From highland cows to red deer, Britain is home to some of the most incredible animals around the world.
But experts have warned of an influx of a rather unexpected creature to British shores – the Portuguese Man O’War.
In its latest report, the Marine Conservation Society has revealed that 280 of the deadly creatures have been spotted on UK shores this year.
That’s a 16 per cent increase on the number of sightings last year.
Often mistaken for jellyfish, the Portuguese Man O’War is actually a siphonophore – a colony of tiny zooids all working together as if one animal.
While they’re undeniably stunning to look at, experts have urged beachgoers to steer clear.
‘The tentacles contain stinging nematocysts, microscopic capsules loaded with coiled, barbed tubes that deliver venom capable of paralyzing and killing small fish and crustaceans,’ the National Ocean Service explained.
‘While the man o’ war’s sting is rarely deadly to people, it packs a painful punch and causes welts on exposed skin.’
From highland cows to red deer, Britain is home to some of the most incredible animals around the world. But experts have warned of an influx of a rather unexpected creature to British shores – the Portuguese Man O’War
In its latest report, the Marine Conservation Society has revealed that 280 of the deadly creatures have been spotted on UK shores this year
This year’s report – covering 1st October 2023 to 30th September 2024 – shows that a total of 1,432 jellyfish were spotted in the UK this year
This year’s report – covering 1st October 2023 to 30th September 2024 – shows that a total of 1,432 jellyfish were spotted in the UK this year.
Moon jellyfish topped the list, with 286 spotted, followed by Compass jellyfish (280 spotted), and Portuguese Man O’Wars (280 spotted).
Calum Duncan, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the Marine Conservation Society, said: ‘The rise in Portuguese man o’ war sightings in October may be attributed to strong westerly winds bringing them to our shores.
‘Historically, these creatures have not been prevalent in UK and Irish waters, so their increase could be related to shifts in our climate or alterations in the marine ecosystem.’
The Portuguese Man O’War is also known as the ‘Bluebottle’, and is typically found in warm, tropical and subtropical waters.
However, it can sometimes be blown into UK seas on westerly winds and washed ashore on the west coast of the UK.
This is usually the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall, but they are increasingly being sighted in West and North Wales, and even as far north as Cumbria.
While the main body usually measures just 11 inches (30cm) long, the tentacles can stretch out as far as 65ft (20 metres).
The Portuguese Man O’War is also known as the ‘Bluebottle’, and is typically found in warm, tropical and subtropical waters
The strange creature has a large purple body, with the crest tipped with pink and long blue-purple tentacles
While the main body usually measures just 11 inches (30cm) long, the tentacles can stretch out as far as 65ft (20 metres)
And it’s these tentacles that can land you in hot water.
‘They are fearsome predators, catching small fish and crustaceans with their long stinging tentacles,’ the Dorset Wildlife Trust has previously explained.
‘It’s these tentacles that you need to watch out for too – they can sting long after the animal has died.’
The strange creature has a large purple body, with the crest tipped with pink and long blue-purple tentacles.
They quickly lose their colour after stranding, and can appear translucent with just a tinge of purple.
The experts believe the increase in sightings could be related to climate change, with the jellyfish and Portuguese Man O’Wars attracted to the warmer waters.
‘Jellyfish populations are highly variable year on year, and depend on several environmental factors that are different each year, such as sea temperatures and storms,’ said Dr Peter Richardson, Head of Ocean Recovery at the Marine Conservation Society.
