Bellybutton Nautilus

Nautilus macromphalus

Also known as: Chambered Nautilus, Emperor Nautilus, Pearly Nautilus

ALSO KNOWN AS

Chambered Nautilus
Emperor Nautilus
Pearly Nautilus

Found by a member of the public on the beach — Bellybutton Nautilus adult, photographed at Yeppoon Beach, Australia — @fishx6 · Yeppoon Beach, Australia · February 20121 / 2

Overview

Found during the day, in depths of several hundred metres, along the continental shelf, rising to shallow waters at night, 2-20m, hunting for food.
They feed on crustaceans and carrion.

The Nautilus moves vertically through the water. Their body is made up of chambers these are used to adjust gases within these chambers to alter their buoyancy.
They are scavengers and have poor eyesight and use scent and touch to find their prey.

How to identify

COLOURS

white

Pattern: brown stripes
Body shape: shells
Behaviour: nocturnal

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Southwest Pacific
Exact location · 2

LIVES IN

Found during the day, in depths of several hundred metres, along the continental shelf, rising to shallow waters at night, 2-20m, hunting for food.

RANGE

Southwest Pacific

Adult photos 2

Discussion 4

4 comments

C· 26 Aug 2016
FYI, chambered nautilus and pearly nautilus are a different species; N. pompilius.
Helpful· 1
J Pancakes· 11 Apr 2016
How does the bellybutton nautilus protect itself from predators?
Helpful· 1
fishx6Top Contributor· 29 Aug 2016
So are you saying the one in the picture is N. pompilius?
Helpful
fishx6Top Contributor· 12 Apr 2016
Probably by retracting into its shell!
Helpful

ALL STAGES

FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

kingdomAnimalia
phylumMollusca
classCephalopoda
orderNautilida
familyNautilidae
genusNautilus
speciesNautilus macromphalus G. B. Sowerby II, 1849

SourcesWoRMS Wikipedia