Nautilus vanuatuensis is a species of nautilus native to the waters of Vanuatu. It was described as a separate species in 2023.[1][2]

Nautilus vanuatuensis
Nautilus vanuatensis in the wild
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Subclass: Nautiloidea
Order: Nautilida
Family: Nautilidae
Genus: Nautilus
Species:
N. vanuatuensis
Binomial name
Nautilus vanuatuensis
Barord et al., 2023

Description

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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]

Habitat

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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]

Etymology

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The specific epithet, vanuatuensis, refers to Vanuatu, the type locality.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Barord, Gregory J.; Combosch, David J.; Giribet, Gonzalo; Landman, Neil; Lemer, Sarah; Veloso, Job; Ward, Peter D. (2023-01-25). "Three new species of Nautilus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) from the Coral Sea and South Pacific". ZooKeys. 1143: 51–69. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1143.84427. ISSN 1313-2970.
  2. ^ Publishers, Pensoft. "Three new nautilus species described from the Coral Sea and South Pacific". phys.org. Retrieved 2023-02-07.