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A siphonophore resembles a jelly, but it is not actually an individual organism.
Siphonophores, such as the Portuguese man-o-war, are really colonies of specialized individuals. One individual in the group transforms itself into a gas-filled float. The others form stinging tentacles that kill prey.
The man-o-war's tentacles hang well below the float and can be up to 30 feet (9m) long. Stinging cells at the tips are used to kill prey, such as crustaceans, fish, algae, and other plankton. The prey is then lifted into the colony's float, where other members do the work of digestion. Nutrients are shared through a connected gut system, and a network of nerves helps the individuals communicate. The man-o-war's sting is very painful to humans, and wounds may not heal for weeks. | |
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