Pacific Man O' War

Pacific Men O' War are enormous jellyfish living a largely carefree life of drifting through the Kelp Forests, simply waiting for food to pass by. Even though they have some deal of camouflage, they are still fairly noticeable to nearly every other creature in their environment. Thus, these jellyfish make use of an ability to bend the currents to their will to either pull prey closer, or push predators away, as long as one swims close enough.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Pacific Man O' War is a creature with an amorphous translucent body with tentacles attached to the undersides. The topside of its main body contains structures resembling leaves, made to blend in with certain plants found in their habitat. They have three main types of tentacles; one for ensnaring and stinging prey, one for attaching to the seabed, and one for manipulating the ocean currents.

Genetics and Reproduction

When the time is right, a Man O' War will internally fertilize its eggs before dispersing them into the surrounding waters, where they will hook onto the seabed to form the polyps.

Growth Rate & Stages

Pacific Man O' War polyps will stay attached to the seabed for a long time, where they will asexually reproduce to form polyp colonies. Eventually, the polyps will gain new body shapes, before detaching from the seabed and floating in the open water. After some time, they'll develop stinging tentacles and their characteristic leaf shapes, becoming fully grown men o' war.

Ecology and Habitats

The Pacific Man O' War lives in the Forests, and drifts around in the open waters for most of their lives. However, some specimens have been observed attaching themselves to the seabed, and swaying with the ocean currents. It is unclear why they do this, but some have thought that this behavior relates to their ability to control the currents.

Dietary Needs and Habits

These creatures will eat just about anything, but seem to favor plankton, Kelp Gliders, and Spikefish. Once their victim swims close enough for their tentacles to detect, they'll pull them closer by changing the ocean current patterns, then inject their venom with a stinging cell. The prey is then pulled closer to the mouth with the creature’s other tentacles.

Biological Cycle

These creatures' bodies may have dirt and sand sticking to the surface, either from the natural currents, or from their current manipulations pulling the sand towards them. Eventually, it can build up enough that they become no longer see-through.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

This creature doesn't make use of any traditional senes, having a lack of eyes or nostrils or ears. The Pacific Man O' War can however use certain tentacles to detect nearby creatures, causing them to shift the currents if needed.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Because this creature doesn't have a brain, it won't think to brush off any debris from its body. Many plants therefore coat these creatures in their spores to ensure they'll survive long enough to take root, taking advantage of their lack of thinking skills.

Scientific Name

Physalia akomi

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

20 ft.

Average Weight

110 lbs.

Average Physique

Round

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Pale green, transparent

Geographic Distribution

• The Kelp Forests

Average Intelligence
Non-existent