Definition of argonauta Argonauta

We found 5 definitions of argonauta from 5 different sources.

What does argonauta mean?

WordNet

Noun
argonauta - type genus of the family Argonautidae: paper nautilus
		genus Argonauta
		mollusk genus a genus of mollusks
		argonautidae, family argonautidae represented solely by the genus Argonauta

= synonym
= antonym
= related word

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

argonauta (n.)
A genus of Cephalopoda. The shell is called paper nautilus or paper sailor.

Sailor's Word-BookThe Sailor's Word-Book ⛵

argonauta
The paper-nautilus. The sail which it was supposed to spread to catch the wind, is merely a modified arm which invests the outer surface of the shell.

Wikipedia

The argonauts (genus "Argonauta", the only extant genus in the Argonautidae family) are a group of pelagic octopuses. They are also called paper nautiluses, by analogy with chambered nautiluses and 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".

Argonauts are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide; they live in open ocean. 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 mantle-funnel locking apparatus is a major diagnostic feature of this taxon. It consists of knob-like cartilages in the mantle and corresponding depressions in the funnel. Unlike the closely allied genera "Ocythoe" and "Tremoctopus", "Argonauta" species lack water pores.

Sexual dimorphism and reproduction.

In Argonauts, males and females are quite different regarding size and lifespan. Females grow up to 10 cm and make shells up to 30 cm, while males rarely grow larger than 2 cm. The males only mate once in their short lifetime. The females are iteroparous. In addition, the females have been known since ancient times while the males were only described in the late 19th Century.

The males lack the dors