An international team of researchers has determined how nautiluses, among the most ancient marine creatures, manage to survive in the deep ocean zones where resources are extremely scarce. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports (SR).
The research is being overseen by scientists from the University of Washington. Nautiluses and their relatives from the Allonautilus genus have inhabited our planet for over 500 million years, earning them the moniker of “living fossils.” However, the lifestyle of these organisms remained largely obscure for a long period.
Recent observations have substantiated that contemporary species inhabit depths greater than those preferred by their ancient forebears. Intriguingly, juvenile individuals descend to depths roughly twice as profound compared to adults. The reasons behind this disparity in depth distribution among different age cohorts are still something the scientists aim to uncover.
Another distinct characteristic of nautiluses has also been identified: they maintain a highly mobile existence, rarely ceasing movement. They do not actively hunt but instead favor scavenging carrion, collecting organic debris from the seabed.
Some species undertake daily vertical migrations, descending hundreds of meters at dawn and ascending again as evening arrives. However, the latest biological study indicates that a more measured lifestyle, with less vigorous movement, characterizes the majority of these populations.
Furthermore, specialists successfully located a previously unknown population of Allonautilus off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Experts believe this group has persisted due to fishing restrictions, some of which were implemented based on conclusions drawn from earlier scientific investigations.
The authors emphasize that comprehending nautiluses is crucial not only for grasping broader principles of marine organism evolution but also for formulating conservation strategies. These archaic beings are quite vulnerable given their slow reproductive rate and desirability among collectors.
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