Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 2289202
Emperor Nautilus
Nautilus pompiliusAlso known as Chambered Nautilus, Pearly Nautilus
Emperor nautiluses are deep-sea cephalopods that undertake dramatic daily vertical migrations, ascending from depths of hundreds of meters at dusk to forage along coral reef drop-offs before descending at dawn. They navigate using primitive pinhole eyes and dozens of suckerless tentacles coated in chemical sensors, adjusting internal gas levels within their chambered shells to maintain neutral buoyancy. With slow metabolisms and lifespans exceeding twenty years, they mature late and produce only a few slow-incubating eggs per season.
Deep SeaMarineNocturnal
Licensed referenceHans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Crabs
- Shrimp
- Dead fish
Predators
- Octopuses
- Sharks
- Triggerfish
ThreatsOverharvesting for shell and jewelry trade, ocean warming, ocean acidification
HabitatsDeep tropical coral reef slopes, outer drop-offs, and open marine waters
Life span15–20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderNautilida
- FamilyNautilidae
- GenusNautilus
- SpeciesNautilus pompilius
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for the smooth, coiled shell marked with bold reddish-brown and white stripes and a solid central covering over the umbilicus.
- Support conservation
- Observe from a respectful distance during deep night dives and never support the purchase or collection of whole shells.
Responsible observation
- Viewing Etiquette: Avoid shining high-intensity dive lights directly at their sensitive pinhole eyes during night dives.
- Consumer Choice: Refuse to buy nautilus shells or jewelry to curb deep-water trapping and black-market trade.
Predator (c) Kris-Mikael Krister, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Distant Kin albert kok / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Kai Squires, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kai Squires · cc-by
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