Nautilus, Pelagic Marine Mollusk, Museum Quality, Rubber, Hand Painted, Realistic Toy Figure, Replica, Kids, Gift, 3 1/2 Inches CH364 BB138

Nautilus (from Greek nautilos, "sailor") is the common name of any marine creatures of the cephalopod family Nautilidae, the sole family of the suborder Nautilina. Cephalopods generally are divided into three subclasses: Ammonoidea (extinct ammonoids), Coleoidea (octopuses, squids, cuttlefishes, extinct belemites), and Nautiloidea. The nautilus is the only extant (living) representatives of the subclass Nautiloidea, a once diverse and abundant group that originated in the Cambrian period 500 million years ago (mya) and flourished during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. Nautilus differs from other extant cephalopods by having an external shell and two pair of gills rather than one (Vecchione 2006). While female argonauts do secrete a shell-like egg case, this paper-thin structure lacks the gas-filled chambers present in buoyant, chambered nautilus shells and is not a true cephalopod shell, but rather an innovation unique to the genus Argonauta (Naef 1923). Nautiluses typically have more tentacles and arms than other cephalopods, up to 90, whereas octopuses have eight arms but no tentacles, and squids and the squid-like cuttlefishes have eight arms and two tentacles. Nautiluses are only found in the Indo-Pacific. The Nautilus not only plays a role in food chains€”using its strong "beak" to consume shrimp, crabs, and fish, and in turn being eaten by fish, sea mammals, octopuses, and so forth€”but they also provide aesthetic value for humans. Their captivating spiral shells, which grow logarithmically, have been featured as decoration and jewelry, and the chambered nautilus is a focal point of works of art and literature. Collectible Wildlife Gifts is the market leader in providing high quality, realistic toys of all types! Every one of our items is heavily inspected for quality craftsmanship and authenticity. Our products make great gifts for your family and friends! Additionally, our lifelike animal figurines and plush make for great displays and educational sets. We are happy to serve our wide range of clientele from parents to educators, gift shop owners and many more! Our team works hard to ensure you get a great toy. All products from CWG are checked for quality to ensure you receive the order in perfect condition. From plush sharks to educational animal growths cycle we offer the perfect toy or gift for any occasion. Our products have been ordered by educational groups, aquariums, zoos, and more. Great customer service is guaranteed when you order from Collectible Wildlife Gifts, we want you to love your toy and have a simple ordering process, we are happy to assist with inquiries!