Don't be fooled by the looks of Portuguese Man-of-War. Yes, the purplish-blue skin makes it adorable, but authorities have a warning -- it is dangerous and poisonous.
There have been several sightings of this creature in Ocean and Cape May counties, and more than two dozen have been found in New Jersey on Saturday. The first sighting was reported on June 21 in Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Island, as per NJ.com.
Ship Bottom's Chief Lifeguard Keith Stokes said people are used to seeing a clear jellyfish on the shore, where kids pick them up and sell on the beach. However, Portuguese Man-of-War is venomous, so he warns people to be mindful.
They may look like jelly fish, but they're not. Gary Buchanan of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Science said that they [Portuguese Man-of-War] are related to jellyfish, but they are called siphonophores.
Its tentacles can grow between 10 to 30 feet. Its length can sometimes reach up to 160 feet.
Their stings make them lethal, but how venomous they can be is dependent on many factors, RT has learned. These factors are the victim's age, size, sting location and overall health.
Just like a bee or spider, if somebody is allergic to their sting, they can go into anaphylactic shock. It can be a lethal event if the victim gets stung in the neck, where so much of the venom can be possibly injected into the bloodstream.
Angel Yanagihara, of University of Hawaii, said that women and children are more at risk than men primarily because their skin is thinner.
One thing that's fascinating about this creature is their composition. It may seem to appear as one single organisms, but it's actually composed of multiple genetically identical individual parts.
Each has their distinct function, and if separated, they cannot survive on their own.
So how do you not get stung? Their sting cells are active, even if they're dead, Live Science reported. It's quite simple, don't touch them, so they won't hurt you.
Better listen to the warnings of the lifeguards on duty. Remember, their tentacles are long so it will be hard to avoid their stinging prowess once you're near them.
If you accidentally get stung, don't pee on it because it will aggravate the pain. Wash it up and put some vinegar or any other acidic compound.
Finally, seek medical care immediately if you're having a bad sting reaction. Watch out for difficulty of breathing because it is a sign of severe allergic reaction.
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