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| Nautilus | |
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| Chambered nautilus: Nautilus pompilius | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Order: | Nautilida |
| Family: | Nautilidae Blainville, 1825 |
| Genera | |
Allonautilus | |
Nautilus is the common name for cephalopods of the family Nautilidae. They are the only living members of the subclass Nautiloidea. In appearance, they have not changed much in millions of years. The term chambered nautilus is also used for any species of the Nautilidae.
Many biologists see them as 'living fossils', because they are the only living descendents of the group which gave rise to the ammonites in the Palaeozoic era.
Today, there are six living species in two genera. The species Nautilus pompilius, from Western Australia is the largest and best known. It get up to 27 cm in diameter. However, most other nautiluses never exceed 20 cm. The Bellybutton nautilus, Nautilus macromphalus, is the smallest species, usually measuring only 16 cm.
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