Marco Island, Fla. (WFLA) – A highly toxic blue, balloon-like creature is washed away on beaches in Florida’s Gulf Coast.
NBC affiliate WBBH said they were surprised that beach fans found multiple Portuguese O’Wars washed away along South Beach on Marco Island and nearby Sand Doll Island.
30 peacocks dead as birds continue to disappear from Florida towns, says the neighbor
The news station reported that creatures are often mistaken for jellyfish, but they are syphonophores and floating colonies of creatures that act as one.
They live in warmer parts of the Atlantic and Indian oceans and are not usually found in the bays.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the National Marine and Atmospheric Administration said the creature’s tentacles reached about 30 feet, some recorded at over 160 feet.
According to the NOAA, stung by a man in war can cause severe pain, welt, allergic reactions, and in rare cases, heart or respiratory complications.
“We were walking down the island and the woman said, ‘Hey, that’s a man. Don’t step on that.” And we looked like three or four of them…we’re four years old.
Man O’War Tentacles can still be stinged when washed and dried.
