Bathers got a nasty shock at Praia Formosa this week when they found Portuguese Man-O-War jellyfish on the beach.
The venom of the Portuguese Man-O-War is identical to that of the Black Widow spider, causing severe pain and third-degree burns, which can cause permanent scarring.
Portuguese Man-O-War can’t swim; they move through the flotation of their gaseous vesicle (which can rise 15 cm above the surface of the water). This allows them to move with the wind and marine currents.
They are distinguished by their blue, pink, or purplish colour, and have tentacles that can reach up to 50 meters in length. They are still dangerous even if they appear dead.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: JM
