Nautilus repertus Iredale, 1944 - nomen dubium

Tiré de \"Nautilus: The Biology and Paleobiology of a Living Fossil, Reprint with additions" W. Bruce Saunders, Neil Landman a écrit:This species is somewhat problematical. Its definition was originally based on a single drift shell (and the drawing of another) from western Australia (Iredale, 1944, pp. 295-296). Its large size (environ 220 mm), white umbilical region, and orange-brown color bands were cited as distinguishing criteria. Size data are limited, but mean mature shell size appears to be approximately 229 mm diameter (N = 8) (data from Iredale, 1944 ; P.Ward, C. Teichert, and R.T. Abbott, personal communication, 1985). A number of other large specimens matching Iredale's description have turned up from other region in Australia (e.g., Cotton, 1957 a,b). The wide distribution of shells referred to this species, sharing common size and coloration characteristics, suggests that it may be a distinctive form. It should be noted, however, that the color pattern of N. repertus matches the description and illustration of N. ambiguus Sowerby, 1849 (see Section 5.1). If the size of the specimen illustrated by Sowerby becomes known and is compatible with the size range of N. repertus (yet to be determined), the latter may be regarded as a synonym of N. ambiguus.