Palau Nautilus
NamePalau Nautilus
Scientific NameNautilus belauensis
Common NamePalau Nautilus
FamilyNautilidae
GenusNautilus
Speciesbelauensis
Geographic DistributionEndemic to the waters around Palau in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Average Size (mm)160-220
Identifying FeaturesDistinctive brown and white striped, chambered shell; numerous cirri (tentacles) without suckers; a leathery hood that covers the aperture when the animal retracts; well-developed pinhole eyes; and a siphuncle for buoyancy control.
Author CitationN/A
Description
An image of a living Palau Nautilus (Nautilus belauensis) swimming in clear blue water over a sandy bottom with coral reefs in the background. The shell displays its characteristic brown and white striped pattern, and the animal's soft body, including its hood, eyes, and numerous cirri (tentacles), is visible.
