The Argonaut is an octopus-like cephalopod that lives near the surface of warm oceans. Though the Argonaut is also called a paper nautilus, it is neither made from paper nor is it a nautilus. It’s not even closely related to the nautilus, though both are cephalopods. The Argonaut’s shell is special. It is only built by the female, as a case for the protection of her eggs. She lives in the shell’s entry and guards the eggs until the young hatch. At the ends of the first pair of tentacles are wide sail-like flaps. Usually the female holds these flaps spread over the shell, but they also serve to catch prey.
Photo by Annatjie Kruger published in “Village Life” June/July 2004