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Portuguese Man o' WarPhysalia physalis

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Portuguese Man o' War profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 61 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Physalia physalis (Portuguese man-of-war). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysIUCN Red List Not EvaluatedNote: ADW's account is dated (last updated 2002-10-17). The status is current: GBIF's copy of the Red List returns NOT_EVALUATED for Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758), usage key 2264734, checked 2026-09-12, and the prefetch found no assessment DOI.
The page saysshrimp and other crustaceans
The source saysThe Portuguese Man-of-War traps its food in its tentacles. It feeds mainly on fish fry (young fish) and small adult fish, and it also consumes shrimp, other crustaceans
The page saysLeft-handed colonies drift to the right of the wind and right-handed ones to the left
The source saysThe "left-sided" individual drifts at an angle of 45 degrees to the right of the direction from which the wind is blowing, and the "right-sided" individual does the oppositeNote: ADW's wording, scoped to Physalia physalis; replaces Lee et al.'s sentence, which is about the Australian bluebottle. ADW's 45 degrees is not repeated on the page; the modeled 51.5 degrees below is.

Source
02

National Ocean Service, NOAA

What is a Portuguese Man o' War? National Ocean Service, NOAA.

The page saysMostly tropical and subtropical seas
The source saysFound mostly in tropical and subtropical seas
The page saysA colony of clones working together as one
The source saysa colony of specialized, genetically identical individuals called zooids - clones - with various forms and functions, all working together as one
The page saysfour specialized parts for floating, capturing prey, feeding, and reproduction
The source saysEach of the four specialized parts of a man o’ war is responsible for a specific task, such as floating, capturing prey, feeding, and reproduction
The page saysThe Portuguese man o' war looks like a single balloon-topped jellyfish
The source saysis often called a jellyfish ... the man o' war is recognized by its balloon-like float
The page saysa colony of specialized, genetically identical individuals called zooids
The source sayscomprised of a colony of specialized, genetically identical individuals called zooids - clones
The page saysIts four specialized parts
The source saysEach of the four specialized parts of a man o’ war is responsible for a specific task
The page saysmicroscopic stinging capsules called nematocysts
The source saysThe tentacles contain stinging nematocysts, microscopic capsules
The page saysPainful, but rarely deadly
The source saysWhile the man o' war's sting is rarely deadly to people, it packs a painful punchNote: NOAA's page was last updated 2024-06-16. The FAQ's ref stays fatal-1989, which states the answer's key figure (second recorded fatality).
The page saysfor a colony with no engine of its own: it is propelled by winds and ocean currents alone
The source saysmen o' war are propelled by winds and ocean currents aloneNote: vibe.reason; replaces 'venomous open-ocean dread', which was mood only (#176)

Source
03

Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

The Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis). Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

The page saysneurotoxic tentacles, and ocean surface drifter
The source saysIt drifts along on the surface (aided by the large float) ... these stinging cells, which contain a powerful neurotoxin
The page saysdrifting on the surface of the open ocean
The source saysThe man-of-war is adapted to live its life entirely in the open ocean. It drifts along on the surface
The page saysIt isn't one animal at all
The source saysthe man-of-war is not a single animal
The page saystentacles that hunt
The source saysthe defensive/prey capturing tentacles (dactylozooids) and the reproductive polyps (gonozooids)
The page saysThe float, tentacles, digestive polyps, and reproductive polyps are so specialized that they cannot live without each other
The source sayspolyps (or zooids) that are so specialized that they cannot live without each other
The page saysThe float can be up to 15 centimeters above the water
The source saysThe float can be up to 15 cm above the water
The page saysFishing As It Drifts
The source saysAs the colony drifts, the man-of-war is constantly ‘fishing’ for food with its tentacles
The page saysAs the colony drifts, its tentacles trail behind it like fishing lines
The source saysAs the colony drifts, the man-of-war is constantly ‘fishing’ for food with its tentacles
The page sayscovering much of their surface
The source saysThe food is trapped in the tentacles (dactylozooids) with the aid of specialized stinging capsules called nematocysts that cover much of the surface area
The page saysits float leaning one way or the other
The source saystheir floats either lean to the left or right
The page saysBecause the two forms drift in different directions
The source saystheir floats either lean to the left or right, ensuring that they will drift in different directions
The page sayswhen strong winds blow man o' war into shallow coastal waters, half are blown away from shore, where they are more likely to survive
The source saysThis also helps when strong winds blow man-of-wars into shallow coastal waters, as half will be blown away from shore and are more likely to survive
The page saysTheir floats either lean to the left or to the right, and colonies drift in different directions and spread themselves out more evenly over the ocean.
The source saystheir floats either lean to the left or right, ensuring that they will drift in different directions and spread themselves out more evenly over the ocean
The page saysWhen strong winds blow them toward the coast, half will be blown away from shore and are more likely to survive
The source sayswhen strong winds blow man-of-wars into shallow coastal waters, as half will be blown away from shore and are more likely to survive

Source
04

Oceana

Portuguese Man o' War. Oceana.

The page saysA Colony Wearing a Jellyfish Costume
The source saysThe Portuguese man o’ war may look like a jellyfish, but it’s not! This unique creature is actually a siphonophore, a colonial organism
The page saysThe hunting tentacles can extend up to 30 meters, nearly 100 feet
The source saysits long, trailing tentacles can extend up to 30 meters (nearly 100 feet)
The page saysEnemies That Steal Its Weapons
The source sayssome species, like the blue glaucus, are immune to its sting and even feed on tentacles to steal the toxins for their own defense
The page saysThe blue glaucus, a sea slug, eats its tentacles
The source sayssome species, like the blue glaucus, are immune to its sting and even feed on tentacles
The page saysEach Portuguese man o' war is a colony composed of four types of specialized polyps, each with a unique role: floating, feeding, capturing prey, and reproduction
The source sayseach Portuguese man o’ war is a colony composed of four types of specialized polyps, each with a unique role: floating, feeding, capturing prey, and reproduction
The page saysBelow the surface, its long, trailing tentacles can extend up to 30 meters, nearly 100 feet, and deliver a toxin that can paralyze and kill prey such as fish and shrimp
The source saysBelow the surface, its long, trailing tentacles can extend up to 30 meters (nearly 100 feet), which can deliver a toxin that can paralyze and kill prey such as fish, shrimp, and other small animals
The page saystrailing stinging tentacles up to 30 meters long
The source saysits long, trailing tentacles can extend up to 30 meters (nearly 100 feet)Note: vibe.reason; same figure as the body

Source
05

Munro et al. 2019

Munro et al. (2019). Morphology and development of the Portuguese man of war, Physalia physalis. Scientific Reports.

The page saysColonial siphonophore sail
The source saysPhysalia physalis is a siphonophore that uses a gas-filled float as a sail to catch the wind
The page saysup to thirty-meter neurotoxic tentacles
The source saysThe tentacles of the Portuguese man of war can reach up to 30 m in mature colonies ... The nematocyst delivers a toxin that results in paralysis in fish ... affecting the nervous system and respiratory centers
The page saysFish and fish larvae, which make up 70 to 90 percent of its diet
The source saysFish and fish larvae comprise 70–90% of their diet
The page saysa gas-filled float, the pneumatophore, that catches the wind
The source saysPhysalia physalis is a siphonophore that uses a gas-filled float as a sail to catch the wind
The page saysdigestive polyps that feed the whole colony
The source saysThe digested food products are released into the main gastric cavity for uptake by the rest of the colony
The page saysThey carry a single type of nematocyst, able to penetrate only soft-bodied prey
The source saysthe nematocyst batteries on the tentacles of Physalia physalis contain a single type of nematocyst that is only able to penetrate soft bodied prey
The page saysInjected into fish muscle, an extract of the toxin causes general paralysis, hitting the nervous system and the centers that control breathing, and at high doses it kills
The source saysInjection of crude extract of the toxin into fish muscle leads to general paralysis, affecting the nervous system and respiratory centers, and results in death at high doses
The page saysFish and fish larvae make up 70 to 90 percent of the colony's diet
The source saysFish and fish larvae comprise 70–90% of their diet
The page saysOnce prey is snared and hauled up toward the float, the digestive polyps take over
The source saysOnce a tentacle comes into contact with its prey, the prey is carried up towards the gastrozooids near the base of the float. The gastrozooids respond immediately to the capture of prey
The page saysresearchers have watched upward of 50 of them completely cover a 10-centimeter fish, their mouths spread out across its surface
The source saysMany gastrozooids attach themselves to the prey – upwards of 50 gastrozooids have been observed to completely cover a 10 cm fish with their mouths spread out across the surface of the fish
The page saysLeft-Handed and Right-Handed Sailors
The source sayscolonies are either left-handed or right-handed
The page saysThe float is a sail
The source saysPhysalia physalis is a siphonophore that uses a gas-filled float as a sail to catch the wind
The page saysEvery colony is either "left-handed" or "right-handed,"
The source saysthere are very clear left-right asymmetries in the placement and growth of zooids in this species, and colonies are either left-handed or right-handed
The page saysBeing a raft of stinging cells doesn't make the man o' war untouchable
The source saysWhile P. physalis is a voracious predator of fish, it is predated upon by sea turtles
The page saysSea turtles eat it
The source saysit is predated upon by sea turtles
The page saysstores the stinging capsules intact, and redeploys them in its own defense
The source saysGlaucus atlanticus and Glaucus marginatus, species of nudibranch that store intact Physalia nematocysts and redeploy them for their own defense
The page saysYoung Tremoctopus violaceus octopuses carry man o' war tentacles along the rows of suckers on their upper arms, and the tentacles are thought to help them both fend off attackers and catch prey
The source saysimmature Tremoctopus violaceus octopods have been found to carry P. physalis tentacles along the rows of suckers of their dorsal arms, and the tentacles are suggested to play a role in defense as well as prey capture
The page saysIn 2019 there was only one recognized species of Physalia, the man o' war genus
The source saysthere is currently only one recognized species of Physalia – P. physalisNote: The year (2019) comes from the reference's own year metadata. Stated in the past tense and dated, because the 2025 genomics paper supersedes it.
The page sayscatching the wind on a gas-filled float
The source saysPhysalia physalis is a siphonophore that uses a gas-filled float as a sail to catch the windNote: vibe.reason

Source
06

Lee, Schaeffer & Groeskamp 2021

Lee, Schaeffer & Groeskamp (2021). Drifting dynamics of the bluebottle (Physalia physalis). Ocean Science.

The page saysis around 15 centimeters in size, with some reported at up to 30 centimeters
The source saysThe Atlantic Portuguese man o' war (PMW) is considered the same species as the bluebottle ... the PMW has floats of around 15 cm, reported up to 30 cm
The page saysIn a 2021 model with no current, a left-handed Atlantic man o' war would drift 51.5 degrees clockwise from the wind
The source saysat an angle of attack of 40 ∘ and no current, a left-handed bluebottle will drift at an angle of 52.9 ∘ clockwise from the wind at 2.66 % of the wind speed. A PMW in the same conditions will drift at an angle of 51.5 ∘ clockwise from the windNote: The year (2021) comes from the reference's own year metadata. PMW is the paper's Atlantic Portuguese man o' war ('The Atlantic Portuguese man o' war (PMW) is considered the same species as the bluebottle'), and 'the same conditions' are left-handed, a 40 degree angle of attack and no current.

Source
07

Tamkun & Hessinger 1981

Tamkun & Hessinger (1981). Isolation and partial characterization of a hemolytic and toxic protein from the nematocyst venom of the Portuguese man-of-war, Physalia physalis. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Protein Structure.

The page saysPhysalitoxin, one of several proteins in the venom, appears to be responsible for both its hemolytic (blood-cell-bursting) and lethal activities
The source sayspossess a potent venom composed of several proteins. A hemolytic protein lethal to mice has been isolated from this nematocyst venom. This protein, physalitoxin, appears to be responsible for both the venom's hemolytic and lethal activities.
The page saysit proved lethal to mice in lab tests
The source saysA hemolytic protein lethal to mice has been isolated from this nematocyst venom.

Source
08

Edwards, Whitter & Hessinger 2002

Edwards, Whitter & Hessinger (2002). Apparent membrane pore-formation by portuguese Man-of-war (Physalia physalis) venom in intact cultured cells. Toxicon.

The page saysA venom that pops cells like balloons
The source saysvenom produces pore-like structures in the membranes of target cells, which leads to colloid osmotic swelling with subsequent release of intracellular proteins and cell lysis
The page saysIn cultured cells, low doses make calcium build up inside
The source sayslow doses of Portuguese Man-of-war (Physalia physalis) venom cause a linear increase in intracellular calcium accumulation by cultured L-929 cells
The page saysthe results imply the venom produces pore-like structures in cell membranes, which make the cells swell and then burst
The source saysThese results imply that Man-of-war venom produces pore-like structures in the membranes of target cells, which leads to colloid osmotic swelling with subsequent release of intracellular proteins and cell lysis

Source
09

Burnett & Gable 1989

Burnett & Gable (1989). A fatal jellyfish envenomation by the Portuguese man-o'war. Toxicon.

The page saysA fatal case reported in 1989 was only the second scientifically recorded human death from a man o' war sting, and several similar cases had been suspected
The source saysThe documented case of a human fatality resulting from envenomation by Physalia physalis is presented. Although this case is only the second scientifically recorded fatality, several similar cases have been suspected.Note: The year (1989) comes from the reference's own year metadata. The count is dated to the report and not stated as current. This is the page text stats.dangerLevel: Deadly rests on (#176): tiers are capabilities, and the source documents a human death, so Deadly rather than Extreme ("Severe injury likely on contact"), which NOAA's "rarely deadly" contradicts in the other direction.

Source
10

Church et al. 2025

Church et al. (2025). Population genomics of a sailing siphonophore reveals genetic structure in the open ocean. Current Biology.

The page saysa 2025 study of whole genomes concluded there are at least four, each split into regional subpopulations that line up with the prevailing currents and winds
The source sayssequencing whole genomes of 151 samples ... We conclude there are at least four species ... Within each species, we observe significant population structure, with evidence of persistent subpopulations at a regional scale ... these subpopulations align with predominant currents and windsNote: The year (2025) comes from the reference's own year metadata. The abstract names Physalia minuta as the new species but does not say which lineage keeps the name P. physalis or where each lives, so the page assigns no range to any of the four.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.