Nautulons
Basic Information
Anatomy
Nautulons are a grouping of shelled cephalopod descended from the nautilus. Their shells can widely vary in shape, from the Pea Nautulon that most resembles its nautilus ancestors, to the enormous Humpbacked Nautulon, which is many times its size and has a bumped cone shaped shell. All nautulons have up to 100 tentacles and pinhole eyes, similar to nautiluses. Colors of the shells can vary wildly depending on their diet, however individual species typically have similarly colored shells, a likely adaptation to be able to tell one another apart from their relatives. Like most cephalopods, nautulons can change color at will, but this is restricted to their soft tissues.
The Pea Nautulon is the smallest species, growing only to 6 inches long. Wizard and Trumpet Nautulons are larger, typically growing between 1 and 2 feet respectively, but all are dwarfed by the Humpbacked Nautulon, growing to a massive 5-8 feet long.
Genetics and Reproduction
As with their nautilus ancestors, Nautulons are quite long lived and can repeatedly reproduce, but take an extremely long time to reach sexual maturity. The majority of nautulons reach sexual maturity between 15 and 20 years old, and will begin to reproduce in earnest 3-4 years after maturing. Females lay their eggs in warm crevices in corals, rocks, and overhangs that they defend for up to a year when they hatch, and typically prefer to reuse the same nesting sites. During this time, females will fast and lose significant weight, and must go without breeding the next year before reproducing again.
Due to their extremely slow maturity cycle and long periods between breeding, all nautulon species are at risk of over hunting and fishing bycatch. Particular species such as the Trumpet and Humpbacked Nautulon are especially at risk and protected in most regions due to over hunting for the shells of large young individuals, which drastically reduced their reproductive populations.
Ecology and Habitats
Nautulons inhabit shallow reefs and shoals in warm coastal waters across the Pacific Ocean, though are occasionally carried by the tides into open ocean where they are quick to retreat to deep water. It is thought that the majority of species do not migrate and instead inhabit the same regions throughout their lives.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Nautulons are generalists, eating whatever they can catch. This typically is small slowmoving fish, eels, crustaceans, anemones, and some corals, which are thought to make up the bulk of their diets. Urchins and crabs are also a common prey item across all species and the animals are known to follow divers removing invasive urchins from reefs to steal them from catch bags. Nautulons' beaks allow them to crush hard to digest items and break through shells easily, taking advantage of prey not available to many fish.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
In many regions across the Pacific, nautulons are considered a delicacy. Nautulons are often caught, killed, and roasted in butter, garlic, and with fragrant vegetables or squid ink for many dishes- due to over fishing concerns, there are often highly regulated seasons in which people are allowed to catch them for consumption and catches are inspected to ensure that only males are caught, as the catch of females is banned entirely in most areas. Female nautulons are often marked when caught, either by dye patches on their shells or GPS tags attached to the backs of their shells.
A great many of regions make use of the nautulon's shell for cultural, religious, or artistic reasons. Despite high regulation banning catch solely for shell hunting, many areas still trade the shells, particularly those from the Trumpet and Humpbacked nautulon for jewelry.
Average Intelligence
Nautulons are often described as intelligent and highly curious. They will often follow and swim with divers, and are known to take advantage of those hunting urchins. Some populations also appear to act as though they are bad at hunting themselves in order to be fed by passersby out of pity. Although they do not have good eyesight, nautulons are incredibly sensitive to sound and smell, and known to flee when sharks or octopi, their predators, are feeding in the area.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Origin/Ancestry
natural
Lifespan
25 - 30 years
Conservation Status
Threatened (Humpbacked, Trumpet), to Least Concern (Pea, Wizard)
Geographic Distribution
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