Killer Jellyfish!!

Today in class we discussed the "Portuguese Man-of-War" is found in the waters of Hawaii. I found this species interesting because when I was younger and travelling in Mexico, a woman in the ocean near me had a sea snake wrapped around her leg. She was not phased by this, and proceeded to show her5 year old daughter. The beach security cleared the beach and grabbed the woman. The snake was exteremely poisonous, and if it bit this woman, she would die within 30 minutes. The topic today reminded me of this situation.

The man-of-war ranges or occurs most commonly in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the northern Atlantic Gulf Stream, although found in warm seas throughout the world. It is sometimes found floating - some even say "swarming" - in groups of thousands.

The man-of-war's body consists of a gas-filled (mostly nitrogen), bladder-like float (a polyp, the pneumatophore) - a translucent structure tinted pink, blue, or violet - which may be 3 to 12 inches (9 to 30 centimeters) long and may extend as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) above the water.

Beneath the float are clusters of polyps, from which hang tentacles of up to 165 feet (about 50 meters) in length. The polyps are three different types that are concerned, with detecting and capturing prey, with reproducing, and with feeding. The "animal" moves by means of its crest, which functions as a sail.

Tentacles of the dactylozooids bear stinging nematocystic (coiled thread-like) structures that paralyze small fish and other prey. The gastrozooids then attach to the immobilized victim, spread over it, digesting it. The Portuguese man-of-war is eaten by other animals, including the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta.

In case you are stung by a Portuguese Man-of-War, this is what you should do:

1. Pick off any visible tentacles with a gloved hand, stick, or anything handy, being careful to avoid further injury.

2. Rinse the sting thoroughly with salt or fresh water to remove any adhering tentacles.

3. Apply ice for pain control.

4. Irrigate exposed eyes with copious amounts of room temperature tap water for at least 15 minutes. If vision blurs, or the eyes continue to tear, hurt, swell, or are light sensitive after irrigating, see a doctor.

5. For persistent itching or skin rash, try 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment four times a day, and one or two 25 milligram diphenhydramine (Benadryl) tablets every 6 hours. These drugs are sold without prescription. Diphenhydramine may cause drowsiness. Don't drive, swim or surf after taking this medication.