48. The man-of-war

This medley creature is not one animal but many living in a perfect four part harmony. This slimy

creature is a kind of jelly fish. Its tentacles can kill even human beings.

A total of 1000 different individuals with four different skills join together. Each one does one of

these four jobs – floating, catching prey, digestion and reproduction.

They work so well together but none can survive on its own. Together these form a crew of killing

machines with a poison as powerful as that of a cobra.

For a small fish the touch of the tentacle means instant death. When humans get stung their blood

pressure drops rapidly ; they go into a shock and some even die.

If they remain alive, they carry the angry red marks of the tentacles for a long time.

There is no antidote for the venom. Vinegar neutralizes the poison to some extent.

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