Dorset beach warning as Portuguese man o’ war spotted

This Portuguese man o'war was spotted in Wyke Regis

Beachgoers are being urged to be careful after reports of Portuguese man o' war washing up on shore.

Dorset Wildlife Trust said the marine animals had an "extremely nasty, painful sting" and should not be touched.

Despite looking similar, the Portuguese man o' war is a siphonophore, not a jellyfish, and is found in the ocean.

It comes after a marine expert said climate change could result in tropical sea creatures washing up on UK beaches.

The species can be recognised by its large translucent purple float, the crest tipped with pink, and long blueish-violet tentacles

The Portuguese man o'war lives on the surface of the water using its balloon-like float as a sail to propel it along, with long tentacles trailing underneath to capture prey.

Dorset Wildlife Trust confirmed in a social media post that it had received "multiple reports" of the species washing up along the Dorset coast.

It said: "Look but do not touch. They have an extremely nasty and painful sting, even once they have died."

A spokesperson called on members of the public who spot a Portuguese man o' war to report the sighting to the trust.

The tentacles of this jellyfish-like creature can be as long as 10ft (3m)

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