Posted in North Carolina
May 05, 2020
BOLO For The Portuguese Man O War Fish Spotted Over The Weekend On The North Carolina Coast
The start of another beach season in North Carolina has ushered another timely visit from the Portuguese man o’ war, a predatory creature found in the Atlantic, but not as prevalent as its close relative, the jellyfish. Over the last weekend, officials at Cape Lookout National Seashore spotted more than one Portuguese man o war stranded on the sand by the receding tidewater.
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In this photo from Cape Lookout, a Blue Bottle Portuguese Man O' War was snapped by a National Park Service employee in early May 2020.

But below the surface lurk dozens of tentacles that can be as along as 100 feet.

The tentacles are constantly moving underneath the water in search of prey. Whatever they come into contact with suffers a venomous sting that's powerful enough to paralyze even large fish.

In this photo, the arm of a child has come into contact with a Portuguese man o' war. The image you see here was taken the following day.


Proceed with caution around creatures you may find in the sand, and consider packing up your gear and leaving the beach entirely if you spot even a single one in the water.
Learn more about this fascinating and sometimes deadly creature in the following YouTube video from Nat Geo WILD:
Learn more about this fascinating and sometimes deadly creature in the following YouTube video from Nat Geo WILD:
Before heading out to the beach for the day, consider checking local beach reports for Portuguese man ‘o war sightings. If you suffer a sting, seek medical assistance for your wounds.
Have you ever encountered a Portuguese man o’ war on the North Carolina coast? Tell us in the comments.
Address: North Carolina, USA