It is a real treat to find these shells on our beaches. They are usually washed ashore during the winter months after storms out at sea, but rarely with the creature inside.
They are closely related to the octopus. The female’s first tentacle pair secrete a calcareous substance to build this egg case which she uses as a nursery for her young.

In 2014 I found 2 different nautilus shells on our beach – Argonauta hians, also known as the winged argonaut, muddy argonaut or brown paper nautilus. The common name comes from the grey to brown coloured shell.

More info can be found in the Information Booklet in each cottage.
Lee Howard