Bellybutton nautilus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bellybutton nautilus |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nautilus macromphalus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nautilus
|
| Species: |
macromphalus
|
The Nautilus macromphalus, also known as the bellybutton nautilus, is a special type of nautilus. It lives in the ocean waters near New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, and northeastern Australia. This nautilus has a unique shell. Unlike other nautiluses, its shell has an open "bellybutton" area. This opening shows the inner spirals of the shell. It's about 15% of the shell's total width.
Contents
Where They Live and What They Do
The bellybutton nautilus usually lives very deep in the ocean, hundreds of meters down. But when night comes, these amazing creatures swim up closer to the surface. They come up to depths of about 2 to 20 meters to find food.
About Their Body and Shell
The bellybutton nautilus has long, thin tentacles. These tentacles have special ridges that help them grab their prey. This species is the smallest kind of nautilus. Its shell usually grows to about 16 centimeters wide. However, the biggest one ever found was 18 centimeters across!
Ancient Discoveries
Scientists found more than 35 shells of the bellybutton nautilus in a cenote (a natural pit or sinkhole) on Lifou island, which is part of the Loyalty Islands. These shells are very old, dating back about 6,400 to 7,100 years ago.
Based on these dates, experts believe the cenote was connected to the ocean for about 700 years. During that time, nautiluses could swim into it through an underwater cave system. Many of these animals likely got trapped inside and died there.
Images for kids
-
N. macromphalus seen during a night dive in Sandal Wood Bay, Lifou, New Caledonia at a depth of 15 m
-
Pair of N. macromphalus in Sandal Wood Bay
-
Nautilus macromphalus shell
-
Anatomy of N. macromphalus from Arthur Willey's monograph, 1912
-
Map of Gazelle Peninsula, where Arthur Willey attempted to catch N. macromphalus
See also
