What is a nautilus?
Q: What is a nautilus?
A: A nautilus is a type of cephalopod in the Nautilidae family that is considered a "living fossil" because it has not changed much in appearance over millions of years.
Q: How many living species of nautilus are there?
A: There are six living species of nautilus in two genera.
Q: Which species of nautilus is the largest and best known?
A: The species Nautilus pompilius, found in Western Australia, is the largest and best known, growing up to 27 cm in diameter.
Q: What is the Bellybutton nautilus?
A: The Bellybutton nautilus, or Nautilus macromphalus, is a species of nautilus that is the smallest, usually measuring only 16 cm.
Q: How many teeth does the nautilus's radula have?
A: The nautilus's radula has exactly nine teeth.
Q: How many pairs of gills does a nautilus have?
A: A nautilus has two pairs of gills.
Q: Why are nautiluses considered "living fossils"?
A: Nautiluses are considered "living fossils" because they are the only living descendants of the group that gave rise to the ammonites during the Palaeozoic era, and they have not changed much in appearance over millions of years.
