Chambered Nautilus

Superpower

Adjusts gas in its spiral shell to rise and sink like a living submarine.

At a glance

Size

typically 16 cm, up to 27 cm

Lifespan

15–20 years

Depth

100–500 m

Habitat

Deep reef slopes, rising shallower at night.

Diet

Shrimp, small crabs and carrion, found by smell.

Can I eat it?

No — this one is not eaten.

Fun facts

• •It is a 'living fossil', little changed for around 500 million years.
• •It controls its depth with gas in the chambers of its shell.
• •It has around 90 tentacles but no suckers.