what is man-o- war?

Answer 1

Portuguese Man o' War
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?Portuguese Man O' War


Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Hydrozoa

Order: Siphonophora

Family: Physaliidae

Genus: Physalia

Species: P. physalis


Binomial name
Physalia physalis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
The Portuguese Man O' War (Physalia physalis), also known as the bluebottle, is commonly thought of as a jellyfish but is actually a siphonophore—a colony of four sorts of polyps.

A similar group of animals are the chondrophores.

Contents [hide]
1 Structure
2 Ecology
3 Poison
4 Origin of the name
5 External links



[edit]
Structure
The Man O' War's float is bilaterally symmetrical with the tentacles at one end, while the chondrophores are radially symmetrical with the sail at an angle. Also the Man O' War has a siphon, while the chondrophores do not.


Bluebottle washed ashore at Batemans Bay, New South Wales, Australia; only the air bladder is readily visibleThe Portuguese Man O' War has an air bladder; known also as a sail, that allows it to float on the surface of the ocean. It has no means of propulsion and is pushed by the winds and the current. The bladder is actually a single large polyp, called the pneumatophore. The sail is filled with air, but may build up a high concentration of carbon monoxide (up to 90%). The animal can deflate to submerge; however this is not its normal state, generally doing so only long enough to avoid a threat. The bladder must stay wet in order for survival, every so often it dips the bladder underwater to keep it wet.

Below the jelly dangle long tentacles, sometimes stretching to over ten metres in length. Tentacles as long as 55 m (180 ft) are known. These tentacles are individual polyps called dactylozooids. They stun and kill small sea creatures using poison-filled nematocysts and use muscles to draw the prey in to the gastrozooids, which are yet another different type of polyp that surround and digest it. Gonozooids, the fourth type of polyp, are responsible for reproduction.

[edit]
Ecology
The man-of-war fish, whose name is derived from the Portuguese Man O' War, often lives within the man o' war's tentacles for protection.

Portuguese Man O' War are a very important source of food to sea turtles, which are immune to the poison. Sea slugs and sea snails floating on the water are also immune to the poison. The Portuguese Man O' War can be found on the coast of Africa, North America, Europe and Australia as well as in other areas of the world.

[edit]
Poison
The sting from the tentacles is potentially dangerous to humans; these stings have been responsible for several deaths, but usually only cause intense pain. Detached tentacles and specimens washed up on shore can sting just as painfully as the full creature in the water. The venom can travel up to the lymph glands and may cause, depending on the amount of venom, more intense pain. In extreme cases medical attention is necessary.

According to a study done by Dr. Geoffrey Isbister of Newcastle, Australia's Mater Hospital in 2003 through 2005, the best treatment for a sting is to apply hot water to the affected area. Hot water used in the study was fixed at 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). The hot water eases the pain of a sting by degrading the toxins. [1]

Applying ice to the area of the sting is a also fairly effective way to suppress the pain. Ice works by making the toxins less active and reduces the sensation and therefore pain of the area of skin around the ice. It was originally thought that applying ice was the best way of dealing with Man o' War stings before the study was done. Lifesavers around the world still use ice to treat the stings of this species.

Ointments that are specifically designed to treat Man o' War stings seem to have little effect.

The use of vinegar to treat stings is controversial. It appears that vinegar can make the sting more painful in some cases, while other victims report relief after applying vinegar. One should never apply vinegar while the tentacle is still attached to the body, as this will cause the stinging cells to inject more venom.

It is often confused with a jellyfish, which is incorrect and may lead to improper treatment of stings, as the poison is different. A second sting may lead to an allergic reaction.

Answer 2

It can either be a fish called a Portuguese man-of-war.This is a noun. It is a complex colonial siphonophore of the genus Physalia, of warm seas, having a bluish bladderlike float with a broad saillike crest from which hang numerous long stinging tentacles. Or it can be a warship. In this sense a man of war (also man-of-war, man-o'-war or simply man) is an armed naval vessel. The term often refers particularly to ships propelled primarily by sails and armed with cannon, as opposed to a galley, propelled primarily by oars. The man of war was developed in the Mediterranean in the 15th century from earlier roundships with the addition of a second mast to form the carrack. The 16th century saw the carrack evolve into the galleon and then the ship of the line. Hope I helped.
Brandon S.

Answer 3

The Portuguese Man O' War (Physalia physalis), also known as the bluebottle, is commonly thought of as a jellyfish but is actually a siphonophore—a colony of four sorts of polyps.

Answer 4

I thought Man-O-War killed people. You're lucky. I know the scars that leave smaller jellyfish fade with time. What treatment did you get from the sting? One fast remedy is to literally "pee" where the jellyfish attacked you. That's no joke. I leave by the beach in Puerto Rico and that is what fisherman suggest.

Answer 5

Man-o-War is also a power metal band, they have the record for most decibals not in a war zone.

Answer 6

A very dangerous jellfish or a type of British warship in the 1800s.

Answer 7

1. A type of jellyfish
2. A type of sailing vessel
3. The name of a famous race horse

Answer 8

It is a jelly fish and a race horse and a place! But the link here shows the jelly fish.

Answer 9

A jelly fish

Answer 10

A race horse and a darn good one I might add.