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 | |
| 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
editIt 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
editNautilus 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
editThe specific epithet, vanuatuensis, refers to Vanuatu, the type locality.
References
edit- 1 2 3 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. Bibcode:2023ZooK.1143...51B. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1143.84427. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 10209263. PMID 37250686.
- ↑ Publishers, Pensoft. "Three new nautilus species described from the Coral Sea and South Pacific". phys.org. Retrieved 2023-02-07.