid and get lost in it, you just need to strive to love, know and understand it. Like so many other things in life, I guess.

Physalia Medusa or Portuguese boat. Photo and video

Physalia jellyfish or a Portuguese boat either swims up to the shore when the wind drives it, then turns around on the opposite side and slowly sails away. It is extremely dangerous for humans - its poison kills quickly and inevitably.

Physalia jellyfish photo
Class - Hydroid
Order - Siphonophores
Family - Jellyfish
Genus / Species - Physalia physalia

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: body 9-35 cm long, stinging filaments usually up to 15 m long, in extremely rare cases they can reach a length of 30 m.

BREEDING

It usually reproduces asexually by budding. Polyps separate from the main colony in order to then establish new ones.

LIFESTYLE

Behavior: drifting in the sea.

Food: all small fish.

Life span: several months.

RELATED SPECIES

Among the siphonophores, many different species are distinguished, a number of which are known as physalia. Only in mediterranean sea found at least 20 different species of this jellyfish. Other jellyfish are close relatives of physalia.

The “Portuguese boat” or “Portuguese warship” (as the physalia jellyfish is sometimes called for the resemblance of its body to this ship) is actually a whole colony various types polyps of the same species. Each of the polyps in the colony has its own function.

Portuguese boat jellyfish video

Physalia (see photo) often swim in warm seas numerous groups, often numbering several thousand jellyfish.

The bubble of the jellyfish body, transparent and shining in the sun, rises about 15 cm above the water and looks like a small sail.

It is surprising that the jellyfish is able to move even against the wind, without turning off the chosen path.

Physalia jellyfish, as a rule, is found close to the coast, but in the warm season it willingly moves with the flow towards the earth's poles. Powerful winds blowing from the sea towards the coast can throw this jellyfish onto land.

BREEDING OF THE PORTUGUESE BOAT

It is not known for certain how the Physalia jellyfish reproduces. All that scientists have found out is that physalia reproduces asexually and there are polyps in the colonies that are responsible for reproduction. It is they who establish new colonies.

Since jellyfish have the ability to reproduce without interruption, a huge number of jellyfish are born in the seas and oceans. It is assumed that this jellyfish is able to reproduce in another way - it is believed that the Physalia jellyfish, a Portuguese warship, when dying, throws whole bunches of jellyfish organisms into the ocean, in which reproductive products are formed that serve to create new jellyfish.

The tentacles of the jellyfish are armed with many poisonous capsules. The capsules are very small, each a twisted empty tube covered with fine hairs. With any contact, for example, with a fish passing by, the stinging mechanism is activated. Physalia venom is similar in composition to cobra venom. Exposure to poison on fish leads to their death, in humans, burns with the poison of a Portuguese boat lead to severe pain, fever, chills, shock, and breathing problems.

Seeing this beauty in the water, immediately swim away from her as far as possible.

INTERESTING INFO ABOUT THE PORTUGUESE BOAT...

Physalia - is a joint colony of modified jellyfish and polyps, so closely related to each other that they show all the features of a holistic organism.
"Portuguese ship" this jellyfish was nicknamed by sailors of the XVIII century, who talked about a jellyfish that swims like a medieval Portuguese warship.
The most poisonous variety of physalia lives in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, its poison represents mortal danger for a person.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF PHYSALIA (PORTUGUESE WARSHIP)

An air sac (pneumatophore) rises above the water, which serves as a sail for the physalia. It is filled with a gas that differs from the surrounding air by a higher content of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and a lower content of oxygen. During a storm, the gas from the bubble can be released, due to which the physalia can sink under water. Also, physalia is characterized by the phenomenon of bioluminescence. She is one of only two species that glow red.

Often small perches swim among the tentacles of the physalia. These fish are in symbiosis with the Portuguese boat, since they are insensitive to the poison of the physalia, they receive protection from enemies from it, as well as the remnants of food from its table, and the prey itself swims into the tentacles of the physalia, seduced by the sight of harmless fish.

Where does the Portuguese boat live?

PRESERVATION

It is not known how physalia is affected by pollution of the seas and oceans. But in this moment The disappearance of this jellyfish is not threatened.
Used sources.