manomo

Manomo, also known as the man-o-war jellyfish, is a marine organism belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. It is a colonial organism, meaning it is composed of multiple specialized individuals called zooids that work together as a single unit. These zooids are genetically identical and perform specific functions for the colony, such as propulsion, feeding, reproduction, and defense. The most striking feature of manomo is its gas-filled float, or pneumatophore, which keeps the colony at the surface of the water. This float can be a vibrant blue, purple, or pink and can extend up to 30 centimeters in length.

Beneath the float hang a series of tentacles, which can extend for many meters. These tentacles are equipped with stinging cells called nematocysts, which are used to paralyze and capture prey, typically small fish and crustaceans. The sting of a manomo can be painful to humans and can cause skin irritation and blistering. Manomo are found in warm and tropical oceans worldwide, often drifting with the currents. They are carnivorous and play a role in the marine food web. Reproduction occurs both asexually through budding within the zooids and sexually, with different zooids specializing in producing either eggs or sperm.