Name

Physalia

Portuguese man o' war

Framing

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Hydrozoa

Order: Siphonophora

Genus: Physalia

Habitat

Aquatic, marine, floating or swimming pelagic

Feeding

Colonial. Feeding: plankton and fish

Distribution

Tropical and semi-tropical waters, swept by wind or sea currents, can appear on the Mediterranean coasts.

Conservation status

Not evaluated

Additional information

Colony with highly modified polypoid and medusoid individuals. Dangerous to swimmers due to nematocyst toxins.