Community Corner
Stinging Sea Creatures Seen on Vineyard Sands: The Portuguese Man o' War is Back
Going to the beach on Martha's Vineyard? Watch out for the stinging tendrils of the Portuguese Man o' War: Several of the toxic siphonophores — not to be confused with jellyfish — have reportedly washed ashore on the south side of the Island.
The Trustees of Reservations was first to sound the alarm this week, posting Wednesday on Facebook:
Caution at Norton Point! Just heard a report from Ranger Rick that about a dozen Portuguese Man O' Wars have washed up on the beach. Walkers, please watch your step!
Articles in the Vineyard Gazette and Martha's Vineyard Times soon followed, warning beach-goers to tread cautiously in order to avoid not only the stinging tendrils of the Portuguese Man o' War but the fragile nests of piping plovers, a protected bird species now breeding on Island beaches.
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Both creatures should be avoided: the plovers because they need to fledge their young before we can safely tramp through their nesting areas, and the Portuguese Man o' War because its toxic trailers can transmit a painful sting.
What to do if you get stung by a Portuguese Man o' War, according to medical and scientific papers cited on Wikipedia:
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- Remove any parts of the tentacles clinging to your skin, but don't use fingers or you'll risk more burning
- Rinse the affected area with salt water — not fresh water (except as below) or vinegar, which can make things worse
- Ease the sting out of the toxins by treating the affected area with hot water
- If your eyes are affected, flood them with room-temperature water for 15 minutes and seek a doctor's care if this does not help
- Don't tell the doctor you were stung by a jellyfish: Jellyfish toxins are different from the venom in Portuguese Man o' War tendrils
The name Man o' War comes from the resemblance of its gas-bladder to an early warship under full sail.
Not a jellyfish, the Portuguese Man o' War is a composite creature known as a siphonophore, according to marine biologists: It's made up of multiple tiny organisms working together — not unlike the crew of an actual fighting ship.
It uses its venomous tendrils, which can be 30, 40 and even 100 feet long, to parayze prey. But the harsh toxins can also inflict a stinging burn on human skin with welts that can last for days; in some cases, worse complications, including allergic reactions, can ensue.
The Portuguese Man o' War is a familiar summer visitor to Island beaches, but is making its 2013 debut a few weeks earlier than usual, according to the local newspaper reports.
Have you ever tangled with a Portuguese Man o' War? Tell us in the comments.
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