Perhaps the most iconic and widely recognized species in the genus Nautilus—a living relic of the ancient seas. With its perfectly coiled shell and mysterious deep-sea lifestyle, the chambered nautilus is often referred to as a “living fossil,” having survived relatively unchanged for over 500 million years. It inhabits the deep reef slopes of the Indo-Pacific region, including areas around the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and northern Australia. Though it shares its lineage with more modern cephalopods like squids and octopuses, it stands apart in both appearance and biology.
What makes the chambered nautilus truly special is its shell, which grows with the animal throughout its life. As the nautilus matures, it adds new chambers to its shell, sealing off the old ones. Like a natural submarine, these inner chambers are filled with gas and fluid, helping the nautilus maintain neutral buoyancy. It can gently rise or sink by adjusting the balance of fluids in these chambers—an incredible adaptation that has allowed it to thrive in the deep sea for millions of years. The outer surface of the shell often displays beautiful pearly white with brown stripes, making it a target for collectors and a symbol of natural symmetry and mathematical beauty.
The chambered nautilus is also notable for its anatomy. Unlike squids and octopuses, it has 90 or more slender, sucker-less tentacles arranged in two circles, which it uses to catch prey like small crustaceans, fish, and detritus. Its beady eyes lack lenses and function more like a pinhole camera, relying on detecting light rather than forming detailed images. Despite this, the nautilus is a capable nocturnal forager, using smell and touch to locate food as it rises to shallower waters at night. It moves using jet propulsion, squirting water through a siphon to push itself gently through the water—though it’s far slower and less agile than its soft-bodied cousins.
Distribution
Australia
Fiji
India
Indonesia
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Solomon Islands
VanuatuAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
