The marine world is a fascinating place, and among all the mysteries it holds, the biodiversity of species is the one that arouses the most curiosity. Among the immense number of animals that live in the oceans are the cnidarians, a group that shares, among other aspects, the ability to inject venom - the potency of which varies depending on the species - to hunt or defend itself. In this PlanetAnimal fact sheet, we invite you to discover everything about the Portuguese galley (Physalia physalis) also called physalia or sea bladder, which looks like a jellyfish, but is not really one.Read on and find out what type of animal it is and its main characteristics!
Origin
- Africa
- America
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
Characteristics of the Portuguese galley
The Portuguese galley is also known as Physalia or sea bladder. It is a very particular animal, which is generally considered a type of jellyfish, but which, from a point taxonomically, belongs to a different group from the latter. Together, let's learn more about the main characteristics of the Portuguese galley:
- It belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, to the class Hydrozoa and to the order Siphonophores. The latter are colonial organisms, made up of medusoid and polypoid individuals, all of which have specialized functions within the colony.
- They have four types of specialized structures: a pneumatophore or floater, dactylozoids or tentacles, gastrozooids or food zooids and gonozoids responsible for the production of gametes for reproduction.
- The tentacles are loaded with cnidocytes or toxic cells.
- They have a large number of sensory cells: they are located in the tentacles and around the mouth and they use them for touch and temperature.
- A part of the body is out of the water: it is the pneumatophore or float, which is translucent, with a blue, purple or pinkish tint.
- The float measures between 9 and 30 cm long, and about 150 cm high: it is filled with a mixture of gases, part of which is produced by the animal and the other part is absorbed by the 'air.
- The pneumatophore functions both as a float and as a sail: it propels the animal through the water under the action of the wind.
- The tentacles are submerged: they are fairly long structures, around 10 to 20 meters, which are used to catch food.
Where does the Portuguese galley live?
The Portuguese galley is widespread, found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Its habitat is surface water with tropical or subtropical conditions, and it is commonly found in the Caribbean Sea:
- Caribbean Sea
- Florida Coasts
- Gulf of Mexico
- Sargasso Sea
Now that you know where the Portuguese caravel lives, read on to learn more about its habits and diet.
Habits of the Portuguese Galley
The Portuguese galley or Physalia moves passively because it goes where the wind takes it.The direction in which it moves depends on the arrangement of the pneumatophore, which, depending on the individual, can be on the right or on the left. In this sense, since she is not able to swim on her own, it is common that in some areas many of them wash up on the shore, while others are pushed out to sea.
This type of cnidarian, since it floats, is located between the interface of water and air, so it is exposed to the conditions of solar radiation, waves, winds, as well as to the underwater environment. When there is an attack on the surface, it has the ability to deflate and sink momentarily.
What does the Portuguese galley eat?
The Portuguese galley's diet is carnivorous and it uses its tentacles, loaded with cnidocytes, to trap and paralyze its prey. Once the food is trapped and immobilized, it is transported to the polyps responsible for digestion, which are a type of stomach in the form of a pouch, located under the float.
Once the food is introduced, a series of digestive enzymes transform the food. The parts that are not digested are expelled through the mouth.
Common prey of the Portuguese galley are:
- Adult fish
- Alevins (young fish)
- Shrimps
- Other crustaceans
- Zooplankton
Reproduction of the Portuguese galley
" As we said, each Portuguese galley is actually a colony, unisexual, that is, each individual is either male or female, and depending on the case, it produces eggs or sperm. There is no precision on the location of fertilization, but it is believed to occur in the open sea, in response to a chemical reaction that occurs when several colonies are grouped together. In general, reproduction takes place in autumn, so that in winter and spring, the offspring can be observed."
Once the sex cells are released, the sperm fertilizes the egg and then gives birth to a larva, which will gradually turn into a zooid that will produce a new colony. The process initially takes place underwater, where the larva develops. Initially, the float and a feeding zooid form. Then, the tentacles, the gastrozooid itself and the gonozoids arise.
Picture of the Portuguese galley
A characteristic feature of all cnidarians is the presence of cnidocytes, hence the name of the group, which are specialized cells endowed with toxic substances that paralyze their prey or predators. These structures are also used for self-defense. But what happens if you are stung by a Portuguese galley?
Toxicity levels vary from species to species, some are only slightly harmful or almost imperceptible to humans, but in other cases their bite can be fatal.Portuguese galley bites are dangerous to humans, especially in children and susceptible adults. In some cases, contact with its tentacles causes intense pain and leaves red marks, but in others it can cause allergic reactions and even anaphylactic shock.
In any case, it is always advisable to immediately go to a he alth center when an unfortunate encounter with the Portuguese galley occurs.
On the other hand, as we mentioned, many of these galleys end up washed up on the beach and many children may want to play them, but you should know that even dead the Portuguese galley can always sting.
State of conservation of the Portuguese galley
The state of conservation of the Portuguese galley does not have a special status. In fact, it has not been assessed for inclusion in the Red List of Threatened Species, nor has it been included for special consideration.
Pictures of Portuguese galley
