Masses of dead Portugese Man O’ War, ‘unprecedented number’ washing ashore in Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago #PortugeseManOWar #Trinidad and #Tobago

The Portugese Man O’ War, a marine animal that resembles a jelly fish, continue to wash ashore in unprecedented numbers along the beaches on Trinidad east and north coasts.

These organisms classified by the Institute of Marine Affairs as a dangerous marine creature, are known as siphonophore.

There differences between jellyfish and the Portugese Man O’ War.

Doctor Judith Gobin a clinical ecologist and Lecturer at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine told the Express yesterday: “The Portuguese man o’ war is often called a jellyfish as it looks like one. It is easily recognized by its balloon-like float, which may be blue, violet, or pink and reaches to about six inches above the water. It is actually a species of siphonophore, another group of animals that is closely related to jellyfish.”

Courtesy of stabroeknews.com

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