Photoshop-enhanced jellyfish, I imagine. The Portuguese Man-o-war is not a jellyfish (scyphozoan), but a hydrozoan--specifically, a type of siphonophore. The main body of the creature is usually about a foot in length and floats on the surface. The tentacles usually dangle some twenty to fifty feet underwater.
That jellyfish is not floating, and it is much larger than the largest recorded jellyfish (A lion's mane jellyfish about 8 feet across, with tentacles trailing about 200).
I figured it wasn't a man-o-war, on account of it looks nothing like one. However, they're the biggest "jelly like" thing I could think of off the top of my head. I had no idea they weren't an actual jelly though. And now i know what the biggest jelly is too, sweet!
I am also relieved to hear that's a photoshop, and not some montstrous tropical jelly from the deep or something. I don't trust jellies.
I don't live anywhere near an ocean, but I wouldn't trust 'em either. Most cnidarians (including jellyfish, corals, siphonophores, and anything else with nematocysts/stinging cells) are harmless, or nearly so, but it's worth noting that the box jellyfish (http://www.cairnsholiday.com.au/GreatBarrierReef/box_jellyfish.htm) (encountered off the eastern coast of Australia) is regarded as quite possibly the single deadliest aquatic animal. It's not technically a scyphozoan, but a member of a similar class called cubozoa (the picture and the name can probably tell you why they call it that).
I've read that wearing nylon stockings reduces the effectiveness of the jellys' nematocysts, and that swimmers are advised to bring vinegar to the beach, as it deactivates nematocysts. So you occasionally see these Australian bodyguards wearing nylon stockings, and people coming to the beach with jugs of distilled vinegar.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 06:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 07:16 pm (UTC)I know Man-o-wars can get pretty long, but most of that is tentacle.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 07:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 07:20 pm (UTC)I could be wrong, however.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 07:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 07:24 pm (UTC)The Portuguese Man-o-war is not a jellyfish (scyphozoan), but a hydrozoan--specifically, a type of siphonophore. The main body of the creature is usually about a foot in length and floats on the surface. The tentacles usually dangle some twenty to fifty feet underwater.
That jellyfish is not floating, and it is much larger than the largest recorded jellyfish (A lion's mane jellyfish about 8 feet across, with tentacles trailing about 200).
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 07:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 07:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 08:50 pm (UTC)I had no idea they weren't an actual jelly though. And now i know what the biggest jelly is too, sweet!
I am also relieved to hear that's a photoshop, and not some montstrous tropical jelly from the deep or something. I don't trust jellies.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 09:07 pm (UTC)I've read that wearing nylon stockings reduces the effectiveness of the jellys' nematocysts, and that swimmers are advised to bring vinegar to the beach, as it deactivates nematocysts. So you occasionally see these Australian bodyguards wearing nylon stockings, and people coming to the beach with jugs of distilled vinegar.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 09:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-28 09:52 pm (UTC)YAAAAAAAY!
-- Steve's still chuckling over the sweater picture.
In which I gank an icon from the weasel king once again...
Date: 2005-09-29 12:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-09-29 01:30 pm (UTC)