Portuguese Man o' War

Physalia physalis

VenomousFound in Floridasea

4 Dangerous danger 4 out of 5

Photo by Image courtesy of Islands in the Sea 2002, NOAA/OER. (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons

What you should know

Washes up on Florida beaches looking like a pretty blue balloon. The tentacles still sting even when it looks completely dead on the sand.

It is not one animal. It is a colony of tiny creatures all living together and working as one thing.

This one is venomous, which means it can put venom into you with a bite or a sting. Never touch it, and never try to move it yourself.

Always ask a grown-up before you touch any animal or plant. If something bites or stings you, tell an adult right away.

Read more about the portuguese man o' war at Wikipedia.