Understanding What a Nautilus Is
A nautilus is a marine animal known for its beautiful spiral shell. It belongs to the cephalopod family, the same group as octopuses and squids.
What a Nautilus Looks Like
Its shell is divided into chambers arranged in a perfect spiral. The animal lives in the outer chamber, while the inner ones help it control buoyancy.
How a Nautilus Swims
Nautiluses move using jet propulsion. They draw water into their body and push it out, allowing them to glide through the ocean.
Where Nautiluses Live
They are found in deep waters of the Indo-Pacific region. They usually stay at great depths during the day and come closer to the surface at night to feed.
Why the Nautilus Is Considered a Living Fossil
Nautiluses have changed very little over millions of years. Their spiral shells closely resemble fossils from ancient oceans.
What Nautiluses Eat
They feed on small fish, crabs, and carrion. Their many tentacles help them grab food in the dark deep sea.
The Simple Takeaway
A nautilus is an ancient cephalopod with a spiral shell and jet-propulsion movement. It’s a deep-sea survivor and one of the ocean’s most unique creatures.