Nautilus

Nautiluses are time travellers of the sea. They are remarkable creatures that have glided through the oceans for around 480 million years. Found mainly along deep ocean reefs, these ancient creatures have soft bodies protected by a chambered shell, a design that has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of millions of years. 

Although their eyesight is limited, nautiluses possess finely tuned senses that help them navigate their underwater world. They can detect changes in water depth, current direction, and speed, allowing them to maintain perfect balance as they move. Their highly developed sense of smell also helps them locate food and potential mates in the dark depths they call home. 

Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific, nautiluses are close relatives of octopuses and squids. However, unlike their cousins, they can have over 90 slender tentacles that lack suckers. Instead, their tentacles are lined with grooves and ridges coated in a sticky secretion, helping them grasp their prey. 

Did you know? 

The nautilus is the only living cephalopod with an external shell. Each individual can be identified by its unique striped shell pattern, a natural fingerprint that stretches and expands as the animal grows.