A marine creature of harmless but potentially dangerous appearance has returned to signal to the Portuguese beaches. This dangerous species has been a prominent target on international platforms such as Pubity, British Social Media Digital Platform, focused on viral and informative content, and in recent days even forced the Red Flag at Portuguese beaches, as Aveiromag reports, a regional Portuguese online social media.
An organism that looks like seaweed, but it is not
Although often confused with a jellyfish, the Portuguese caravel is actually a syphonophore, a colonial organism formed by different specialized individuals who work together.
Its most visible part is the gaseous vesicle of blue and purplish tones, which can reach 15 centimeters and acts as a candle, allowing the animal to be transported by wind and sea currents.
According to Pubity, this structure can be accompanied by tentacles that can exceed 10 meters, loaded with urticant cells capable of causing intense pain in humans. The poison is compared to that of the black widow spider and can lead to severe, sometimes third-degree burns, leaving permanent scars.
Red flag by precaution
In Portugal, the appearance of these organisms is closely monitored by the maritime authorities. According to the commander of the captaincy of the port of Aveiro, Correia Guerreiro, quoted by Aveiromag, is not at stake “a caravel invasion”, but the punctual arrival of copies dragged by the agitation of the sea.
As a precaution, the ban on the beaches was determined, including the Barra, until the situation stabilizes. “Maritime agitation has been decreasing, but over the next few days there can still be some energy in the waves,” said the official, noting that the saving swimmers are attentive and can close the red flag if the risk disappears.
An invisible risk for bathers
Aveiromag stresses that the Portuguese caravel nothing, being totally dependent on sea currents. For this reason, it may appear unexpectedly in bathing areas. Its translucent color and unusual appearance draw attention, but contact with the tentacles should always be avoided.
Official recommendations are clear: bathers should immediately inform the saving swimmers if they see copies and never try to collect them, even if they already seem dead. Contact with loose tentacles in the sand can cause reactions as strong as those still in the sea.
A natural but controllable threat
The maritime authorities, cited by the, recall that the presence of the Portuguese caravel is natural and cyclic, emerging at different points of the globe, especially in tropical and subtropical waters. In Portugal, the appearance tends to coincide with periods of greater maritime instability.
Although it represents danger to bathers, this organism plays an important role in marine ecosystems, serving as food to species such as the alorear turtle.
Still, for those who go to the beaches, the essentials is to stay informed, respect the signaling and avoid unnecessary risks.
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