DOG owners are being warned about a potentially deadly sea creature washing up on beaches.
Life-threatening Portuguese Man O’War have been spotted across on the shorelines in North Wales after three named storms belted Britain in a week.
Often mistaken for a jellyfish, the marine hydrozoan, also known as man-of-war, is commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
Once they crash onto the sand, tiny creatures can give the appearance of plastic or a dead animal, drawing the attention of dogs and children.
Locals at beaches in Tywyn and Harlech have been find the washed up siphonophores prompting a warning for people to be cautious.
Hilary Rowlands, member of Tywyn Beach Guardians, says she never walks her dogs along the beaches after storms because you never know what might wash up.
She told the Daily Post: “When they are small, they are one of those things you can easily pick up without thinking about it.
“Dogs snuffling around on the beach can bite them or pick one up.
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“They can look like marine litter – they are nasty little things in disguise.
“Even if these things are washed up, and even if they don’t look like a massive jellyfish, they still have the capacity to deliver a powerful sting.
“If you have an over-enthusiastic dog, your walk might not have a happy ending.”
Portuguese Man-O-War have ribbon-like tendrils which can extend as far as 165 feet below the water's surface – however, more commonly, they are 30ft long on average.
The tendrils are coated in venom-filled nematocysts – an explosive cell used to sting – which they use to paralyze and kill fish.
A man-of-war sting is extremely painful for humans and can result in death in extremely rare cases.
Williams Veterinary Surgeons, which has practices in Tywyn, Cemmaes Road and Barmouth shared an image of a washed up man-of-war to Facebook.
They wrote: “Please be careful when walking your dogs at the moment.
“The bad weather has bought these beasties in – they have been seen on Tywyn beach. So be aware as they will be on other local beaches as well.
“They can really cause our doggie friends some serious problems if ingested or stung by them.”
What is a Portuguese Man-O-War?
Portuguese Man-O-War was given its name after the 18th century armed sailing boat as it has the appearance of a ship at full sail.
Also known as man-of-war, they have long, thin, ribbon-like tendrils which can extend as far as 165 feet below the water's surface – however, more commonly, they are 30ft long on average.
The tendrils are coated in venom-filled nematocysts – an explosive cell used to sting – which they use to paralyze and kill fish.
A man-of-war sting is extremely painful for humans and can result in death in extremely rare cases.
It has four specalised parts, each responsible for a specific task.
These are floating, capturing prey, feeding and reproduction.
Known also as 'Floating Terror', the sea creature is not a jellyfish but a siphonophore.
They're found in mostly in tropical and subtropical seas, propelled by winds and ocean currents.
The Portuguese Man-O-War can float in legions of 1,000 or more.
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