Physalies, the Ultra-Stinging “Fake Jellyfish” Invading This Country’s Beaches

Physalies, the Ultra-Stinging “Fake Jellyfish” Invading This Country’s Beaches

The calm shores of the Bay of Biscay have lately been dealing with an unexpected nuisance—the Portuguese man o’ war, a sea critter that often gets mistaken for a jellyfish. With its long, stinging tentacles and nasty venom, this creature has led to several beach closures and injuries along the coasts of France and Spain. As more of these float up onshore, both locals and visitors are on alert. Spotting the marine troublemaker The Portuguese man …