Bluebottles

The Portuguese man-o'-war or bluebottle (Physalia physalus), is well known throughout Australian waters (and both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans) for causing painful stings. No fatalities have been confirmed in Australia. The float, or 'body' measures 2-15 cm, while the main or fishing tentacle may be up to 10m long. This tentacle is responsible for most of the stings. The larger Atlantic specimens probably represent more of a threat to human life. Its venom contains lethal and haemolytic components and has been shown to produce nerve conduction disturbances, flaccid paralysis and smooth muscle contraction in experimental animals. In human envenomation, pain is the most prominent feature, along with localized skin lesions with a "string of beads" appearance; discrete weals surrounded by erythema. Systemic symptoms are uncommon but may include headache, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and occasionally collapse. First aid consists of removal of the tentacles, preferably with forceps. Vinegar is not recommended. Analgesia may be required, although most stings respond to ice packs and/or topical anaesthetic agents

• Portuguese man-o'-war

Related Treatments

• Jellyfish, Treatment for stings

Related Venomous creatures

• Jellyfish, Australian, Class: Scyphozoa

Journal Articles

• Bernstein, J., 'Beware the Portuguese Man-Of-War', Natural History, vol. 56, no. 3, 1947, pp. 136-137, 144. [ Details... ]
• Frachtman, H. J. and McCollum, W. T., 'Portuguese Man-Of-War Stings: A Case Report', The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 25, no. 6, 1945, pp. 499-500. [ Details... ]
• Klein, W. E. and Bradshaw, R. H., 'Portuguese Man-Of-War Sting', United States Armed Forces Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3, 1951, pp. 509-512. [ Details... ]
• McNeill, F. A., 'The Blue-Bottle-Terror of the Surf Bather', Aust. Mus. Mag., vol. 6, no. 7, 1937, pp. 223-226. [ Details... ]
• Totton, A. K. and Mackie, G. O, 'Dimorphism in the Portuguese Man-of-War', Nature, vol. 177, 1956, p. 290. [ Details... ]
• Van Liere, E. J., 'Sherlock Holmes and the Portuguese Man-of-War', West Virginia Medical Journal, vol. 48, no. 1, 1952, pp. 10-12. [ Details... ]
• Woodcock, A. H., 'Dimorphism in the Portuguese Man-Of-War', Nature, vol. 178, 1956, pp. 253-255. [ Details... ]