Physalia physalus, also called the Portuguese Man-O-War, is not really a single organism, but rather a floating hydrozoan colony consisting of four polyps: a pneumatophore (the float); dactylozooids (the tentacles); gasterozooids, (the siphons); and gonozooids - each selflessly sharing the task of the colony's overall survival. Physalia Ocean Sciences, Inc. was founded by four marine scientists, each with a unique collection of experience and abilities, and each dedicated to the common goal of serving our clientele, and thereby ensuring our business survival.

The range of Physalia primarily includes the waters of the tropical and subtropical marine oceans, including those in the Florida Keys and coast, the Gulf Stream, the Gulf of Mexico, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and other warm waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  Physalia Ocean Sciences, Inc. has extensive experience in identifying and solving the unique, and typically complex, environmental issues that have arisen in each of these same regions - from the tropical freshwater wetlands of the south Florida Everglades, to the temperate shores of southern California, to the coastal seagrass beds of Okinawa, Japan, to the small tropical island of Koh Phi Phi Le lying in the Andaman Sea off of Phuket, Thailand, and literally hundreds of points in between.

An important aspect of Physalia's behavior is the symbiotic relationship that exists between it and its "clients," i.e., Nomeus (a minnow-like fish), the clownfish (commonly called the Man of War fish), and the yellow-jack. Similarly, the principles and staff of Physalia Ocean Sciences, Inc. are uniformly committed to the notion that our long-term success is crucially linked to the symbiotic relationships that we establish and maintain with our clients.

Finally, Physalia is immediately recognizable by any who have ventured near the shores of tropical seas, thereby also meeting our desire for the recognizability of our logo.  So, in retrospect, we could think of no better name to represent our organization.
  

• Detailed view of the stinging nematocyst batteries on the tentacles of the Portugese man-o-war
• This very small specimen shows the float and one gastrozooid
• Detailed view of the tentacles of the Portugese man-o-war
• Detailed view of the different polyp types - Gonozooids, dactylozooids and gastrozooids
• Detail of the margin of the float showing gastrozooids and dactylozooids
• Detailed view of the feeding polyps, the gastrozooids
• Detailed view of the stinging tentacles
• An alternate description of Physalia from the Waikiki Aquarium