Oxygen uptake by Nautilus pompilius

Abstract

The oxygen uptake of Nautilus pompilius at 17°C was 27 ml O₂·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹ for calm species and 52 ml O₂·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹ for active specimens. At 25°C the corresponding uptakes were 64 and 109 ml O₂·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹. Oxygen con‐sumption dropped as the oxygen content of inhalant water dropped. Uptake ceased at about 20 mm Hg O₂. Nautilus appears to have a lower oxygen demand and an oxygen delivery system less well developed than of that the modern cephalopods.