Unique beach finds as the Delray Beach FL restoration continues
Posted By RichC on February 24, 2026
The pumping of sand on Delray Beach continues and the progress has been impressive before the next cold front arrived early this week — another photo or two. Brenda and I continue our long exercise-oriented walks of 17-20 minute miles (for 8-9 miles) … depending on the conditions (tides and sand conditions determined our speed). Thankfully my foot is improving and Brenda’s new hip rehab is a thing of the past. Whew.
We are enjoying our time, the warm weather and the sun this year and are continually amazed at the new creatures we come across on our walks. First (above) was a tiny squid that was still alive and that washed up on the shoreline. I took a photo and then scooped it up and released it back in the ocean. It was the first squid dead or alive that we found on the beach in all the years we’ve been walking here.
Not to be outdone, the next day we came across an even more rare beach find: an ALIVE female argonauts – Paper Nautilus Octopus (see some Grok AI info below).
That’s a fascinating find on the beach! This is an argonaut (commonly called a paper nautilus), specifically a female of the genus Argonauta (likely Argonauta argo or a similar species like Argonauta hians or nodosa, based on appearances in Florida wash-ups).
Despite the name and the distinctive coiled, white, papery “shell” that looks like a nautilus or ammonite fossil, it’s not a true nautilus at all—it’s a pelagic (open-ocean) octopus. The “shell” is actually a delicate, paper-thin calcareous egg case secreted by the female using specialized webbed arms. She creates it to hold and protect her eggs, and she lives inside or attached to it, with her body and tentacles protruding from the opening. The shell traps a bubble of air for buoyancy, helping her float near the ocean surface in warm tropical and subtropical waters, including the Atlantic off south Florida.
Key details about this creature:
- Females are much larger (up to about 10 cm body length, with shells sometimes reaching 30 cm in the greater argonaut A. argo), while tiny males are under 2 cm and don’t make shells.
- They live in the open ocean, not on the seafloor, and are rarely seen alive unless they wash ashore after storms, strong currents, or other events that push them inshore.
- The female uses the shell as a brood chamber for her eggs. Males transfer sperm via a detached arm (hectocotylus) that the female stores.
- They feed on small prey like crustaceans, jellyfish, and salps, and can change color for camouflage or release ink.
- Wash-ups like this are uncommon but reported along Florida’s east coast beaches (including areas near Delray Beach, Sunny Isles, Riviera Beach, and others in south Florida). They often appear after rough weather or in certain seasons, and sometimes in numbers. The shell is extremely fragile—beautiful but brittle—so intact ones are prized finds (though many beachcombers leave them to avoid damage).
Your photo shows the classic look: the ornate, ridged, fan-like white shell with the reddish-brown octopus body curled inside, tentacles visible, and that distinctive eye staring out. It’s a live (or recently deceased) female still clinging to her egg case—pretty rare to see the animal attached rather than just the empty shell washing up.
These are harmless to humans and highlight how diverse cephalopods can be. Cool sighting for Delray Beach—paper nautili are considered one of the ocean’s more mysterious and “alien-looking” creatures! If you have more details (like size or if it was moving), that could narrow down the exact species further.
It was alive and about 30 cm. I gently scooped up the sand under it with my hands and walked it out into calm ocean water slowly lowering it back into the water. It (she) did not float that I could tell but disappeared in the water.
That’s awesome that you were able to help her out like that—gently scooping and releasing her back into the water was exactly the right move for a live one!
At about 30 cm total (including the shell), this aligns with a large female greater argonaut (Argonauta argo), the biggest species in the group and one of the most commonly reported washing up along Florida’s Atlantic coast (including south Florida spots like Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, and nearby areas). Females of this species can have shells reaching up to 30 cm in length (sometimes a bit more in exceptional cases), with the mantle/body adding to the overall size you observed. The reddish-brown coloration, prominent eye, and tentacles peeking out match typical photos of live A. argo females still attached to their egg cases.
These pelagic octopuses normally float or swim just below the surface in open ocean waters, using the shell to trap and regulate an air bubble for buoyancy (like a natural scuba vest). When they wash ashore—often after storms, strong onshore winds, or currents—they can become stranded in the shallows or on wet sand. If still alive and active (as yours was), they don’t necessarily bob right back up visibly like a buoy because:
- They can actively pump water through their mantle for jet propulsion to dive or move horizontally.
- They might release or adjust the air bubble to descend quickly once back in deeper/calmer water.
- In calm conditions, they prefer to stay submerged rather than floating high.
Your description of her disappearing (not floating) is classic for a healthy one returning to her element—she likely jetted downward or swam off into the depths. Many beach rescuers report similar experiences: the argonaut becomes more active in the water, pulses its fins/arms, and vanishes rather than drifting back to the surface immediately.
These are tough little survivors despite the fragile shell—females are known to endure rough conditions while brooding eggs. By releasing her in calm water, you gave her a solid chance to get back offshore where she belongs (they’re not adapted to beach life and can dry out or get damaged quickly).
Super rare to encounter a live one that size still in/attached to the shell—most wash-ups are empty shells or damaged specimens. In south Florida, they’re occasional but prized finds, especially intact live ones. Great job handling it so carefully; that kind of thoughtful intervention is what keeps these mysterious open-ocean wonders going strong.
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