Myshel Rodenbeck, a lifeguard with Shore Beach Services on Hilton Head Island, shows her recent jellyfish sting on Coligny Beach on Aug. If you come across one on the beach or in the surf, they appear similar to an inflated plastic bag. Even though it may resemble a jelly, the Portuguese man o’ war is what is known as a siphonophore and appears bluish-purple color. These jellies are responsible for the most stings on Hilton Head Island, with the most recorded stings in one day being in the hundreds.Īnother one that can be found in the area is the Portuguese man o’ war. They are the most common kind of sea turtle to use the shores of Hilton Head Island as their nesting ground, according to .Īside from cannonball jellies, sea nettles can be found off the island’s coast and in the surf. These jellies are also a favored snack for the endangered leatherback sea turtle and provide nourishment for the visiting mothers and soon-to-be hatching eggs in the future.Īnother sea turtle species that visits the area and feeds on these jellies is the loggerhead sea turtle. Once stranded on the beach, cannonball jellies can’t survive long out of water and eventually become a food source for shorebirds, crabs, sea turtles and other critters that live along the coast. Luckily for many avid beachgoers, this round, smaller-sized jelly generally does not sting and poses no large threat to curious or nearby families.Ī cannonball jellyfish washed ashore on Hilton Head Island. What type of jellies does Hilton Head Island have?įrequently, the most commonly found jelly seen around Hilton Head’s shores and around South Carolina is the cannonball jelly. In fact, these roving creatures are actually most closely related to corals, sea anemones, sea whips and hydrozoans.

Therefore, it’s more accurate to refer to them simply as ‘jellies,’” states the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Jellyfish are not really fish, of course, because a fish’s anatomy is centered around its backbone, whereas the jellyfish is a dome-shaped invertebrate. Have you ever been curious about the dome-shaped, tentacled creatures floating through the water?Īlthough the term jellyfish may come to mind, that’s not the proper name to call them. They are found in all oceans except the Arctic and often wash up on Florida's shores, noted the Florida Museum of Natural History.Nearly 100 Portuguese man-of-war washed up on shore Monday, according to the Hilton Head Island Beach Patrol. The tentacles in a Portuguese man o' war can grow an average of 30 feet and are armed with stinging nematocysts that can deliver venom, which can paralyze and kill small fish. The jellyfish-like creature is actually a species of siphonophore, a group of animals that form a colony of genetically identical individuals working together as one unit. I would rate the pain close to giving birth,' she said to the outlet, which shared photos of the stings on her arm and hand.Īlthough the Portuguese man o' war may look like a jellyfish, it isn't one, but the two are closely related.

'The pain was so strong, I thought I would pass out. 'I thought the Portuguese man-of-war sting would be similar to a jellyfish and if we went in the water, we would be able to see them and stay away.'īefore Martinez had even realized it was around, the creature's long tentacles were wrapped around her arm. 'I didn't take the warning that seriously,' Martinez said, as per the outlet. Only recently, for instance, Miami native Leanne Martinez went to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park with friends and children, and had a painful encounter with the Portuguese man o' war, reported NBC Miami. O2tXa3pXuv- Miami-Dade Fire Rescue March 26, 2022

If stung, advise a lifeguard or seek first-aid treatment. The sting of a Portuguese man o' war can cause welts, swelling, and/or a rash. Heading to one of #OurCounty's beaches? Keep an eye out for Portuguese man o' war! Beachgoers should avoid stepping or touching this animal.

Man of war jellyfish on beach