Swimmers are being warned after the most recent reports of Portuguese man o’ wars washing up on New England beaches this week.
According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the predators were spotted at Scarborough, Roger Wheelerm and East Matunuck State Beaches.
Officials are flying purple flags to warn patrons.
⚠️ ATTN beachgoers, please be advised: multiple Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia physalis) were spotted at Scarborough, Roger Wheelerm + East Matunuck State Beaches this week. 🟪DEM is flying purple flags to warn of dangerous marine life. pic.twitter.com/5nTzX5HHbq
— Rhode Island Dept of Environmental Management (@RhodeIslandDEM) July 11, 2023
The animal is a species of siphonophore that often look like balloons and may be blue, violet, or pink.
Their tentacles contain stinging nematocysts, which aren’t typically deadly to humans but cause extremely painful welts on exposed skin.
They come up in New England waters on the Gulf Stream from southern waters.
Earlier this month, Portuguese man o’ wars washed up on the shore of Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard.
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