Return of the spicy empandas!

Recently, several Portuguese man-o-wars, Physalia physalis, (aka spicy empanadas) have been spotted in and around our waters. These organisms are found in tropical to subtropical waters. They vary in color and size. The “top sail” portion of this siphonophore (colonial organism) is usually a translucent pink, blue, or purple and we found some sails the size of quarters to the size of water bottles! Tentacles can also be upwards of 30 feet long. 

Small Portuguese man-o-war hidden in sargassum sea weed and almost mistaken for trash!

The bright blue color of the tentacles and sail are an indication DO NOT touch this organism or its tentacles even if they are already washed up on the beach.The tentacles are filled with nematocysts—aka stinging cells and can be very painful to humans and animals. Regionally, there has been an Indo Pacific man-o-war identified and not yet accepted by all called the bluebottle, or P. utriculus. It is believed that instead of all tentacles containing nematocysts, this regional bluebottle has one tentacle specifically for the nematocysts. P. Physalis can cause “fever, shock, and interference with heart or lung activity. Deaths from Portuguese man-of-wars are rare; deaths may result from allergic reactions to the venom or from cardiovascular incidents” ( https://www.britannica.com/animal/Portuguese-man-of-war).  

Portuguese man-o-war floating in the ICW.

Although the tentacles can cause humans and animals pain, this is a very interesting colonial organisms and it is a prey item for other sea creatures. Loggerhead sea turtles, ocean sunfish, sea slugs, and crabs will eat the Portuguese man-o-war. The common clown fish will live and eat plankton amongst the tentacles while a man-of-war fish will eat its tentacles (and the tentacles constantly regenerate and sometimes the fish become a snack to the man-o-war !).  

Portuguese man-o-war washed up on Capers Island.