Classification

Physalia physalis, Portuguese Man of War

 

Domain–Eukarya

The cells of the Portuguese Man of War are eukaryotic, meaning the they        have a true nucleus.

Kingdom-Animalia

The man of war is multicellular and its cells lack cell walls.

Phylum-Cnidaria

Physalia physalis has specialized cells called cnidocytes that contain             nematocysts used to capture prey

Class-Hydrozoa

The man of war is colonial and shows specialization of polyps for               defense, feeding and reproduction.

Order-Siphonophora

The Portuguese man of war possesses a gas filled floatation zooid called            a pneumatophore to which all other polyps are attached.

Family-Physaliidae

Physalia carries its colony horizontally by the large gas-filled float, or            pneumatophore, while the zooids hang into the water.  Physalia              physalis is the only genus in this family. 

Genus-Physalia

Species-Physalia physalis