The Palau nautilus is a nautiloid found mainly off Palau in the western Caroline Islands, with a shell marked by bifurcating brown to red stripes and a concentrically lirate pattern, reaching 180 to 239 millimeters across at maturity. It lives on fore reef slopes at depths of 95 to 504 meters, most often between 150 and 300 meters where the water is around 16.6 degrees Celsius, and acts as an opportunistic scavenger that relies mainly on scent to find food. It is capable of covering half a kilometer or more a day and often moves from deeper to shallower water after sunset. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN and included in CITES Appendix II, though its status as a species distinct from other Nautilus is debated.
Facts
Scientific Name Conservation Status Classification
System (Realm) Sources
1. Wikipedia: Nautilus belauensis
DescriptionQuote, Description
It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN and included in CITES Appendix II, though its status as a species distinct from other Nautilus is debated.
2. Wikipedia: Nautilus belauensis
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