Every summer, Australian beaches witness a surge of bluebottles, commonly known as Portuguese man o’ war. Previously thought to be a single species, recent findings reveal that there are at least four distinct species, as confirmed by researchers at Yale University and Australian institutions like Griffith University and the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
The well-known bluebottle, scientifically labelled Physalia physalis, has long been considered the sole representative of its kind drifting through our oceans. However, Yale’s new research challenges this assumption, unearthing a complex landscape of bluebottle diversity. Among the newly identified species are Physalia utriculus, Physalia megalista, and a novel addition, Physalia minuta, predominantly found around New Zealand and Australia.
Professor Kylie Pitt from Griffith University expressed her surprise at these revelations, highlighting that one in six Australians has experienced the sting of a jellyfish, with bluebottles being the primary culprits. She emphasised that despite their significance along Australia’s coastlines, our understanding of their diversity was markedly limited.
While this study elucidates the existence of multiple species, Pitt assured beachgoers that their experiences won’t be dramatically altered, as the overall population of bluebottles washing up on the shore is unlikely to increase as a result. The study involved the analysis of over 150 samples collected globally, coupled with thousands of citizen science photographs sourced from iNaturalist.org, where nature enthusiasts upload their observations.
Such contributions were crucial for the research, which demanded manual photo identification of different species, as no automated systems were available to assist researchers. The complexity of working through vast numbers of images revealed the extensive variety of bluebottles around the world.
The implications of this discovery extend beyond mere classification. Future research is set to explore the biological and ecological distinctions among these species, as well as their appearances on various beaches. Furthermore, a key area of interest will be the potency of the stings among the different species. Scientists are eager to determine if some bluebottles possess a more venomous sting and which might pose greater risks to swimmers.
This groundbreaking research opens up a plethora of new inquiries that will further our understanding of these intriguing creatures and their impact on marine environments and human encounters.