Palau Nautilus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Palau Nautilus

Nautilus belauensis

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Nautilida
Family:	Nautilidae
Genus:	Nautilus
Species:	N. belauensis

Binomial name

Nautilus belauensis
Saunders, 1981

The Palau Nautilus (Nautilus belauensis) is a species of nautilus native to the waters around the Pacific island nation of Palau. N. belauensis is very similar to Nautilus pompilius and shares with this species a closed umbilicus covered with a callus. It differs on the basis of a modified radula and fine raised ridges across and along the shell, which form a cross-grid texture. N. belauensis is the second largest nautilus after the giant form of N. pompilius pompilius. The shell is usually up to around 210 mm in diameter, although specimens up to 226 mm have been recorded.^[1]

N. belauensis seen from the front, showing the hyponome.

Palau nautilus viewed from above.

Diver with Palau nautilus showing size of a typical captured specimen.

Close up view of the eye of the Palau nautilus.

View of a Palau nautilus from the side.

A cage used to capture Palau nautilus from a depth of approximately 300m. Note the five nautilus and the mostly eaten chicken. The animals are released unharmed.

[edit] References

^ Jereb, P. 2005. Family Nautilidae. In: P. Jereb & C.F.E. Roper, eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and Illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 1. Chambered nautiluses and sepioids (Nautilidae, Sepiidae, Sepiolidae, Sepiadariidae, Idiosepiidae and Spirulidae). FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 1. Rome, FAO. pp. 51–55.