New Yorkers flocking to Florida for a fun vacation in the sun will have to watch out for these sea creatures that can cause painful stings.
Portuguese man-of-war (jellyfish-related marine animals with 30-foot tentacles) are washing up on South Florida beaches due to recent strong winds in the region, the Miami Herald reported.
The non-swimming species gets its name from the way it floats on water, resembling the sails of 18th-century Portuguese warships, according to the National Ocean Service.
They are known to emerge on coastlines in late fall and winter when windy weather increases.
“My ‘hunch’ is that there is a seasonal change in trade winds, currents, or the occurrence/frequency of winter storms that creates a flow toward the coast, pushing animals to South Florida beaches in the winter,” said William “Monty” Graham, director. from the Florida Institute of Oceanography, told the outlet.
A seasonal change in South Florida winds has sent the creatures onto the beaches. AP
Their long tentacles, which contain poison that can kill small fish, can extend 100 feet.
Although their bite is rarely fatal to humans, it is painful and causes welts to form on the skin.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn