Marine Species Traits - Argonauta argo Linnaeus, 1758

Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 708 [details] Available for editors

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Descriptive notes

Nomenclature ICZN direction 73: placed on official list, specific name of the type species of Argonauta Linnaeus, 1758

Nomenclature ICZN direction 73: placed on official list, specific name of the type species of Argonauta Linnaeus, 1758 [details]

Description Mantle globular, as wide as long; surface of mantle, head, arms, and web covered with conspicuous, closely-set, large,...

Description Mantle globular, as wide as long; surface of mantle, head, arms, and web covered with conspicuous, closely-set, large, stellate tubercles; a narrow, tuberculate, fold of skin encircles the lateral surface of the mantle; funnel organ, 4 separate longitudinal pads. [details]

Distribution circum-(sub)tropical

Distribution circum-(sub)tropical [details]

Taxonomic citation

MolluscaBase eds. (2025). MolluscaBase. Argonauta argo Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138803 on 2025-07-16

Taxonomic edit history

Date

action

2004-12-21 15:54:05Z

created

Gofas, Serge

2018-02-07 15:28:10Z

changed

Bouchet, Philippe

Licensing

The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License

[taxonomic tree]

Nomenclature

original description Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 708 [details] Available for editors

[request]

original description (of Argonauta cygnus Monterosato, 1889) Monterosato, T. A. di. (1889). Coquilles marines marocaines. Journal de Conchyliologie. 37(1): 20-40 [2 May 1889]; 37(2): 112-121 [20 September 1889]., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16015363
page(s): 120 [details]

original description (of Argonauta corrugatus Humphrey, 1797) Humphrey, G. (1797). Museum Calonnianum. Specification of the various articles which compose the magnificent museum of natural history collected by M. de Calonne in France, and lately his property. i-viii, 1-84., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45403205 [details]

original description (of Argonauta papyraceus Röding, 1798) Röding, P. F. (1798). Museum Boltenianum sive Catalogus cimeliorum e tribus regnis naturæ quæ olim collegerat Joa. Fried Bolten, M. D. p. d. per XL. annos proto physicus Hamburgensis. Pars secunda continens Conchylia sive Testacea univalvia, bivalvia & multivalvia. Trapp, Hamburg, viii + 199 pp., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16230659 [details]

original description (of Argonauta haustrum Dillwyn, 1817) Dillwyn, L. W. (1817). A descriptive catalogue of Recent shells, arranged according to the Linnean method; with particular attention to the synonymy. John and Arthur Arch, London, Vol. 1: 1-580 pp.; Vol. 2: 581-1092 pp. + index [29 pp.]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11670899
page(s): p. 335. [details]

original description (of Ocythoe antiquorum Leach, 1817) Leach W.E. (1817). Synopsis of the orders, families and genera of the class Cephalopoda. The Zoological Miscellany; being descriptions of new or interesting animals. 3(30):137-141., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28687004
page(s): 139 [details]

original description (of Argonauta compressus Blainville, 1826) Blainville, H. M. D. de. (1826). Poulpe, Octopus (Malacoz.). pp. 170-214, in: Dictonnaire des Sciences Naturelles (F. Cuvier, ed.), vol. 43. Levrault, Strasbourg & Le Normant, Paris. , available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25309235
page(s): 212 [details]

original description (of Argonauta naviformis Conrad, 1854) Conrad, T. A. (1854). Monograph of the genus Argonauta, Linne, with descriptions of five new species. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 2: 331–334., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35731198#page/337/mode/1up
page(s): 334 [details]

original description (of Argonauta argo f. obtusangula E. von Martens, 1867) Martens, E. von. (1867). Conchological gleanings. V. On the different ages of Trochus niloticus, L., and Tr. maximus, Koch. VI. On the species of Argonauta. Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology, Series 3. 20(13)(116): 97-106., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22222569
page(s): 104 [details]

original description (of Argonauta argo f. aurita E. von Martens, 1867) Martens, E. von. (1867). Conchological gleanings. V. On the different ages of Trochus niloticus, L., and Tr. maximus, Koch. VI. On the species of Argonauta. Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology, Series 3. 20(13)(116): 97-106., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22222569
page(s): 104 [details]

original description (of Argonauta argo f. agglutinans E. von Martens, 1867) Martens, E. von. (1867). Conchological gleanings. V. On the different ages of Trochus niloticus, L., and Tr. maximus, Koch. VI. On the species of Argonauta. Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology, Series 3. 20(13)(116): 97-106., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22222569
page(s): 106 [details]

original description (of Argonauta bulleri T. W. Kirk, 1886) Kirk, T. W. (1886). On a new paper nautilus (Argonauta bulleri). Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 18: 138–139. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3300319
page(s): 3 [details]

original description (of Argonauta argo f. mediterranea Monterosato, 1914) Monterosato, T. A. di. (1914). Note sur les Argonauta de la Méditerranée. Journal de Conchyliologie. 61 (4): 385-390 [June 30th, 1914]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16294647
page(s): 387 [details]

original description (of Argonauta sebae Monterosato, 1914) Monterosato, T. A. di. (1914). Note sur les Argonauta de la Méditerranée. Journal de Conchyliologie. 61 (4): 385-390 [June 30th, 1914]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16294647
page(s): 387 [details]

original description (of Argonauta ferussaci Monterosato, 1914) Monterosato, T. A. di. (1914). Note sur les Argonauta de la Méditerranée. Journal de Conchyliologie. 61 (4): 385-390 [June 30th, 1914]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16294647
page(s): 389 [details]

original description (of Argonauta monterosatoi Monterosato, 1914) Monterosato, T. A. di. (1914). Note sur les Argonauta de la Méditerranée. Journal de Conchyliologie. 61 (4): 385-390 [June 30th, 1914]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16294647
page(s): 388 [details]

original description (of Argonauta monterosatoi Coen, 1914) Coen, G. (1914). Contributo allo studio della fauna malacologica adriatica. Memorie del Regio Comitato Talassografico Italiano. 46: 3-34, pl. 1-7.
page(s): 23 [details]

original description (of Argonauta dispar Conrad, 1854) Conrad, T. A. (1854). Monograph of the genus Argonauta, Linne, with descriptions of five new species. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 2: 331–334., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35731198#page/337/mode/1up
page(s): 332, pl. 34, fig. 3 [details]

original description (of Argonauta corrugata Humphrey, 1797) Humphrey, G. (1797). Museum Calonnianum. Specification of the various articles which compose the magnificent museum of natural history collected by M. de Calonne in France, and lately his property. i-viii, 1-84., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45403205 [details]

original description (of Argonauta haustrum W. Wood, 1818) Wood W. (1818). Index testaceologicus or a catalogue of shells British and foreign arranged according to the Linnean system. London pp. XIV + 188 + 39 pl:
page(s): 62 [details]

original description (of Argonauta papyria Conrad, 1854) Conrad, T. A. (1854). Monograph of the genus Argonauta, Linne, with descriptions of five new species. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 2: 331–334., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35731198#page/337/mode/1up
page(s): 331, pl. 34, fig. 1 [details]

basis of record Finn J.K. (2013) Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222. [details]

Identification resource

identification resource Lu, C.C. & Chung, W.S. (2017). Guide to the cephalopods of Taiwan. National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan, 560 pp. ISBN 978-986-05-2569-4.
page(s): 516 [details]

Other

context source (HKRMS) Gleadall, I. G. (1997). Hong Kong Cephalopada: A brief review of current knowledge and identification of specimens collected in 1995. In: Morton B, editor. Proceedings of the Eighth International Marine Biological Workshop: The Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China. The Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China IV. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong. 503-513. [details]

context source (Bermuda) Jensen, R. H. (1997). A Checklist and Bibliography of the Marine Molluscs of Bermuda. Unp. , 547 pp [details]

context source (PeRMS) Ramírez, R.; Paredes, C.; Arenas, J. (2003). Moluscos del Perú. Revista de Biologia Tropical. 51(supplement 3): 225-284. [details] Available for editors

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additional source Finn J.K. (2014). Family Argonautidae. pp. 228-237, in P. Jereb, C.F.E. Roper, M.D. Norman & J.K. Finn eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes [Rome, FAO]. 4(3): 353 pp. 11 pls.
page(s): 230 [details]

additional source Braid, H.E. & Bolstad, K.S.R. (2019). Cephalopod biodiversity of the Kermadec Islands; implications for conservation and some future taxonomic priorities. Invertebrate Systematics. 33: 402-425.
page(s): 409 [details]

additional source Anonymous. (1893). Argonauta found alive. The Nautilus. 7(4): 47., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43044430 [details]

additional source Anonymous. (1894). Argonauta argo on the east Florida coast. The Nautilus. 8(7): 83., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43044679 [details]

additional source Johnson, C. W. (1920). Some large specimens of Argonauta. The Nautilus. 33(3): 74-76, pl. 2, upper fig., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1744583 [details]

additional source Roper, C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney & C.E. Nauen (1984). FAO Species catalogue. Vol 3. Cephalopods of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries. FAO Fish. Synop. (125), Vol 3: 277 p. [details]

additional source Branch, G. M. (2002). Two Oceans. 5th impression. David Philip, Cate Town & Johannesburg. , available online at http://books.google.es/books?id=W_2QB8ftLgcC [details]

additional source Gofas, S., Afonso, J.P. & Brandào, M. (1985). Conchas e Moluscos de Angola = Coquillages et Mollusques d'Angola. [Shells and molluscs of Angola]. Universidade Agostinho / Elf Aquitaine Angola: Angola. 140 pp. Printed without date. (look up in IMIS) [details]

additional source Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. Pp 196-219. in: Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. [details]

additional source Judkins, H. L., M. Vecchione, and C. F. E. Roper. 2009. Cephalopoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 701–709 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]

additional source Rosenberg, G. 1992. Encyclopedia of Seashells. Dorset: New York. 224 pp.
page(s): 178 [details]

additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors

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Present

Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio

Inaccurate

Introduced: alien

Containing type locality

From editor or global species database

Nomenclature ICZN direction 73: placed on official list, specific name of the type species of Argonauta Linnaeus, 1758 [details]

Unreviewed

Distribution circum-(sub)tropical [details]

Habitat epipelagic [details]

Definitions

Language	Name
Catalan	argonauta	[details]
Dutch	papiernautilus	[details]
English	paper nautilusGreater Argonautcommon paper nautilus	[details]
French	argonaute voilier	[details]
German	PapierbootGroßes Papierboot	[details]
Italian	argonauta	[details]
Japanese	アオイガイ	[details]
Modern Greek (1453-)	Αργοναύτης	[details]
Russian	Аргонавт большой	[details]
Spanish	argonauta	[details]

From editor or global species database

To ANSP Malacology Collection (holotype of Argonauta dispar. Conrad, 1854. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (Ser. 2) 2 (4): 332, pl. 34, fig. 3? - catalog no. 129978)

Hosted externally, from synonym