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Walk Around Turtle Island Walk Around Turtle Island (An informative web site on Native Americans, and North American Wildlife.)

Dennis Vieira, author of the recently published Totem Animals: A Lecture: presents his e-magazine, showcasing his writings both published and unpublished. Providing many facts on Native American ways and beliefs, and the natural history of the wildlife they shared their “earth walk” with.

Native Words AdditionalPotpourri of things # 129. (Ojibwe language)Vinegar zhiiwaaboo
18/08/2024

Native Words Additional
Potpourri of things # 129.

(Ojibwe language)

Vinegar zhiiwaaboo

Special featurePortuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis) (Siphonophorae) order (Scientific classification)by Dennis J. V...
18/08/2024

Special feature

Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis) (Siphonophorae) order

(Scientific classification)

by Dennis J. Vieira: Author & Editor of Walk Around Turtle Island

Comment:

When Portuguese man o' war are blown in great numbers into the shallows and wash up on shore. Beach closings usually are sure, for even when dead their te****les can still venomously sting for many days after.

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(Cnidaria) phylum dates back to c. 640 million years ago

As soft bodied animals there is no fossil record of siphonophores, though they have evolved and adapted for an extensive time period. Though once believed to be a highly distinct group, larval similarities and morphological features have led researchers to believe that siphonophores had evolved from simpler colonial hydrozoans similar to those in the orders (Anthoathecata) and (Leptothecata). So, consequently, they are now united with these in the subclass (Hydroidolina). Though their phylum, (Cnidaria), is an ancient lineage that dates back to c. 640 million years ago.

Introduction(Siphonophorae: (A) Rhizophysa eysenhardtii scale bar = 1 cm, (B) Bathyphysa conifera 2 cm, (C) Hippopodius ...
18/08/2024

Introduction

(Siphonophorae: (A) Rhizophysa eysenhardtii scale bar = 1 cm, (B) Bathyphysa conifera 2 cm, (C) Hippopodius hippopus 5 mm, (D) Kephyes hiulcus 2 mm (E) Desmophyes haematogaster 5 mm (F) Sphaeronectes christiansonae 2 mm, (G) Praya dubia 40 m (130 ft), (H) Apolemia sp. 1 cm, (I) Lychnagalma utricularia 1 cm, (J) Nanomia sp. 1 cm, (K) Physophora hydrostatica 5 mm)

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(Siphonophorae) order organisms have been classified into the phylum (Cnidaria) and the class (Hydrozoa). They are highly polymorphic and complex organisms, as although they may appear to be individual organisms, each specimen is in fact a colonial organism in composed of medusoid and polypoid zooids that are morphologically and functionally specialized. These Zooids in are multicellular units that develop from a single fertilized egg and combine to create functional colonies able to reproduce, digest, float, maintain body positioning, and use jet propulsion to move.

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There are currently according to the World Register of Marine Species WORMS) in identified 175 species of siphonophores. Additionally, in considered the most important researcher of siphonophores, A. K. Totton introduced 23 new species of siphonophores during the mid-20th century. These alien looking creatures can differ greatly in terms of size and shape, which largely reflects the environment that they inhabit. In fact, on April 6, 2020, the Schmidt Ocean Institute announced the discovery of a giant (Apolemia) siphonophore in submarine canyons near Ningaloo Coast, measuring 15 m (49 ft) diameter with a ring approximately 47 m (154 ft) long, possibly the largest siphonophore, and longest animal, ever recorded.

Most in often pelagic organisms, yet level Siphonophores species are benthic. In carnivorous feeders with smaller, warm water siphonophores typically in living in the epipelagic zone and use their te****les to capture zooplankton and copepods. While larger siphonophores live in deeper waters, as they are generally longer and more fragile and must avoid strong currents. They in mostly feeding on larger prey. With the majority of siphonophores in living in the deep sea and can be found in all of the oceans.

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Though Siphonophore species rarely only inhabit one location. However, some species, can be confined to a specific range of depths and/or an area of the ocean. As well nearly all siphonophores have bioluminescent capabilities. Though since these organisms are extremely fragile, they are rarely observed alive. Bioluminescence in siphonophores in has been thought to have evolved as a defense mechanism. However, Siphonophores of the deep-sea genus (Erenna) (found at depths between 1,600–2,300 metres or 5,200–7,500 feet) are thought to use their bioluminescent capability for offense too, as a lure to attract fish.

As this genus is one of the few to prey on fish rather than crustaceans. In fact, bioluminescent lures are found in many different species of siphonophores and are used for a variety of reasons. As some species of siphonophores use aggressive mimicry by using bioluminescent light so the prey cannot properly identify the predator.

As well due to the lack of food in the deep-sea environment, a majority of siphonophore species function in a sit-and-wait tactic for food. Their gelatinous body plan in allows for flexibility when catching prey, but the gelatinous adaptations are based on habitat. They will swim around waiting for their long te****les to encounter prey. In addition, siphonophores in as related group denoted (Erenna) have the ability to generate bioluminescence and red fluorescence while its tentilla twitches in a way to mimic motions of small crustaceans and copepods. Thus, these actions entice the prey to move closer to the siphonophore, allowing it to trap and digest it.

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Siphonophores use venomous stinging te****les to capture and kill prey

As siphonophores are predatory carnivores their diets consist of a variety of copepods, other small crustaceans, and small fish. With generally, the diets of strong swimming siphonophores consist of smaller prey, and the diets of weak swimming siphonophores consist of larger prey. For a majority of siphonophores the means of capturing, paralyzing, and killing prey the gastrozooids that have a characteristic te****le attached to the base of the zooid. As this structural feature functions in assisting the organisms in catching prey.

With species with large gastrozooids in are capable of consuming a broad range of prey sizes. In especially similar to many other organisms in the phylum of (Cnidaria), many siphonophore species exhibit nematocyst stinging capsules on branches of their te****les called tentilla. The nematocysts in are arranged in dense batteries on the side of the tentilla. Thus, when the siphonophore encounters potential prey, their tentillum react to where the 12–20 in te****les create a net by transforming their shape around the prey.

The nematocysts in then shoot millions of paralyzing, and sometimes fatal, toxin molecules at the trapped prey which is then transferred to the proper location for digestion. They may have an arsenal of four types of nematocysts in the siphonophore tentilla: heteronemes, haplonemes, desmonemes, and rhopalonemes. The heteronemes in are the largest nematocysts and are spines on a shaft close to tubules attached to the center of the siphonophore. While haplonemes have open-tipped tubules with spines, but no distinct shaft. With this is in the most common nematocyst among siphonophores.

While desmonemes do not have spines but instead there are adhesive properties on the tubules to hold onto prey. While rhopalonemes are nematocysts with wide tubules for prey.

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Portuguese man o' war most familiar siphonophore

While most species of siphonophores are fragile and difficult to collect intact. The infamous and highly venomous Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis), however, is the most accessible, conspicuous, and robust of the siphonophores, and much has been written about this species. In being the only species in the genus (Physalia), which in turn is the only genus in the family (Physaliidae). It a marine hydrozoan found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. As well it is considered to be the same species as the Pacific man o' war or bluebottle, which is found mainly in the Pacific Ocean.

Although it superficially resembles a jellyfish, the Portuguese man o' war is nevertheless in fact is a siphonophore. As well like all siphonophores, it is a colonial organism, made up of many smaller units called zooids. Although they are morphologically quite different, all of the zooids in a single specimen are genetically identical. All zooids in a man o' war in developing from the same single fertilized egg and are therefore genetically identical. They in remaining physiologically connected throughout life, and essentially function as organs in a shared body.

(To be continued)

(Physalia physalis illustration)These different types of zooids in fulfilling specialized functions such as hunting, dig...
18/08/2024

(Physalia physalis illustration)

These different types of zooids in fulfilling specialized functions such as hunting, digestion and reproduction, and together they allow the colony to operate as a single individual. Thus, hence, a Portuguese man o' war constitutes a single organism from an ecological perspective but is made up of many individuals from an embryological perspective. Each animal in composed of many smaller units (zooids) that hang in clusters from under a large, gas-filled structure called the pneumatophore.

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There in seven different types of zooids have been described in the man o' war, and all of these are interdependent on each other for survival and performing different functions, such as digestion (gastrozooids), reproduction (gonozooids) and hunting (dactylozooids). A fourth type of zooid is the pneumatophore. With
three of these types of zooids are in of the medusoid type (gonophores,nectophores, and vestigial nectophores), while the remaining four are of the polypoid type (free gastrozooids, te****le-bearing zooids, gonozooids and gonopalpons).

Though however, naming and categorization of zooids varies between authors, and much of the embryonic and evolutionary relationships of zooids remains unclear. The Portuguese man o' war in any case, is a conspicuous member of the community of organisms that live at the surface of the ocean in refer to as the neuston. Infamous known as it has numerous microscopic venomous Cnidocytes, which deliver a painful sting powerful enough to kill fish, and even, in some cases, humans. They in eating mostly small fish, but also some crustaceans (shrimp, etc.) and even tiny plankton.

Their long te****les which are typically about 30 ft in length but can reach over 100 ft, in hanging below the float as the animal drifts, fishing for prey to sting and drag up to its digestive zooids. The colony in hunting and feeding through the cooperation of two types of zooids: te****le-bearing zooids known as dactylozooids (or palpons), and gastrozooids. The palpons in are equipped with te****les. While in hunting, they stretch out the stinging te****les to full length to act as a floating net. As well although they are mostly transparent, their te****les have pigmented regions that resemble larval fish, copepods, and small shrimp to lure prey into their stinging net

(To be continued)

(stinging cells called cnidocytes)With each te****le in bears tiny, coiled, spiral fiber, thread-like structures called ...
18/08/2024

(stinging cells called cnidocytes)

With each te****le in bears tiny, coiled, spiral fiber, thread-like structures called cnidocytes or nematocysts. If a stinging cell is in touched, these nematocysts in trigger and instantly uncoils to sting and stun prey (or in self-defense) and thus inject venom on contact, stinging, paralyzing, and killing molluscs and fishes. -In fact, even after death, contact with a Portuguese Man-of-war te****le can result in a powerful sting. Next the contraction of te****les drags the prey upward and into range of the gastrozooids.

(To be continued)

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The gastrozooids in then surround and digest the food by secreting digestive enzymes. So deadly and effective in catching prey that large groups of Portuguese man o' war, sometimes over 1,000 individuals, may deplete fisheries. In fact, in a study conducted by Purcell (1989), the stomach contents of men-of-war were found to be 70-90% larval fish. With each man-of-war consumed about 120 fish larva daily. Of the larvae ingested, 60% was available in the water column at 0 to 17 ft. depth. Though while (P. physalis) typically has multiple stinging te****les, there is but a regional form (previously known as a separate species, P. utriculus) which has only a single stinging te****le.

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Portuguese man o' war recognized by its gas-filled bladder

Siphonophores of the suborder (Cystonectae) have a body plan of a long stem with the attached zooids. With each group of zooids in having a gastrozooid. The gastrozooid in having a te****le used for capturing and digesting food. The groups in also have gonophores, which are specialized for reproduction. They as well in using a pneumatophore, a gas-filled float, on their anterior end and drift at the surface of the water or stay afloat in the deep sea. As a (Cystonects) the man o' war.in having as the most conspicuous part, a pneumatophore or a long, gas-filled bladder that is translucent (see through).

(To be continued)

(Looking down from above a man o' war, showing its sail. Sails can be left-handed or right-handed.)In coloration this la...
18/08/2024

(Looking down from above a man o' war, showing its sail. Sails can be left-handed or right-handed.)

In coloration this large, gas-filled, translucent structure is pink, purple, bluish-purple, or blue in color; and in 3.5 to 11.8 in long (though many in a population will be smaller) and rises as much as 6 in above the water. The bladder contains in filled with as much as 13% carbon monoxide and air, mostly air which diffuses in from the surrounding atmosphere, but it also carbon monoxide, which is actively produced by the animal. Though in the event of a surface attack, the pneumatophore can be deflated, allowing the animal to temporarily submerge.

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The bladder in acting as both a flotation device and like a boat and a sail allowing them to move with the wind. Since the animal has no means of propulsion; it moves passively, and travels on the surface of the ocean driven by ocean currents, tides, and wind patterns. They in traveling in as a colony moving with the prevailing winds. The Portuguese man o' war is additionally, asymmetrically shaped, as the zooids hang down from either the right or left side of the midline of the pneumatophore or bladder.

For the bladders (or float) come formed in two different shapes in can be oriented towards the left or the right and so-called left-handed and right-handed. So as the outcome that a population is driven in different directions by the wind. This thus protects a population by preventing them all from being driven in one direction and potentially onto shore in a hard wind. This phenomenon in may be an adaptation that prevents an entire population from being washed on shore to die. As the "left-handed" animals sail to the right of the wind, while the "right-handed" animals sail to the left.

(To be continued)

(The bluebottle course at zero angle of attack is dependent on the sail camber)Thus, the wind will always push the two t...
18/08/2024

(The bluebottle course at zero angle of attack is dependent on the sail camber)

Thus, the wind will always push the two types in opposite directions, so at most half the population will be pushed towards the coast. So, when combined with the trailing action of the te****les, this left- or right-handedness makes the colony sail sideways relative to the wind, by about 45° in either direction. Colony handedness thus has therefore been theorized to influence man o' war migration, with left-handed or right-handed colonies potentially being more likely to drift down particular respective sea routes. With handedness develops early in the colony's life, while it is still living below the surface of the sea.

(To be continued)

Portuguese man o' war in commensal relationships(Man-of-war fish)Fish species have commensal relationships with some Po...
18/08/2024

Portuguese man o' war in commensal relationships

(Man-of-war fish)

Fish species have commensal relationships with some Portuguese men-of-war. The most well-known involving the Man-of-war fish (Nomeus gronorii), which is a driftfish native to the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. It in notable for its ability to live within the deadly te****les of the Portuguese man o' war, upon whose te****les and go**ds it feeds on. This fish rather than using mucus to prevent nematocysts from firing, as is seen in some of the clownfish sheltering among sea anemones, the man-of-war fish appears to use highly agile swimming to physically avoid te****les.

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The fish receives protection amongst the te****les from other predators, and the te****les, as well as leftover bits from man-of-war meals, are a food source. Since the man-of-war can regenerate the te****les, it is not harmed, and it benefits from using the fish as a lure to attract other fish to the te****le net. The fish in having a very high number of vertebrae, which may add to its agility and relies on its speed, and primarily uses its pectoral fins for swimming. A feature of fish that specialize in maneuvering tight spaces. It also has as well a complex skin design and at least one antibody to the man o' war's toxins.

Although the fish seems to be 10 times more resistant to the toxin than other fish, it can still be stung by the dactylozooides (large te****les), which it actively avoids. While the smaller gonozooids do not seem to sting the fish and the fish is reported to frequently nibble on these te****les. The fish in process receives protection amongst the te****les from other predators, and the te****les, as well as leftover bits from man-of-war meals, are a food source. Though since the man-of-war can regenerate the te****les, it is not harmed, and it benefits from using the fish as a lure to attract other fish to the te****le net.

(To be continued)

(Yellow Jack)Additionally, the Portuguese man o' war is often found with a variety of other marine fish, including the y...
18/08/2024

(Yellow Jack)

Additionally, the Portuguese man o' war is often found with a variety of other marine fish, including the yellow jack (Cavanx bartholomaei), pilot fish (Naucrates ductor ), spotted ruff (Mupus maculatus), and long snipefish (Macrorhamphosus scolopax). As these fish benefit from the shelter from predators provided by the stinging te****les, and for the Portuguese man o' war, the presence of these species may attract other fish to eat.

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While invertebrate marine creatures as the blanket octopus is in immune to the venom of the Portuguese man o' war. So, individuals have been observed to carry broken man o' war te****les, which males and immature females rip off and use for offensive and defensive purposes.

(To be continued)

Portuguese man o' war do face some predators(Blue dragon)Despite its venomous te****le protection, it does have a few pr...
18/08/2024

Portuguese man o' war do face some predators

(Blue dragon)

Despite its venomous te****le protection, it does have a few predators that are a threat to it. Nudibranch mollusks of the planktonic family (Glaucidae) the i.e. blue/blue dragon sea slug specializes in feeding on the Portuguese man o' war. As well in after ingesting the men-of-war, this nudibranchs take the nematocysts and use them in their own bodies for defense. This nudibranch in selecting its nematocysts over those of their other prey: Velella (By-the-Wind-Sailor) and Porpita (Blue Button). With this phenomenon in has been reported in Australia and Japan.

(To be continued)

(Violet snail)Thus, the Portuguese man o' war is important to nudibranchs not only as a food source, but for defensive a...
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(Violet snail)

Thus, the Portuguese man o' war is important to nudibranchs not only as a food source, but for defensive adaptations. With another mollusk as well the violet sea snail as to a predator. Among other effective invertebrate predators are the Pacific sand crab, (Emerita pacifica) in Hawaii. In actually known to grab men-of-war that have drifted into shallow waters. Although though this predator tries to drag the man-of-war into the sand, often the float can get pushed onto shore by the waves.

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(Mole Crab, Emerita pacifica, Burrowing in sand sequence, Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Contributor: RGB Ventures ...
18/08/2024

(Mole Crab, Emerita pacifica, Burrowing in sand sequence, Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Contributor: RGB Ventures / SuperStock / Alamy Stock Photo, Photographer: Scubazoo)

The crab in rolls up on to the beach hanging onto the man-of-war. When once washed ashore, more crabs in then gather around the man-of-war. With the observational evidence that crabs feed on men-of-war in was confirmed by testing gut contents of these crabs. With the macroscopic evidence of blue tissue and microscopic evidence of Physalia physalis nematocysts shows that the men-of-war are a food source for sand crabs. As these crabs apparently are unaffected by the stinging cells.

(To be continued)

(Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)Additionally, the ocean sunfish's diet, once thought to consist mainly of jellyfish, has be...
18/08/2024

(Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

Additionally, the ocean sunfish's diet, once thought to consist mainly of jellyfish, has been found to include many species, including the Portuguese man o' war. As well the Loggerhead sea turtles, (Caretta carette), and leatherback sea turtles, (Dermochelys coriacea), also feed on man-of wars. The Loggerhead turtle's skin, noted including that of its tongue and throat, is too thick for the stings to pe*****te. Finally, parasitic flukes can also bring about the demise of the Portuguese man-of-war.

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Portuguese man o' war a danger to humans

When Portuguese man o' war are blown into the shallows and/or wash up on shore it can hurt tourists and tourism in areas where it is common. For not only live specimens in the water but as well the detached te****les and dead specimens (including those that wash up on shore) can sting just as painfully as those of the live organism in the water and may remain potent for hours or even days after the death of the organism or the detachment of the te****le. So, as consequence much money is spent each year to treat swimmers who have been stung by the te****les of individuals that have washed up on beaches.

(To be continued)

(man-o-war-warning-sign-on-oahu-beach-hawaii, Contributor:James Nesterwitz / Alamy Stock Photo, Date taken: 10 October 2...
18/08/2024

(man-o-war-warning-sign-on-oahu-beach-hawaii, Contributor:
James Nesterwitz / Alamy Stock Photo, Date taken: 10 October 2014)

People thus will not pay to visit beaches that are covered with jellyfish or swim in waters where they are floating. People do not want to chance being stung or put their children at risk for stings. With most swimmers knowing they have been stung by a man-of-war because the purple or blue float is visibly floating on the water. With the result of a sting is long, linear red marks and intense pain. The inflammatory response resulting from stings in due to the release of histamines
from mast cells within the victim.

(To be continued)

(Leanne Martinez's Portuguese man-of-war stings on arm) Stings usually cause severe pain to humans, lasting one to three...
18/08/2024

(Leanne Martinez's Portuguese man-of-war stings on arm)

Stings usually cause severe pain to humans, lasting one to three hours. With stings from a Portuguese man o' war can result in severe dermatitis characterized by long, thin, red, open wounds that resemble those caused by a whip. These in not caused by any impact or cutting action, but by irritating urticariogenic substance in the te****les. These welts in appearing on the skin that last two or three days after the sting. With the most common prescribed treatment is to remove any remaining te****les with gloves and ice the stings.

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As well current treatment is immersion in 113-degree Fahrenheit hot water for 20 minutes to treat the pain. Additionally, cnidocytes are inhibited by application of vinegar, but nematocysts actually can discharge more venom if you add vinegar. However, in some cases, the venom may travel to the lymph nodes and may cause symptoms that mimic an allergic reaction, even anaphylactic shock. As well including swelling of the larynx, airway blockage, cardiac distress and shortness of breath. With other symptoms may include fever, circulatory shock and in extreme cases, even death, although this is extremely rare.

Especially medical attention for those exposed to large numbers of te****les may become necessary to relieve pain or open airways if the pain becomes excruciating or lasts for more than three hours, or if breathing becomes difficult. As well instances in which the stings completely surround the trunk of a young child are among those that may be fatal. With the first human fatality in occurred in 1987 on the Atlantic coast of Florida. This species in responsible for up to 10,000 human stings in Australia each summer, particularly on the east coast, with some others occurring off the coast of South Australia and Western Australia.

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Portuguese man o' war have the potential to negative impact the fishing industry

In negative because of their feeding habits the Portuguese Men-of-war have the potential to impact the fishing industry. Fish harvests can be be influenced by man-of-war feeding on larval fish populations, especially in areas with major commercial fisheries, such as the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, if there is a boom in the man-of-war population, there could be a dramatic decrease in the amount of larval fish. In consequence if the fish are consumed in the larval stages by man-of wars, they cannot grow to become a food source for human beings.

For so deadly and effective in catching prey that large groups of Portuguese man o' war, sometimes over 1,000 individuals, may in fact deplete fisheries. In fact, in a study conducted by Purcell (1989), the stomach contents of men-of-war were found to be 70-90% larval fish. With each man-of-war consumed about 120 fish larva daily. Of the larvae ingested, 60% was available in the water column at 0 to 17 ft. depth.

(To be continued)

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