Physalia is a genus of the
order Siphonophora,
colonies of four specialized
polyps and
medusoids that drift on the surface of the
Atlantic,
Indian and
Pacific oceans. A gas-filled bladder resembling a blue bottle provides buoyancy, and long tentacles of venomous
cnidocytes provide a means of capturing prey. A sail on the float, which may be left or right-handed, propels
Physalia about the sea, often in groups. Individuals sometimes become stranded on beaches, where their toxic
nematocysts can remain potent for weeks or months in moist conditions.