Portuguese man o' war

The Portuguese man o' war is a floating colonial siphonophore made of specialized, interdependent zooids. Its long tentacles capture prey and deliver a painful sting.

Siphonophore: A colonial marine hydrozoan whose specialized zooids function together as one organism. The man o' war belongs to this group of drifting colonies.
Physalia physalis: The scientific species name for the Portuguese man o' war, found in warm ocean waters. This is the species behind the common name.
Cnidaria: A phylum of aquatic animals that includes jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, and hydrozoans. The man o' war is a member of this animal phylum.
True jellyfish: Medusae belonging to the cnidarian class Scyphozoa, typically with a bell-shaped body. Despite its common name and sting, the man o' war is not a true jellyfish.
Pneumatophore: A gas-filled float that supports certain siphonophores at the sea surface. This zooid keeps the colony afloat and acts as a sail.
Man-of-war sting: A painful envenomation caused by contact with the tentacles of a Portuguese man o' war. The tentacles can sting even after the colony has washed ashore.
Hydrozoa: A class of cnidarians that includes hydroids, fire corals, and siphonophores. Siphonophores are hydrozoans with highly integrated colonies.
Jellyfish: The informal name for gelatinous marine animals, especially medusae of several cnidarian groups. The man o' war is often mistaken for a jellyfish but is a colonial siphonophore.
Dactylozooid: A specialized cnidarian zooid bearing tentacles used to capture prey or defend the colony. These zooids carry the tentacles that sting prey and threats.
Cnidocyte: A specialized stinging cell used by cnidarians to capture prey or deter threats. Its stinging cells discharge from the tentacles upon contact.

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