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Portuguese man-of-war
(redirected from Portuguese men-of-war)

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Portuguese man-of-war
[por′chəgēs]
any member of the genus Physalia, in the phylum Cnidaria. All species have a large purple air sac that allows them to float on the surface of the water, and from which many long tentacles of stinging polyps hang. The tentacles are equipped with nematocysts that are able to penetrate the skin of humans, causing intense pain. Paralysis can result from numerous stings.
Portuguese man-of-war, man-o'-war
see physalia physalis.
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CAPTION(S): Sixth formers Rachel Carn and Emma Smith from Birmingham with one of the 10 Portuguese Men-of-War they found on Rhosneigr beach, Anglesey
Men-of-war are on our shores; Scores of venomous creatures washed up by Daily Post (Liverpool, England)
When you have achieved, you think, the perfect passive state, come and see the most barren line of shore and watch the Portuguese men-of-war, flung just beyond the tide's receding reach, beached translucent kidneys, trimmed in amethyst, marooned, it seems, subject to gull's prick, wind's slap, and the sun's up-sucking rays, who have not even brain to think of green back wash or cells enough to hope a rescue from the lapping wave.
Advice to a novice by McEvily, Mary Ellen Foster / Cross Currents
 
 
 
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