Nautilus vanuatuensis | |
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Nautilus vanuatensis in the wild | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Cephalopoda |
Subclass: | Nautiloidea |
Order: | Nautilida |
Family: | Nautilidae |
Genus: | Nautilus |
Species: | N. vanuatuensis
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Binomial name | |
Nautilus vanuatuensis Barord et al., 2023
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Nautilus vanuatuensis is a species of nautilus native to the waters of Vanuatu. It was described as a separate species in 2023.[1][2]
It is distinguished from other nautilus species by its abundantly colored red shell. It has 40-50% shell coloration (more than any other Nautilus species with a plugged umbilicus) and its pigmentation occurs in stripes extending from venter to umbilicus.[1]
Nautilus vanuatuensis primarily lives in deep waters (200-400 m) although it is commonly observed in shallow waters (5 m). It seems endemic to Vanuatu, where it is apparently the only species.[1]
The specific epithet, vanuatuensis, refers to Vanuatu, the type locality.