Visiting Ripley's Aquarium - IV

an article by Carli Flenniken

The tunnel lets out into the Discovery Center. This area is exactly as the name implies, full of information, interactive displays and puzzles. The best part was, of course, the Horseshoe crab exhibit…where you are allowed to touch and pick up these creatures.

     Above shows the bottom of a male Horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus). It also appears that we arrived during the mating time of the crabs. FYI, if you pick up the male on the top he doesn’t let go!

     Also in the discovery center were tank displays. Shown here are a couple of the species from the porcupine and box puffer tank.

     These interesting little guys shown above are referred to as headstanders (Anostomus ternetzi). Though they appear to be lying on the sand, they are actually standing almost straight up!

     This guy is in the same tank (perhaps another type of headstander?). Though he is upside down as well, he is floating against the glass halfway up the tank, and much larger than the other variety.

     Continued in next page