NAUTILOID Meaning and
Definition
-
Nautiloids are a type of marine mollusk characterized by their coiled, chambered shells. They belong to the class Cephalopoda, which also includes squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish. Nautiloids are widely considered as the ancestors of modern-day cephalopods.
These ancient creatures existed from the Late Cambrian to the Late Triassic period, making them one of the longest-lived groups of cephalopods. Their external shells consisted of a series of chambers, each connected through a tube known as a siphuncle. The nautiloid's soft body inhabits the largest chamber at the end of the shell, while the empty chambers serve as buoyancy control.
Nautiloids exhibit a complex anatomy, with tentacles, a beak-like mouth, eyes, and a well-developed nervous system. They used their tentacles to capture prey, mostly small fish and crustaceans. Nautiloids also possess a unique jet propulsion mechanism, allowing them to move by expelling water from a system of tubes known as a hyponome.
Being a member of early cephalopods, nautiloids played a crucial role in the evolutionary history of mollusks. Their fossils provide valuable insights into the development of more advanced cephalopods, such as ammonites and belemnites. Today, nautiloids are an endangered group, with only six surviving species known collectively as the chambered nautilus. These ancient creatures serve as a living relic, reminding us of a time when nautiloids were diverse and abundant in Earth's prehistoric oceans.
-
A term applied to the fossil nautili that have many-chambered shells, or rather cell-cases.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for NAUTILOID
Etymology of NAUTILOID
The word "Nautiloid" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "nautilos" meaning "sailor" or "nautilus", and "eidos" meaning "form" or "shape". The term was coined in the mid-19th century to describe a group of extinct marine cephalopods that resembled the modern-day Nautilus, a marine mollusk often referred to as a "living fossil". Nautiloids were a diverse group of cephalopods that flourished in the ancient seas from the Cambrian period to the end of the Cretaceous period, and they are considered distant relatives of today's squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish. The name "Nautiloid" was chosen due to the resemblance of these ancient creatures' shell structure and overall shape to that of the Nautilus.
Similar spelling words for NAUTILOID
- four-needled,
- nautilidae,
- needled,
- nautilida,
- n'tlet,
- nutlet,
- Notelet,
- nodulate,
- noduled,
- needlewood,
- five-needled,
- nodality,
- natality,
- noddled,
- art-2ndld,
- Nidulite,
- Nuttallite,
- natalyite,
- netlotto,
- nedlloyd,
- NTLDO,
- Nidulate,
- 2ndLt,
- two-needled,
- NTLT,
- ndlead,
- nautiloidea,
- nettled,
- three-needled,
- noodled,
- Nautilite,
- nightlight,
- NODALIDA.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
