Emperor Nautilus (species: Nautilus pompilius) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island area: all known taxa > Animalia > Mollusca > Cephalopoda > Nautiloidea > Nautilidae > Nautilus > Nautilus pompilius (gallery)
Nautilus pompilius
Emperor Nautilus


©Anne Hoggett: A broken shell of Nautilus pompilius washed up on Coconut Beach, Lizard Island.

©Barbara Banks: Nautilus pompilius 16cm found on reef walk out from beach Palfrey island near Lizard island

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Cephalopoda
Order Nautilida
Family Nautilidae
Genus Nautilus
Species Nautilus pompilius

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Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

Shell with a closed umbilicus (inner coils of shell not visible) and the brown/orange bands extend to the umbilicus (Reid, 2016).

Size

  • Up to 17 cm (diameter according to Reid, 2016)

Synonyms

Comments

Three species of Nautilus are known from the outer reefs off Lizard Island, where they live in deep water (200 to 400 metres). Shells was up on Lizard Island beaches quite frequently.

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Norman, M. (2000). Cephalopods: A world guide ConchBooks, Hackenheim, Germany.
  • Reid, A. (2016). Cephalopods of Australia and Sub-Antarctic Territories CSIRO, Clayton, Vic., Australia.

Other references

  • Roper, C.F.E. and F.G. Hochberg (1986). Color and body patterns in cephalopods from Lizard Island, Australia,Unpublished manuscript. LIRS catalog number 204.
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