The final ROV Hercules dive of 2024 marked an exciting milestone in ocean exploration. For the first time in over 1,000 ROV dives in more than 15 years, four Palau nautilus (Nautilus belauensis) individuals were captured on video in Palau's German Channel.
This rare sighting of nautiloids — some of the oldest surviving cephalopods — highlights their fascinating nature. Nautiluses, often called "living fossils," are known for their ability to move vertically in the water column, much like submarines.
Dr. Robert Ballard, founder of the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), named the research vessel E/V Nautilus after the fictional submarine from Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, making the connection between the creatures' vertical movement and their underwater exploration fitting.
While these modern discoveries are exciting, the nautilus's historical significance in the Philippines dates back to a pivotal moment in 1979. That year, the first fossil record of Nautilus pompilius was discovered in the Bolinao area of Pangasinan, located in northwestern Luzon.
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This fossil, now housed in the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila, provides key insights into the ancient lineage of the nautilus species, a group of marine mollusks that have survived for over 500 million years. The 1979 discovery of the Nautilus pompilius fossil marked a significant contribution to the understanding of the species' ancient existence, highlighting its resilience and ability to adapt through the ages.
The nautilus is often referred to as a "living fossil" due to its limited evolutionary changes over millions of years. It is one of the few cephalopods that retains an external shell, a feature it shares with some of its distant ancestors. The fossil discovered in Pangasinan provides valuable evidence of the nautilus's existence in the region's ancient seas.
This mollusk's spiral shell and distinctive anatomy have allowed it to thrive in deep ocean waters, where it can be found at depths of up to 375 meters, and to adapt with little evolutionary change. The fossil, preserved in the National Museum of the Philippines, is a testament to the species' ancient and enduring presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
In 2024, the Palau nautilus sightings further emphasized the ongoing importance of exploring and preserving these remarkable creatures. The discovery of live nautilus individuals in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the waters of Palau, where they were observed at depths between 220 and 375 meters, provides further evidence of the nautilus's enduring existence.
These sightings are important not only for understanding the biology and behavior of nautiluses today but also for comparing them with ancient fossil records like the one found in Pangasinan. Such discoveries underscore the continuity of life forms and ecosystems in the region over geological timescales.
The 1979 fossil discovery in the Philippines laid the groundwork for ongoing marine exploration in Southeast Asia. It sparked further research into the nautilus's biology and distribution and contributed to a growing body of knowledge about the rich marine biodiversity of the region.
The Philippines, as a key part of the Indo-Pacific, continues to be a hotspot for marine research, with its waters providing crucial habitats for a variety of marine species, including the nautilus.
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For those interested in the ongoing exploration of the nautilus and other marine life, the NA169 expedition funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration offers further insights. The expedition, which took place in 2024, highlights the importance of understanding both living and fossilized marine life in shaping our knowledge of Earth's oceans. To follow the expedition's journey and learn more about the Palau nautilus, visit NautilusLive.org.
This blend of historical discoveries and modern explorations underscores the deep connections between past and present marine ecosystems. The nautilus, from its fossilized remains found in the Philippines to its live sightings in Palau, continues to be a symbol of the ancient oceans and their lasting influence on modern marine biodiversity.