FAMILY NAUTILIDAE Meaning and
Definition
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Family Nautilidae refers to a taxonomic classification of cephalopods belonging to the order Nautilida, commonly known as nautiluses. The Nautilidae family is composed of marine mollusks characterized by a coiled, chambered shell that resembles a logarithmic spiral. These creatures are considered living fossils as they have survived relatively unchanged for millions of years, representing the only extant members of the abundant nautiloid group that thrived during the Paleozoic era.
Members of the Family Nautilidae possess a soft body concealed within the shell, equipped with numerous tentacles, simple eyes, and a mouth surrounded by a ring of appendages known as tentacle sheaths. These tentacles serve the purpose of capturing prey, mainly consisting of small fish, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates.
The shell of nautilids consists of multiple gas-filled chambers connected by a tube-like structure known as a siphuncle, enabling the organism to regulate its buoyancy. As the nautilus grows, it continuously adds new chambers to its shell, with the animal inhabiting the outermost chamber. This unique shell adaptation provides protection and allows for growth at a variable rate.
Currently, six recognized species are classified under the Family Nautilidae, encompassing various geographic regions such as the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Great Barrier Reef. Due to their slow rate of reproduction and vulnerability to overfishing and habitat destruction, nautiluses are considered threatened and are protected by international conservation organizations.
Common Misspellings for FAMILY NAUTILIDAE
- damily nautilidae
- camily nautilidae
- vamily nautilidae
- gamily nautilidae
- tamily nautilidae
- ramily nautilidae
- fzmily nautilidae
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- fanily nautilidae
- fakily nautilidae
- fajily nautilidae
- famuly nautilidae
- famjly nautilidae
- famkly nautilidae
- famoly nautilidae
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- fam8ly nautilidae
Etymology of FAMILY NAUTILIDAE
The etymology of the word "Family Nautilidae" can be broken down as follows:
1. Family: The term "Family" comes from the Latin word "familia", which referred to the household or a group of individuals living together. It later extended to refer to a group of related people or animals who share common ancestry.
2. Nautilidae: "Nautilidae" is a scientific classification term used to refer to a family within the order of Nautilida, which includes the nautiluses. The word "Nautilus" originates from the Latin word "nautilus" or "navis" meaning "ship", which was derived from the Greek word "nautilus". It is believed to be a reference to the nautilus's shell which resembles a ship's wheel.
