Physalia (Noun)
Meaning
Portuguese man-of-war.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Physalia is a genus of siphonophores commonly known as the Portuguese man-of-war, and can deliver painful stings through its many stinging cells.
- The Portuguese man-of-war, physalia, is formed by the combination of many individual polyps that function as a colony.
- Physalia stings typically result in linear raised welts, along with redness, itching and swelling.
- Marine animals can mistake physalia for food and may inadvertently ingest the hazardous siphonophore.
- In some seas physalia are an attractive and inedible component of the local marine food chain.