greater argonaut; paper nautilus
A pelagic octopus (Argonauta argo) known for the paper-thin shell secreted by the female. Often called 'paper nautilus' in English.
See also: アオイガイ
The greater argonaut is a type of octopus that lives in warm seas.
The female greater argonaut creates a thin, shell-like structure.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; the word is usually written in kana.
Kanji form is rare and may not be widely recognized; the kana spellings are preferred.
Compound of 貝 (kai, 'shell') and 蛸 (tako, 'octopus'), referring to the shell-like egg case of the female argonaut. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.