Argonaut (animal)
Binomial name and author citation Current systematic status Type locality Type repository
Argonauta arctica Fabricius , 1780 Undetermined Unresolved ; ? Tullukaurfak , Greenland Unresolved
Argonauta bibula Röding , 1798 Undetermined Unresolved Unresolved
Argonauta compressa Blainville , 1826 Undetermined Mer de Indes Unresolved ; [ other Blainville types at MNHN ] [ not reported by Lu et al . ( 1995 ) ]
Argonauta conradi Parkinson , 1856 Species of uncertain status [ fide Robson ( 1932:200 ) ] New Nantucket , Pacific Ocean Unresolved
Argonauta cornu Gmelin , 1791 Undetermined Unresolved Unresolved ; LS ?
Argonauta cymbium Linné , 1758 Non-cephalopod ; foraminiferous shell [ fide Von Martens ( 1867:103 )
Argonauta fragilis Parkinson , 1856 Species of uncertain status [ fide Robson ( 1932:200 ) ] Not designated Unresolved
Argonauta geniculata Gould , 1852 Species of uncertain status [ fide Robson ( 1932:200 ) ] Near Sugarloaf Mountain , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil Type not extant [ fide Johnson ( 1964:32 ) ]
Argonauta maxima Dall , 1871 Nomen nudum
Argonauta navicula Lightfoot , 1786 Species dubium [ fide Rehder ( 1967:11 ) ] Not designated Unresolved
Argonauta rotunda Perry , 1811 Non-cephalopod ; Carcinaria sp . [ fide Robson ( 1932:201 ) ]
Argonauta rufa Owen , 1836 Incertae sedis [ fide Robson ( 1932:181 ) ] Indian seas [ South Pacific ocean fide Owen ( 1842:114 ) ] Unresolved ; Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons ? Holotype
Argonauta sulcata Lamarck , 1801 Nomen nudum
Argonauta tuberculata f. aurita Von Martens , 1867 Undetermined Unresolved ZMB
Argonauta tuberculata f. mutica Von Martens , 1867 Undetermined Coast of Brazil ZMB Holotype
Argonauta tuberculata f. obtusangula Von Martens , 1867 Undetermined Not designated ZMB Syntypes
Argonauta vitreus Gmelin , 1791 Undetermined Not designated Unresolved ; LS ?
Octopus ( Ocythoe ) raricyathus Blainville , 1826 Undetermined [ Argonauta ? ] Not designated MNHN Holotype ; specimen not extant [ fide Lu et al . ( 1995:323 ) ]
Ocythoe punctata Say , 1819 Argonauta sp . [ fide Robson ( 1929d:215 ) ] Atlantic Ocean near the North American coast ( from stomach of dolphin ) Unresolved ; ANSP ? Holotype [ not traced by Spamer and Bogan ( 1992 ) ]
Tremoctopus hirondellei Joubin , 1895 Argonauta or Ocythoe [ fide Thomas ( 1977:386 ) ] 44°28′56″N 46°48′15″W / 44.48222°N 46.80417°W / 44.48222 ; -46.80417 ( Atlantic Ocean ) MOM Holotype [ station 151 ] [ fide Belloc ( 1950:3 ) ]
Classification -- Dubious or uncertain taxa
The following taxa associated with the family Argonautidae are of uncertain taxonomic status : [ 19 ]
The argonauts (genus Argonauta, the only extant genus in the family Argonautidae) are a group of pelagic octopuses. They are also called paper nautiluses, referring to the paper-thin eggcase that females secrete. This structure lacks the gas-filled chambers present in chambered nautilus shells and is not a true cephalopod shell, but rather an evolutionary innovation unique to the genus Argonauta. It is used as a brood chamber and for trapped surface air to maintain buoyancy. It was once speculated that the argonauts did not manufacture their own eggcases but instead utilized shells abandoned by other organisms, in the manner of hermit crabs. Experiments by pioneering marine biologist Jeanne Villepreux-Power in the early 19th century disproved this hypothesis, as Villepreux-Power was able to successfully rear argonaut young and observe the development of their shells. Argonauts are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide; they live in the open ocean, i.e. they are pelagic. Like most octopuses, they have a rounded body, eight arms and no fins. However, unlike most octopuses, argonauts live close to the sea surface rather than on the seabed. Argonauta species are characterised by very large eyes and small distal webs. The funnel-mantle locking apparatus is a major diagnostic feature of this taxon.