Nautilus

Nautilus / Nautilus pompilus / Class Cephalopoda

The nautilus is the only cephalopod with a true external shell. The inside of the shell is divided into many pearly gas-filled chambers. They can change the amount of air and water inside their shell to help them float - in fact that have been known as 'nature's submarines'.

Nautilus physiology

Nautilus have more than ninety tentacles, topped by a leathery hood that is formed by two specially folded tentacles. The eyes of the nautilus are less developed than in the other cephalopods and operate like a pinhole camera.

Habitat

Living nautilus are found in the deep dark ocean waters and have been living in the Pacific for over 500 million years. The nautilus spends the day living in the deep cool waters off the edge of the reef. At night they rise to feed.

Feeding

Nautilus feed on crustaceans.