Jellyfish-like animal with painful sting seen washed up in Myrtle Beach, SC area
Portuguese men-of-war have made their way up from tropical waters to the South Carolina coast, including the Myrtle Beach area, according to Facebook posts.
Men-of-war are siphonophores, a jellyfish-like animal, with long tentacles and painful venom, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Over the past week, there have been reports of men-of-war washing up on Tybee Island in Georgia and Sullivans Island outside Charleston, The Island Packet reported.
On Facebook, people have shared photos of the creatures in Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island . Others commented saying they've seen multiple other men-of-war recently
Men-of-war are not common in the Myrtle Beach area but make their way up north every now and then. In June, there were many man-of-war sightings across the Grand Strand, The Sun News previously reported.
It's unclear what brought them to South Carolina this fall.
National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Zouzias said there hasn't been any storms or winds that would have pushed men-of-war north. There is a tropical storm near Cuba, but it's in the gulf so it wouldn't have caused the migration, she said.
Zouzias said the men-of-war likely rode up the Gulf Stream. The top of the animal is filled with air, similar to a balloon, allowing it to float on top of the water and travel with ocean currents.
If there's a man-of-war along the beach, enjoy its beauty without touching. Its tentacles can continue to sting even weeks after death, according to the NOAA. The tentacles are long so be especially careful if walking the beach barefoot.
