Unidentified

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Unidentified at suppressed - 2 Jan 2019
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Identification history

Nautilus macromphalus 30 May 2019 MandyReid
Nautilus pompilius 29 May 2019 MickBettanin

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User's notes

Shell only. Found on a secluded rocky bay. Shell was wedged in between some rocks. As a tropical species I can only suggest that is has come down on the EAC, open to opinion.

5 comments

libbyh wrote:
   30 May 2019
Fascinating! we do get paper nautilus here, but we don't have another record of this species. Let's hope someone who knows more than us can give us more information. Mick, could I ask that you place the pin more accurately? at present it's inland. many thanks, Libby
MandyReid wrote:
   30 May 2019
This is not a shell of Nautilus pompilius. It is a shell of Nautilus macromphalus. The live animals of this species are known from northeastern Australia, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. It is not found off southeastern Australia but the shells of Nautilus can drift for hundreds of kms, carried by currents. It should not be included among species lists for southeastern Australia.
libbyh wrote:
   31 May 2019
Thanks for that Mandy, an interesting find.
MickBettanin wrote:
   31 May 2019
Thanks for the information Mandy, I was pretty amazed to find it, nice to know a bit more about it.
Libby - if you zoom in the pin should be in the accurate location, zoomed out it looks a bit deceptive.
libbyh wrote:
   31 May 2019
You are right! who'd a thought it would end up there. Sorry for doubting.

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Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 2 Jan 2019 02:00 PM Recorded on
  • MickBettanin Recorded by

Additional information

  • less than 1m Depth of sighting

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
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