The Bluebottle
By:Madeleine Bell
Introduction
Imagine this, you are in the Pacific ocean. Then, you see something floating in the water. It is the clear brilliant blue float of the Portuguese man of war.In addition to this, the Pacific ocean is full of these amazing sea creatures. These siphonophores have a fascinating diet, habitat, and way of movement. To sum up, the man of war is one of a kind.
DietThe Portuguese man of war may look harmless from the surface,but, underneath it’s colorful float, are long stinging tentacles. The long tentacles dangle below the surface to protect and feed this marine animal. When its time to eat , these tentacles serve as a lure and net to catch prey. Often times, the man of war will take any opportunities to eat. They will consume small fish,plankton, and crustaceans. This relative of a jellyfish will use its venom to paralyze it’s meal so it can’t escape. To conclude, this sea creature has an interesting diet. | HabitatHave you ever swam in the Pacific or Indian ocean? When then you were also swimming in the man of war’s home.The Portuguese man of war lives in warm waters around the world. These organisms are usually found floating at the top of the ocean with their sail at the surface, their colorful sail gave these marine animals the nickname bluebottle. There are lots of them in both tropical and subtropical areas. Both the Indian and Pacific ocean are full of the man of war. The bluebottle are usually found in warm waters around the world,but can end in cold waters due to the wind or current since they just drift and have no control over their body. To finish up, the man of war lives in warm waters around the world as its habitat. | MovementPicture this, you’re floating in the Pacific ocean, drifting aimlessly, having no control of your body, the only thing protecting you from predators is your venomous tentacles and float. You may think that is boring or scary.Well, for the man of war, that's the normal. The Portuguese man of war has a balloon like float. The float is filled with gas Argon. If the man of war senses danger at the surface, the float can be deflated and inflated by increasing the amount of carbon monoxide. The float acts like a sail which gives the man of war its mobility. To wrap up, the man of war is an interesting creature with an interesting way of movement. |
Diet
The Portuguese man of war may look harmless from the surface,but, underneath it’s colorful float, are long stinging tentacles. The long tentacles dangle below the surface to protect and feed this marine animal. When its time to eat , these tentacles serve as a lure and net to catch prey. Often times, the man of war will take any opportunities to eat. They will consume small fish,plankton, and crustaceans. This relative of a jellyfish will use its venom to paralyze it’s meal so it can’t escape. To conclude, this sea creature has an interesting diet.
Habitat
Have you ever swam in the Pacific or Indian ocean? When then you were also swimming in the man of war’s home.The Portuguese man of war lives in warm waters around the world. These organisms are usually found floating at the top of the ocean with their sail at the surface, their colorful sail gave these marine animals the nickname bluebottle. There are lots of them in both tropical and subtropical areas. Both the Indian and Pacific ocean are full of the man of war. The bluebottle are usually found in warm waters around the world,but can end in cold waters due to the wind or current since they just drift and have no control over their body. To finish up, the man of war lives in warm waters around the world as its habitat.
Movement
Picture this, you’re floating in the Pacific ocean, drifting aimlessly, having no control of your body, the only thing protecting you from predators is your venomous tentacles and float. You may think that is boring or scary.Well, for the man of war, that's the normal. The Portuguese man of war has a balloon like float. The float is filled with gas Argon. If the man of war senses danger at the surface, the float can be deflated and inflated by increasing the amount of carbon monoxide. The float acts like a sail which gives the man of war its mobility. To wrap up, the man of war is an interesting creature with an interesting way of movement.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Portuguese man of war is an amazing marine animal along with it’s fascinating diet, habitat , and way of movement. So next you see a brilliant colored sail floating in the water, you’ll know it’s the float of the fantastic Portuguese man of war.
Think Tank
Poem
The Portuguese man of war
There is so much to explore
It is such an odd creature
With such intricate features
The tentacles can get up to 165 feet
Something you wouldn’t want to meet
Their way of movement is their sail
And this method does not fail
When there is danger they deflate their float
But when its inflated it looks like a boat
Man of war go back 600 million years
And other marine life have lots of fear
As you know they are odd creatures
With a beautiful float as one of their features
Go fish
In this Go Fish activity, I was provided with a fish tank and a filter. The rest Tala and I did. We created a coral reef themed tank. We had a budget of $250 and on supplies we spent $129.22. The best part was getting the fish we wanted in our tank.We purchased 6 marine animals. A black racer nerite snail, three long finned zebra danio, a red clawed crab, a Silver Hatchetfish, a Dwarf Gourami, and four Fancy guppies. All the fish together were $31.36. Altogether it was $160.58. To conclude my group and I were under budget when we completed our project and it was a lot of fun doing this activity.
Diarama

Pictures



