What is nautilus pompilius?

Nautilus pompilius is a species of cephalopod mollusks commonly known as the chambered nautilus. It belongs to the class of cephalopods, which also includes octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish. The chambered nautilus is considered a living fossil, as it has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.

The chambered nautilus has a hard, spiral-shaped shell with a series of internal chambers that the animal can fill with air or water to adjust its buoyancy. It has a pair of simple eyes that mainly detect light and dark, and it feeds on small marine organisms such as crabs and shrimp.

The chambered nautilus is found in the deep waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, ranging from 100 to 800 meters in depth. They are relatively slow-growing and long-lived animals, with a lifespan of up to 20 years. The species is suffering from overfishing and habitat destruction, which has led to declining populations and conservation concerns.