Portuguese man o’ war spotted on Anna Maria Island and other Florida beaches
Beachcombers beware! The next time you’re walking along Anna Maria Island beaches, you may want to watch your step.
If you come across a jewel-toned blob on the shoreline, it could be a Portuguese man o’ war. Its sting can leave welts long after its arrival on the beach.
While a venomous sting from their tentacles can kill small fish and crustaceans, the National Ocean Service says they are rarely deadly to humans. Because they can continue to sting for weeks after landing ashore, beachgoers should avoid them, if possible.
Heather Bohm-Tallman was enjoying an early morning stroll on Coquina Beach on Tuesday when she came across this siphonophore, a species closely related to jellyfish, in the sand.
In a text with the Bradenton Herald, Bohm-Tallman said she saw five of the creatures in different spots on her walk.
Spring breakers in the Florida Panhandle’s South Walton Beach are being warned of an “infestation” of the dangerous marine life.
“I’ve lived here over 40 years and never saw one. Awesome!” one person commented on a post of the photo in a Facebook group called Island Ratz Unite, a group that shares posts about Anna Maria Island.
Another person said “Never saw them this far north before and I’ve lived here 51 years.”
Recent strong winds have washed the men o’ war on South Florida beaches recently as well.
This story was originally published March 15, 2023 at 1:44 PM.
