The Paper Nautilus
The paper nautilus, or argonaut, drifts through the open ocean and presents a striking case of sexual dimorphism. The female is a substantial, octopus-like creature housed inside a white spiral shell that can reach up to ten inches in diameter.
The male practically exists entirely shell-less, measuring barely a few tiny millimeters long. You should critically know that the female’s beautiful shell actually does not function like a typical protective snail shell; she biologically secretes it specifically as an intricate, floating brood chamber to tightly protect her thousands of vulnerable eggs.
