WHATSTHATFISH
Octopus & squid

Emperor Nautilus

Nautilus pompilius

Also known as: Chambered Nautilus, Nautilis Shell, Pearly Nautilus

VUVulnerableIUCN Red List, 2026
Adult
@fishx6 · Bournemouth Aquarium, United Kingdom · August 20091 / 4
01

Overview

Found during the day in very deep waters, over hard bottoms of slopes and steep faces of coral reefs over the continental shelf, rising to shallow waters at night to feed. Sometimes found washed up on beaches on the morning tide.
They feed on carrion, crustaceans, detritus and fish.

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.

02

How to identify

Pattern
stripes
Body shape
shellstentacles
Behaviour
nocturnal

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found during the day in very deep waters, over hard bottoms of slopes and steep faces of coral reefs over the continental shelf, rising to shallow waters at night to feed.

04

Adult photos 4

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumMollusca
    3. classCephalopoda
    4. orderNautilida
    5. familyNautilidae
    6. genusNautilus
    7. speciesNautilus pompilius Linnaeus, 1758

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Nautilida