Paper Nautilus - Tumblr Posts

Also called paper nautiluses, argonauts (genus Argonauta) look strikingly similar to the creatures referenced in their common name, nautiluses. The females secrete an egg case that explains their common name; however, these animals are not nautiluses at all, they are a type of octopus found in tropical and subtropical waters around the globe.

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A few weeks ago, a young girl saw this rare Argonaut - often called a Paper Nautilus - washed onto the beach at East Cape Conran. She told locals about it and Myke Mollard went and picked up the little dude then released her back into deeper water. Hopefully survived; such a classic ‘animal’ of nature. Enjoy! Photo and words by Andrew Barnes.