We went for a walk on the beach in Spanish River Park yesterday afternoon. I saw several of these washed up on shore.

You can't really get that much scale from the sand and seaweed, but the body was about the size of my hand. I've heard they can get larger, but I've never seen any much bigger than this one around here.

It makes one a little nervous, walking barelegged through the surf, because the surging waters could deliver one unto your legs and wrap the tentacles around them without your even being able to see it coming. Fortunately, there were no incidents. This one was still alive, but probably not for long. And I wasn't going to try to pick it up and toss it back. Particularly given the almost certain futility of it.

Oh yeah? Well what about Bush's illegal war on the occupants of the World Trade Center? Huh? Huh?

/lameattemptathumor

Oh yeah? Well what about Bush's illegal war on the occupants of the World Trade Center? Huh? Huh?

That's just some dead people. "Man'o'War" is atrocious.

A bit of research says that hand-sized is on the small size of average for a man'o'war. The big float can get up to a foot long by 6 inches high.

"Still alive" is something of a puzzling question for a man'o'war since it's a colonial critter and different bits tend to die at different rates. The nematocysts can stay viable and dangerous for hours. So "don't touch" is probably the safest policy.

They're pretty visible on the surface. Largest I've seen is football size. Only problem I've had with them is snorkeling, since you can't see the surface.

Yeah, we get thousands washed up on our local beach every few weeks. Once got entangled by half a dozen of them while surfing, not fun.

When I was a kid I was 3 wheeling (yes it was when those were still around) down the beach and come across literally thousands that had washed ashore. Was a while (as in years) before I ever got back into the water.

Yes, once or twice, after a storm, I've seen so many of these creatures on the beach that I had to watch my step. They are beautiful if not cuddly.

While they're famous for the strength of their sting, I wouldn't worry too much about them when they're washing ashore. Most jellyfish, like the one you show in that picture, get their tentacles eaten by the fish in the shallows, in a reversal of the usual order of things. The real worry about being stung by a jellyfish is when you're out in water that's a bit deeper, such as if you're surfing, snorkeling, or scuba diving. Out there the tentacles are still much longer and a danger.

If you look closely at the picture, you will see the tentacles. You don't want to step on them.