Beautiful Nature: The Portuguese Man-of-War

Retired U.S. Navy combat photographer Aaron Ansarov collects Portuguese men-of-war that wash up on Florida beaches and photographs them close up. (He then releases them.) The results are surprisingly beautiful. I've seen these creatures in the wild (and I actually have a scar on my toe from a brief encounter with one...) and they don't look like much in the water. But up close, and lit properly, beauty is revealed:

You can read more about this animal at The Kid Should See This, including the fascinating revelation that a "Portuguese Man of War" is actually four separate creatures living together. There's also a beautiful National Geographic feature including still photos.

(Via The Kid Should See This.)