Similar to the well-known Portuguese Man-of-War, species in this genus consist mainly of colonies of hydrozoans, linked to a biological float, keeping them near the surface.

Unlike the Man-of-War, however, the porpita lacks a sail and therefore does not get blown ashore as often.

[2] [3] Organisms from this genus reside in tropical to sub-tropical waters all around the world.

Like other cnidarians, they possess stinging cells called cnidoblasts.

Often washing up on the coast of Florida, these particular hydrozoans do not possess a significant sting.