While walking on the beach at San Jose Island on the Texas Gulf Coast I spotted something bright blue. The Portuguese Man O’ War arrived on the beach while I was walking along taking photos of the collection of things washed up on shore. I was beachcombing with my camera, leaving everything in place but getting pics of some interesting stuff.
And the Portuguese Man of War was by far the most intriguing and colorful item on display at the beaches around Port Aransas and Rockport Texas. But it’s not something you ever want to get too close to or certainly you should never touch one, even if it’s no longer alive.
Is the Portuguese Man of War a Jellyfish?
Also known as a blue bottle, I didn’t know much else about these marvelous creatures. But I did know that you do NOT want to touch a Portuguese Man of War!
Since it looks like a jellyfish, I knew for certain not to let any part of the tentacles contact my skin.
But is the Portuguese Man of War a jellyfish?
No, even though it looks like a jellyfish and stings like a jellyfish the Portuguese Man of War is called a siphonophore.
The siphonophore is a colony of four different organisms. What?! Wow!
The four organisms are:
- The float is the balloon looking structure that allows it to move around the water
- Tentacles sting and paralyze prey
- Special tentacles that take care of eating
- Reproductive system
All of these segments work together basically creating a specialized colony. You would never guess from looking at this animal that it’s actually a group of organisms joined together as one. Isn’t nature amazing?!
Don’t Touch the Portuguese Man of War
If you visit Port Aransas and decide to do the boat trip over to Sant Jose Island (St Jos) be careful, especially if you are traveling with kids.
And watch where you step on the beach, this man of war appeared on the beach just before I turned around to walk back to the dock. It definitely wasn’t there on my way down the beach!
Portuguese Man of War on the Texas Gulf Coast – beachcombing at St Jos Island by Port Aransas
The thing is, when you do see one you kind of want to touch it. But just don’t do it!
Even if the Portuguese Man of War is dead the tentacles can still cause serious harm for up to a few days afterwards.
Every once in a while a bunch of the man of war (what is the plural form – men of war? man of wars?) wash up on the shores of the Texas Gulf coast.
In February 2019 several Portuguese Man of War washed up on South Padre Island beaches. Check out this Facebook post from Padre Island National Seashore:
Portuguese Man-O’-War (blue bottle) on the beach of St Jos Island in Texas
Final Thoughts on Portuguese Man of War
While the Portuguese Man of War is certainly colorful and commands attention be sure to only look and not touch this amazing sea creature. If you are in the water and see any siphonophores or jellyfish you’ll want to keep a safe distance away, for me that would mean getting out of the water! Stay safe and be aware of your surroundings while at the beach and swimming or wading in the ocean.
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