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Quick answer
The chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) is a living fossil cephalopod with a coiled shell and pinhole camera eyes. Adults reach 25 cm shell diameter and are listed Vulnerable.
Top questions about the Chambered Nautilus
Chambered Nautilus facts at a glance
- Weight 700 g
- Length 25 cm
- Top speed 3 km/h
- Lifespan 18 years
| Scientific name | Nautilus pompilius |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Deep reef slopes |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years |
| Weight | 0.5–1 kg |
| Top speed | up to 3 km/h |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Mollusca |
| Class | Cephalopoda |
| Order | Nautilida |
| Family | Nautilidae |
| Genus | Nautilus |
Where it lives
The chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) is native to Deep Indo-Pacific reefs including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. — recorded across Oceania, Asia in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a chambered nautilus?
An adult chambered nautilus measures 25 cm long — about 14% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 700 g, about 1% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of chambered nautiluses called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Chambered Nautiluses is called a school.
Baby name
A baby Chambered Nautilus is called a juvenile.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Jet-propelled living fossil
A coiled shell with gas-filled chambers controls buoyancy. Simple pinhole eyes and dozens of tentacles without suckers suit slow scavenging on reefs at night.
Carrion and crustacean scavenger
Smell-driven foraging finds dead fish and molts on reef slopes. Maturity is late; females lay few eggs per year.
Deep Indo-Pacific slopes
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Australia to about 500 m. Daylight depth retreats; night migrations bring them shallower.
Vulnerable to shell trade
IUCN lists chambered nautilus Vulnerable. Harvest for the ornamental shell trade and slow reproduction depleted many populations.
Explore the Chambered Nautilus
Related Invertebrates
Collections
Range & geography
Conservation status of the Chambered Nautilus
The chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Vulnerable (VU) means a species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future. It is the lowest-risk of the three 'threatened' IUCN categories — one step below Endangered, which is itself below Critically Endangered — and is often an early warning that a population is in trouble.
Main threats to the chambered nautilus
- Overcollection for the shell trade and jewellery
- Bycatch in deep-water traps
- Slow growth and late maturity
- Deep-sea habitat disturbance
Chambered Nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2016. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Chambered Nautilus
Are nautiluses living fossils?
Their lineage dates back hundreds of millions of years with relatively little shell change.
How do nautiluses control buoyancy?
Gas and fluid in shell chambers adjust flotation like a submarine.
Why is the chambered nautilus Vulnerable?
Shell collecting, slow growth, and few offspring per year cannot sustain heavy harvest.
Do nautiluses have good eyesight?
Pinhole eyes produce fuzzy images — they rely heavily on smell.
Where are nautilus shells sold?
Tourist and curio markets across the Indo-Pacific — a key threat to wild populations.
What is a group of chambered nautiluses called?
A group of Chambered Nautiluses is called a school.
What is a baby chambered nautilus called?
A baby Chambered Nautilus is called a juvenile.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Chambered Nautilus:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Vulnerable) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Nautilus pompilius, most recently assessed in 2016.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Nautilus pompilius. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Nautilus pompilius. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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