Man o’ War Invasion: A Texas Coast Sting Operation

Watch where you step along the Texas coastline. Countless Portuguese man o' war (Man o' wars? Men o' war?) are washing ashore the southern coast of America, including Texas.

What is a Man o' War?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Portuguese man o' war is not actually a jellyfish, even though they often look identical.

A man o' war is comprised of a colony of tiny clones called zooids where each are responsible for a specific function like capturing prey or floating.

These jellyfish look-alikes can be found in groups as large as 1,000 or more as they float along the ocean!

They get their interesting name due to their resemblance to an 18th-century warship with the sail in full display. These "sails" are actually the balloon-like floating portion of their body that pokes out of the water, acting like a sail to travel great distances.

They creepy part is that they have super long tentacles that dangle down as long as 30 feet beneath the water's surface. These tentacles are equipped with stinging barbs that are capable of paralyzing or even killing small fish.

Man o' War in Texas

Recently, Jamaica Beach, TX notified residents via Facebook about the infestation:

Chron reported that, because these creatures rely on the wind and water currents to travel, they often wash up on beaches to die.

The danger doesn't end in death, however. Men o' war are capable of delivering stings even after they die. So, it's highly advised against to handle the tentacles at any point on the beach.

If stung, humans can experience extreme pain accompanied with welts on exposed skin. It's advised that you immediately douse the affected area in vinegar to "deactivate the stingers," Chron states.