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