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Whoops! Seems like you've got the stinging sea creature known as a Portuguese man-of-war confused with Men at Work, the eighties rock band from Australia. Well, they do both come from down under, but as far as we know that's where the similarities end. Commonly thought of as a jellyfish, the venomous invertebrate Physalia physalis is actually a jelly-like siphonophore of the phylum Cnidaria, found worldwide in warm ocean waters. Known in Australia as a bluebottle, the creature is also nicknamed "man-of-war" because its "float" -- a translucent, gas-filled bladder, 3-12 inches long -- resembles a naval battleship under sail. Attached to the float's underside
are tentacles that can be up to 50 meters in length. These coiled strands of stinging cells paralyze small fish and other prey. The sting is not usually deadly to humans, but it is painful and in severe cases can cause fever, shock, and interference with heart and lung function. Watch for warning signs posted on beaches and stay away from tentacles washed up on the sand. Consult Yahoo!'s Cnidarians category (under Science > Zoology) for more about these spineless stingers. Oh, and speaking of signs, if you really are looking for Portuguese men at work, we've got those too!
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