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
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. 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.
  2. Publishers, Pensoft. "Three new nautilus species described from the Coral Sea and South Pacific". phys.org. Retrieved 2023-02-07.