For kids, the beach is an absolute treasure trove of super cool and exotic objects left behind by the ocean and its many inhabitants. Shells are among the best and most beautiful of these items, but sometimes their former residents still haven’t moved out, and that can spell trouble.
While playing on the beach in East Cape Conran, Australia, a little girl spotted what she thought was a beautiful shell. She scampered over, eager to add this beauty to her collection.
However, when she bent down, she got the surprise of a lifetime.
The little girl spotted what she thought was an empty shell on the beach and went to pick it up. But she quickly discovered that the shell wasn’t empty yet. Something was still alive inside.
It belonged to an argonaut, better known as a paper nautilus. They are seldom seen by human beings because they are deep ocean dwellers.
The female paper nautilus uses its shell to store its young, while the male uses it to house his reproductive organs, that is until the female rips them off after mating.
They only come to the surface to trap air inside their shells. They capture just enough to help them stay mobile underwater, but not so much that they are trapped at the surface. Still, every now and then, some get caught by the surface currents and are carried to the shore.
Should you find one still alive, it’s vital that you try to get it to wildlife authorities who can deliver the rare creature back into deep water.
Watching them move in their natural habitat, though, is simply stunning.
The little girl notified officials about her discovery, and they helped her return the nautilus to its rightful home. If you ever see one of these creatures washed up on the shore, be sure to do the same.
Share this rare ocean dweller with your friends!”
Thanks for the info.