There are many poisonous animals and microorganisms in the world. Often they seem beautiful and you just want to touch them. One of these interesting creatures globe is a physalia that is found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. They can be found even in the English Channel. In its appearance, it is very reminiscent of jellyfish, which are found in abundance in the seas of our country.

Physalia - jellyfish or not?

Physalia is a colonial hydroid from the order Siphonophora. Outwardly it is very similar to a jellyfish, but it is not one. It belongs to another group of invertebrate organisms - siphonophores.

In total, there are about 160 species of this order in the world, which live mainly in tropical waters. Physalia jellyfish It is one of the species that are dangerous to humans and can even lead to death.

Physalia - danger, poison

The usual size of physalia is up to approximately 35 centimeters, while the stinging tentacles, which contain stinging cells, can reach incredible sizes - up to 50 meters. It is these cells that are the most dangerous in the colony. Their venom is close in composition to cobra venom and can cause fever, shock, and difficulty breathing in people.

A person exposed to poison in water may drown from painful shock or loss of consciousness. They are dangerous because they move in large colonies that can easily devastate everything in their path.

Physalia: description of the Portuguese boat

Physalia is named after Dr. Marie Physalix, who first discovered and described it. Physalia (Portuguese man-of-war) consists of two sections: siphosomes and pneumatophores.

Pneumatophore - a bubble filled with atmospheric air, which allows the body to stay on the surface. If necessary, excess air is removed and the poisonous physalia is immersed in water. Groups of zooids extend from the pneumatophore, which are divided into 3 types:

Gonozooid – sexual zooid;
Gastrozoids – nourishing;
Dactylozoans are hunters. It is in them that the tentacles that branch are located. It is in them that the development of reproductive cells occurs, which then separate from the mother and begin an independent life.

Their main diet consists of small fish, larvae and squid. Physalia itself makes up the diet of some of the sea ​​turtles and shellfish.
The lifespan of an individual is several months. Reproduces jellyfish physalia in an asexual way. Physalia moves with the help of wind and current. However, with the help of the siphosome, it serves as a rudder and is able to regulate the direction of movement of the colony and move even against the wind.

Poisonous physalia in Phuket

They are found mainly in large groups numbering thousands of individuals. The jellyfish's pneumatophore resembles a small sail, which is why it is often called the Portuguese man-of-war. This name was given by sailors back in the 18th century.
Physalia are found in tropical seas and are often found in the vicinity of Phuket and neighboring beaches, where they are brought by the monsoons that blow from May to October in those parts. At this time, it is more dangerous than the garbage dumped into the sea, which then forms in.

In September-October 2016, 4 beaches in Phuket were even closed for 2 weeks. This was due to the fact that they were discovered in large quantities– more than 400 individuals. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
The photo shows the habitat of physalia.

Physalia poison: how to protect yourself

In case of contact with physalia, it is recommended to see a doctor. There is a lot of conflicting advice regarding first aid for a burn. This could be a rinse. sea ​​water, vinegar, hot water followed by application of ice.

If physalia were found on the surrounding beaches, it is recommended to refrain from swimming during this period. They often wash up on the shore, so you should carefully walk along the beaches so as not to fall on one of them. Even separately lying tentacles are dangerous, also causing burns.

And finally, about poisonous hydroids - physalia which they received for their appearance Name " Portuguese man of war" This animal belongs to the lower coelenterates, which have a highly developed poisonous apparatus for attack and defense. They live in tropical areas Pacific Ocean. Animals easily stay in water due to a gas-filled swim bladder, which serves as a hydrostatic apparatus for physalia.

Physalia (Physalia physalis) - poisonous jellyfish living in tropical waters

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 blend into the sea water and are difficult to distinguish for swimmers.

Numerous tentacles of physalia are equipped with special stinging cells called lassoes. There is a toxic liquid inside the cells. This poison is necessary for the jellyfish to kill the fish that the physalia feeds on. If you collect pieces of tentacles containing lasso with poison in a thimble and inject them under the skin of mice, they will die in a few seconds. For a thousand mice, just one thimble is enough.

« Portuguese man of war » can be found in tropical waters Atlantic Ocean, and related species of physalia live off the southern coast of Japan and Hawaiian Islands. On the surface of the water this animal is very beautiful. Top part its brightly colored and vaguely reminiscent of the colors of old Portuguese sailing ships, hence the name of this animal. If you look closely at the physalia, rising 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 sun rays from its edges. Sometimes you can observe an accumulation of physalia in coastal waters. Perhaps this is because during this period of life the animal can find a much larger amount of food here. However, for swimmers this undoubtedly represents real threat, as the number of people affected by physalia stinging cells is sharply increasing. A person who comes into contact with physalia gets a severe burn. Fortunately, physalia poison is not fatal to humans, however, it leads to a drop in blood pressure, increased heart rate and often loss of consciousness. Physalian toxins are high-molecular peptides, the action of which is primarily aimed at damaging nervous system and hearts.

Physalia poison very resistant. If dried tentacles are stored in the refrigerator, they retain their toxic properties for almost six years. If you compare with physalia in terms of toxicity such a small jellyfish as sea ​​wasp, then the poison of the latter is not only more toxic, but also extremely dangerous for humans.

Portuguese man-of-war, physalia, bluebottle jellyfish are the most famous names this jellyfish. Lives in warm waters(Florida, Cuba, Mediterranean, 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 man-of-war" got its name from its multi-colored swim bladder, which is shaped like the sail of a medieval Portuguese sailing vessel. The bottom of the bubble is blue, and the top 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.
Many people mistakenly attribute "Portuguese man-of-war" to jellyfish. In fact, they belong to the order of siphonophores ("siphonophora physalia"), which can only move under the influence of wind and water currents. The length of the Portuguese Man of War tentacles can reach 50 meters, and contact with them can be fatal.

The poison of the "ships" 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 matter may end in death. The most common consequence of contact with a “ship” is long-term pain at the burn site and inflammation of the wound. A person may develop nausea, chills, and heart pain.
If a person touches it, blisters will appear on the skin like a burn. It will hurt for about 5 hours. Wiping off 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 Man of Man" fresh water because it will only make the pain worse. A reliable remedy that will relieve an unpleasant burning sensation is three percent vinegar, which should be moistened with the affected areas.
The general condition will also worsen and will last for several days. When you see this beauty in the water, immediately swim as far away from it as possible. Turtles feed on these jellyfish.


In any case, if you feel a sharp pain, as if from a whiplash or electric shock, you can safely scream. Firstly, from surprise, and secondly, you may urgently need help. Physalia venom is very close in its effect to cobra venom. 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 should still be prepared for some unpleasant consequences.


First of all, quite long-term pain at the burn site followed by inflammation of the wound. Muscle twitching, chills, nausea, vomiting may develop, all of which can result in pain in the heart. Our famous traveler Yuri Senkevich described his condition after contact with the “ship” as severe and quite long-lasting. 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 only you can decide what to do. The only thing we can safely advise is to consult a doctor, and not be content with the ointments that will be offered to you at the hotel (along with sympathetic glances).

If you are not vacationing on a vacation package, and for some reason you do not have insurance, do not despair. In most countries there are free hospitals, and some of them give a head start to Russian paid ones. And no insurance is required, which is interesting.


Dangerous Beauty
So, burns are not always fatal, although the Portuguese man-of-war is considered the second most dangerous jellyfish in the world (in the strict sense of the word, it is not exactly a jellyfish, but a whole colony of one or two hundred jellyfish and polyps).
A doctor is desirable, or rather, even mandatory, to relieve intoxication and infection. The mark remains, perhaps, for the rest of your life, but it fades and fades over the years... And who knows, maybe it will become a wonderful memory, or, perhaps, a source 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 shouldn’t be afraid and get lost in it; you just need to strive to love, know and understand it. Like many other things in life, probably.

Portuguese man of war(lat. Physalia physalis) is a species of colonial hydroids from the order of siphonophores, the colony of which consists of polypoid and medusoid individuals.

This coelenterate creature is often called a jellyfish, however Portuguese man of war not a jellyfish, but a siphonophore - a colony of coelenterates. Such a colony includes polypoid and medusoid individuals living as a single harmonious organism. Portuguese man-of-war are very common marine animals - they can be found in almost all warm-water areas of the oceans and seas - from latitudes Japanese Islands to Australia and New Zealand. Sometimes the winds drive such masses of these coelenterate organisms to the shore that it feels like coastal waters covered with colored jelly.

The dome of the Portuguese man-of-war is very beautiful, and usually shimmers with blue-purple colors with purple-red tints. Its length along the “body” can reach 20-25 cm, but the usual dimensions are more modest.

The siphonophore owes its unusual name - "Portuguese man-of-war" (sometimes - "Portuguese man-of-war") to the shape of its sail-dome, rising above the surface of the water. Indeed, it is very reminiscent of the military sailing ships of the 15th century that plied the seas during the time of Henry the Navigator.

The trunk of a colony of cormidia (zooids) extends from the dome of the physalia. Cormidia are composed of representatives of three types of polyps - feeding zooids (gastrozooids), hunting zooids (dactylozooids) and one sexual zooid (gonozooid).
Each of the dactylozooids bears a tentacle designed for catching prey. The tentacles are capable of very strong contraction in length (sometimes by 70 times!), so the length of the underwater “mane” of physalia can vary from several meters to tens of meters (there are individual colonies with tentacles up to 50 meters long).

The hunting tentacles of dactylozooids are capable of paralyzing prey powerful poison goad and pull food for processing by gastrozooids. Physalia feed on small invertebrates, fish, squid and other marine life.
A formidable weapon of physalia - the poison of the tentacles is very dangerous for many inhabitants of the sea, as well as for people. Fatalities from human contact with physalia is a fairly rare occurrence, but dangerous injuries and burns occur annually in many coastal areas where beach holiday And aquatic species sports

Help for physalia affected by poison consists in carefully removing fragments of tentacles and treating the contact area with a 3-5% solution of acetic acid. Treatment with fresh water aggravates the condition and increases the pain, so under no circumstances should you wash the burn. The victim should be immediately taken to a medical facility to provide qualified assistance - for people in poor health, a close “acquaintance” with the Portuguese man-of-war can be fatal.

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Physalia either approaches the shore when the wind drives it, then turns the other side and slowly swims away. She is very dangerous - her poison acts quickly and reliably.

   Class - Hydroid
   Row - Siphonophores
   Family - Jellyfish
   Genus/Species - Physalia physalia

   Basic data:
DIMENSIONS
Length: the body is 9-35 cm, the stinging threads are usually 15 m, in very rare cases they can reach 30 m.

REPRODUCTION
As a rule, they reproduce asexually by budding. Polyps separate from the main colony to then create new ones.

LIFESTYLE
Behavior: drifting into the sea.
Food: all small fish.
Lifespan: a few months.

RELATED SPECIES
Among siphonophores there are many different types, a number of which are known as physalia. Only in the area Mediterranean Sea At least 20 different species have been found. Other jellyfish are also considered close relatives of Physalia.

   Portuguese man-of-war (another name for physalia) is actually a colony that consists of different types polyps of the same species. Each polyp has its own function.

LIFESTYLE

   Physalia often swim in warm seas groups that number several thousand individuals. A transparent bubble sparkling in the sun rises above the water by about 15 cm and becomes like a small sail. What is surprising is the fact that this creature can swim even against the wind without straying from its intended course. Physalia is usually found near the coast, but in warm months year, it also willingly drifts towards the earth's poles. Strong winds that blow towards the coast can even throw it sea ​​creature to land.

REPRODUCTION

   It is not known exactly how physalia reproduces. They found out, however, that it reproduces asexually and that the colonies have polyps that are responsible for reproduction. They create new colonies.
   Thus, jellyfish are able to reproduce tirelessly, this explains where such a huge number of jellyfish appear in the seas and oceans. Experts have also suggested that the Portuguese man-of-war, when dying, releases whole clusters of jellyfish into the ocean, which develop sexual products that serve to form new jellyfish.

SPECIAL ORGAN

   The tentacles of the Portuguese man-of-war are armed big amount poisonous capsules. They are very small, each of them has a twisted empty tube that is covered with delicate hairs. Any touch of the growth, for example, an accidental touch of a passing fish, sets the stinging mechanism into action. Fibers with a poisonous substance, like small harpoons, pierce the prey while remaining connected to the tentacles; their dangerous venom in its composition resembles that of a cobra. As a result of the action of this poison, fish die, and in people it causes fever, shock and breathing problems.
  

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

• Physalia is a colony of modified polyps and jellyfish, which, being closely and mutually connected, have all the features of a single organism.
• This jellyfish was called the “Portuguese man-of-war” by sailors of the 18th century, who talked about a creature that floats like a medieval Portuguese warship.
• The most poisonous representative of these coelenterates (stinging insects) is the jellyfish, which can be dangerous even for humans. She lives in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

  

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF PHYSALIA (PORTUGUESE SHIP)

   An air bubble (pneumatophore) rises above the surface of the water, which serves as a sail for the physalia. It is filled with gas similar in composition to air, but has a high nitrogen content and carbon dioxide and less oxygen. During a storm, the air from the bladder can be released, and then the physalia appears under water. Physalia is characterized by the phenomenon of bioluminescence. She is one of two biological species, which produces red light.
   Often between the tentacles of the physalia there is a small fish from the perch family. It is insensitive to its poison and serves as bait for victims, whom the physalia draws into the field of action of its tentacles. This fish then feeds on the remains of its prey and dead remains physalia tentacles.

PLACES OF ACCOMMODATION
Lives in warm seas, but is most often found in the bays of the North Atlantic Ocean and the subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans.
PRESERVATION
It is unknown how physalia is affected by sea pollution and declining fish numbers. However, this is not currently in danger of extinction.