Rare California Nautilus Discovery
California Fishing Boat Discovers Rare Paper Nautilus Octopus Off Coast
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A Newport Beach fishing boat pulled up one of the ocean's most elusive creatures last week — a paper nautilus, a type of octopus so rare that many sailors once thought it was a myth. The animal was caught by a vessel run by Davey's Locker Sportfishing, according to La Crosse Tribune.
The crew was so puzzled by the find that they posted photos on social media and asked followers to identify it. The paper nautilus looks like a snail but is actually an octopus. It builds its own thin, paper-like shell to travel across open ocean, reports Pantagraph.
What Exactly Is a Paper Nautilus
The paper nautilus is not a true nautilus at all. It belongs to the octopus family, according to Billings Gazette. Only females build shells. They secrete the thin, white shell using two specialized arms. The shell is fragile — almost translucent — and can fit in the palm of your hand.
The shell serves a clever purpose. The nautilus traps air inside it and uses the shell as a ballast tank — just like a submarine. This lets the creature control how deep it floats in the water. It is one of very few animals on Earth that builds its own floating device, Rapid City Journal reported.
A Surprisingly Fast and Powerful Ocean Drifter
Despite its delicate shell, the paper nautilus is no pushover in the water. It moves using jet propulsion — shooting water out of its body to launch itself forward. This method can push it faster than a human can swim, according to Tucson.com.
The creature usually rides ocean currents near the surface of warm, open water. It rarely comes close to shore. Finding one on a fishing boat off Southern California is an uncommon event, The Eagle noted. Scientists say sightings like this one give researchers a rare look at an animal that is hard to study in the wild.
Social Media Buzz Turns a Catch Into a Story
Davey's Locker Sportfishing posted images of the creature online after the catch. The company asked its followers: what is this thing? The post quickly drew attention from marine enthusiasts and scientists alike, according to Press of Atlantic City.
The moment shows how social media can turn a single fishing trip into a wider conversation about ocean life. The paper nautilus has been known to science for centuries, yet most people have never seen one. A chance catch off Newport Beach became a brief but vivid window into a creature that lives mostly beyond human sight, Journal Times reported.
Ancient Animal With a History of Myth and Mystery
Sailors and storytellers have marveled at the paper nautilus for thousands of years. Ancient observers believed the creature used its shell as a tiny sailboat, spreading its arms to catch the wind. That legend gave the animal an air of magic long before science caught up, according to Missoulian.
The reality turns out to be nearly as remarkable as the myth. A self-built shell, jet-powered movement, and a life spent drifting across vast stretches of open ocean make the paper nautilus one of the sea's most fascinating animals. The Newport Beach catch is a reminder that the ocean still holds surprises, even close to a busy California shore, MT Standard noted.
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