Dozens of Portuguese caravels, capable of causing serious burns on the skin, have been sighted on Portuguese beaches, from the Magoito (Sintra) to the narrow land in Tavira (Algarve), the responsible authorities warned Thursday.
The Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) published a warning for sighting in the last days of Physalia Physalis (nicknamed Portuguese caravel due to its shape) on Portuguese beaches “in unusual numbers”, in some cases more than 50 in one beach.
The IPMA says that in recent days it has received sightings from Praia do Magoito, in the municipality of Sintra, to the Praia da Terra Narita, in the municipality of Tavira.
Among the species of this type that often occur to Portugal, the Portuguese caravel “is the one that requires the most caution”, as it is “very urticant” and “capable of causing serious burns” on the skin, says that body.
The Portuguese caravel is very spotted on the Portuguese coast influenced by winds and surface chains, has a blue -colored “balloon” float and sometimes lilac and pink tones, with tentacles that can reach more than 30 meters long. These pending tentacles are intended to capture fish for their diet.
The IPMA stresses that “it is important not to play” in these specimens, “even when they appear to be dead on the beach”, as often happens with the jellyfish, which despite an appearance of the genre do not belong to the same family.
IPMA’s Gelavist program resembles the care to be taken in case of inadvertent contact with a Portuguese caravel, such as “cleaning the area affected with seawater and removing any pieces of tentacles that may have been trapped in the skin, with a tweezers”.
Anyone who is hit can apply vinegar and hot compresses and avoid the use of alcohol and freshwater, warns the IPMA, warning that “in case of extensive burn, one should look for a healthcare professional.”
Developing its activity since 2016, the cold (gelavist.ipma.pt) has been inviting citizens to participate in the monitoring of gelatinous organizations in Portugal, noting that, therefore, any occurrence of this or other species of gelatinous organizations may be communicated to the program.
The information of each sighting (date, location, number of organisms and object photography to serve as scale) should be sent to the email, or through the gelavist application available to all mobile devices, appeals the.
The Portuguese caravel is not a saddlebag, but a colony of hydrozoan class organisms, with genetically different and highly specialized individuals, but appearing to be a single animal.
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