Physalia Lamarck 1801

Physalia is commonly known as portugese man of war.It belongs to phylum Coelentrata.

A highly derived Genus within the Order Siphonophora, Physalia are nevertheless colonial organisms, as are all Siphonophores. The pneumatophore (float-like balloon) grows from the founding zooid (individual). This founding zooid also becomes the stolon (connective canal) from which subsequent zooids bud off in modified asexual reproduction. Unlike some forms of asexual reproduction, these zooids remain attached to the colony via the stolon. In times of distress they may break off from the colony as a defense mechanism known as autotomy. Zooids other than the founder are highly polymorphic (morphologically and behaviorally specialized), and function much like human organs (stomach, gonads, skin, etc). Distinct zooids have evolved to digest, produce gametes, capture prey, and defend the colony. In other Siphonophores there may be over six distinct polymorphic zooids within a single colony. All zooids operate in both independent and coordinated behavior despite lacking a central nervous system. In fact Siphonophores have only been shown to possess a diffuse nerve net. Thus, Physalia are a collection of individuals, a colony.

Physalia physalis also known as the Portuguese Man O' War is commonly mistaken for a jellyfish. "The Portuguese man-of-war is a siphonophore, an animal that is made up of a colony of organisms working together. The name comes from the uppermost polyp, a gas filled bladder, or pneumatophore, which sits above the water and somewhat looks like an old warship at full sail. They are also, known as bluebottles for the purple-blue color of their pneumatophores" (A Portuguese man of war). The tentacles can extend to 165 feet, although, the average length is 30 feet (Portuguese Man-of War Physalia physalis).

"Physalia physalis is found in tropical Atlantic waters and occasionally as far north as the Bay of Fundy and the Hebrides, and the Mediterranean Sea Portuguese Man o' war). They are reported abundantly off the Karachi coast in Pakistan, and are also common in the ocean off parts of Australia and New Zealand, particularly at the Sandspit and Hawkes Bay beaches during the months of June, July, and August. They are known to come ashore all along the northern Gulf of Mexico and both east and west coasts of Florida as well as around the Hawaiian Islands "(Portuguese Man o' war).

"Men-of-war are most often found in warm, tropical and subtropical waters of the world’s oceans "(Portuguese Man-of-war Physalia physalis).

"They feed on prey including fish, fish larvae, cephalopods, chaetognaths, and leptocephalus (eel) larvae. Their tentacles have pigmented regions that resemble larval fish, small shrimp, and copepods to lure prey into their stinging net" (Hoover). Their tentacles tangle and stun their prey. After the prey is trapped, Physalia physalis contracts its tentacles to bring the prey into contact with polyps that secrete digestive enzymes to soften their catch (Hoover).