Portuguese Man o' War (Physalia physalis)

Portuguese Man o' War, a reference photo — Photo: Image courtesy of Islands in the Sea 2002, NOAA/OER. · Public domain

The Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis), also known as the man-of-war, bluebottle, or sometimes called Caravela Portuguesa (a name of Portuguese origin), is a marine hydrozoan found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. While it is typically considered the only species in its genus, Physalia, and family, Physaliidae, genetic evidence suggests there may be more.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

Considered venomous. Public sources list it as such; we have not verified this individually. Some hydrozoans, including the Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis) Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

Physalia megalista — venomous
Physalia minuta — venomous
Physalia utriculus — venomous

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Order: Siphonophorae
Family: Physaliidae
Genus: Physalia
Species: Physalia physalis

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