It took more than 15 years and more than 1,000 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) expeditions, but NOAA Ocean Exploration Trust researchers nautilus They finally found the namesake of the research vessel in the wild. On December 3, the operator of the ship’s ROV Hercules discovered four Palauan nautilus specimens.Nautilus belauensis) between Nautilus exploration programis continuing a 17-day survey in the Palau National Marine Sanctuary.
“It’s finally happened!” exclaimed one researcher during a team meeting. Live broadcast on December 3rdfurther adds: nautilus–My dream has come true. ”
The researchers recorded these particular examples swimming 220 to 375 meters (approximately 721 to 1,230 feet) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, but pelagic mollusk cephalopods can survive at depths of nearly 2,500 feet. Their spiral-shaped shells make them part of one of the oldest animal families on Earth, and the fossil record shows that squid’s relatives have changed relatively little over nearly 500 million years. is shown. Unlike the eight tentacles of an octopus, nautiluses have between 50 and more than 90 appendages, depending on the classification of fingers, eyes, and reproductive organs. Although vision is limited by primitive eyes without solid lenses, the nine known species of nautiluses instead rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate food and mates.
The nautilus prefers to travel deep in the ocean in near total darkness, so it is rarely photographed or captured on video. That’s why the Marine Exploration Trust deserves all the more attention. A high-resolution camera aboard the Hercules ROV allowed detailed and long-duration observations of the animals in their natural habitat. as Group announcement When I explain, nautilus Although the ship’s name is not directly derived from cephalopods, it pays homage to Captain Nemo’s deep-sea submarine from Jules Verne’s novel. 20,000 miles under the sea. However, the researchers explain that “nautiloids are known to move up and down in the water column, similar to the vertical motion of submarines,” and the animal’s name comes from the Greek word for “sailor.” It is said that it originates from.
Expedition NA169 will run from 25 November to 12 December and is focused on investigating the complex ocean interactions resulting from the region’s steep island slopes and the major ocean currents that interact with them. According to the research team, these relationships create circulation patterns that draw nutrient-rich water from the depths of the ocean to the surface, promoting biodiversity in Palau’s marine ecosystem. When not analyzing these dynamics, the team also conducts seafloor mapping trips within the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, with ROV surveys exploring “biologically and oceanographically significant sites around the Palau Islands.” I plan to focus on
