2009 Aquarium of the Pacific Visitor Guide

Welcome to the Aquarium of the Pacifi c. Use this guide to fi nd special exhibits, programs, and highlighted animals throughout our galleries. This year we are focusing on sharks and rays. Learn about these amazing animals as you explore the Aquarium.

Map & Visitor Guide Map & Visitor Guide

Embossing Stations Emboss your visitor guide at our eight Embossing Stations. Look for the embossing space on the corner of pages 9, 11, 13, 17, 21, 23, 25, and 29.

1ST FLOOR

Visitor Guide Stop

Look for Visitor Guide Stops at exhibits throughout the Aquarium. The numbers correspond to page numbers in this book.

Explorers Cove

Seals & Sea Lions

Blue Cavern Southern

California/Baja Gallery

Honda Theater

Pacifi c Collections Gift Store

Main Entrance

Great Hall of the Pacific

Member Entrance

LorikeetForest

Our Watersheds: Pathway to the Pacifi c

Our Watershed

Story

Harbor Terrace (Shark Zone*)

Shark Lagoon

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Enhance Your Aquarium of the Pacifi c Experience

Amazing Pictures

Bamboo Bistro

Boeing Learning Center

(Reservation required)

Honda Marine Display

Marine Life Theater

Nectar Hut

Northern Pacifi c Preview

Shark Shack Gifts

Honda Theater

Ticket Kiosk

Tickets

Tropical Pacifi c Preview

Ocean on the Edge

Rios de la Vida Fountain Mural

*Summer only

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2 aquarium visitor guide

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

First Floor Map

Aquarium Animal Show

Learn about our animals at special shows held throughout the day at major exhibits. See your Today at the Aquarium insert for times and locations.

child care station

dining

elevators informationcenter restrooms

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parking

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embossingstation

LEGEND

Aquarium Founding Sponsor

Southern California/

Baja Gallery

Northern Pacific

Gallery

Tropical Pacific

Gallery

Café Scuba

Stairs to SHARK LAGOON

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aquarium visitor guide 3


Second Floor Map

Focused on the Pacifi c Ocean, the Aquarium of the Pacifi c is organized into three main galleries, a special exhibits gallery, and the outdoor Explorers Cove, which features Shark Lagoon, Lorikeet Forest, and the Watershed Exhibit. The special exhibits gallery features our Ocean on the Edge exhibit, highlighting ocean issues and shark conservation.

Additional Adventures The programs below have an additional charge. Please visit the Information Center for times, pricing, and availability. For advance reservations, please call (562) 590-3100.

Feed a Shark or RayThe Feed a Shark experience allows guests to hand-feed a shark or ray on a platform above the Tropical Reef Habitat. This 30-minute program is off ered daily at 10:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Age restrictions apply. We also off er a Feed a Ray program in the Ray Touchpool area twice daily at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

New Sharks Behind-the-Scenes TourSee what goes on behind the scenes in this one-hour guided tour. In addition to visiting parts of the Aquarium generally off limits to the public, we’ll go into new areas to showcase sharks and rays. This tour highlights how we care for our sharks, their fi ne-tuned physiology, conservation issues, and their importance in the ocean. And you still get to go above our largest exhibit to feed the fi sh. Age restrictions apply.

Animal EncountersThis is your chance to feed the animals with a member of our animal care staff . Age and height restrictions apply. Advance reservations required.

3D FilmDive into the ocean with our 3D fi lm, A Fish Story. See page 7 for more information.

Lorikeet NectarYou can purchase a cup of lorikeet nectar at the entrance of Lorikeet Forest to hand feed our birds.

Critter ChatLearn all about animals in a fun, interactive 30-minute classroom program where you get the chance to meet one of our furry, scaly, or feathered friends up close and personal. Available for groups or individuals. Saturdays and Sundays, 2:30 p.m.

Harbor ToursTour the Long Beach/Los Angeles Harbors with Harbor Breeze Cruises for a 45-minute narrated cruise around one of the most active ports in the world.

Whale Watching Explore the nearby ocean aboard a Coast Guard-certifi ed boat to seek out such travelers as whales, dolphins, sea lions, and migratory birds. Seasonal.



Aquarium Information

General Information

First Aid/Emergencies Lost & Found

If possible, please proceed to the Information Center near the main entrance or contact any security associate, otherwise alert the nearest staff member.

No Smoking or GumSmoking, gum, and balloons are not

allowed in the Aquarium. Please use trash and recycle bins. Do not toss objects into the exhibits.

Visitor InformationVisit the Information Center, located

in the Great Hall of the Pacifi c near the main entrance, to inquire about tours, Aquarium membership, and special events.

RefreshmentsCafé Scuba on level two serves a

tasty selection of sandwiches, salads, and grilled entrees, including sustainable seafood. Bamboo Bistro in Explorers Cove off ers pizza, hot dogs, cold beer, and refreshments. The Coff ee Cart in the Great Hall serves coff ee, cappuccinos, sodas, and snacks. Harbor Terrace is open seasonally for sandwiches, salads, and other items.

Restrooms and Baby Care Station

See map for restroom locations. There are changing stations in the restrooms on levels one and two and in Shark Lagoon. A baby care station is located in the fi rst fl oor women’s restroom.

Visitors with Disabilities

Wheelchairs are available at the Information Center. All exhibits are wheelchair acces-sible. See map for the location of elevators throughout the Aquarium. Audio tours for guests who are blind and copies of show scripts for those who are deaf or with hearing disabilities are available at the Information Center. Listening devices are available for Honda Theater as well.

Credit CardsWe accept VISA,

MasterCard, Discover, and American Express for admission, membership, merchandise, and food purchases.

Amazing PicturesPurchase a unique souvenir of

your Aquarium visit with this fun photo opportunity, located in the Great Hall of the Pacifi c.

As you walk through the Aquarium, take note of many special sights. In the Southern California/Baja Gallery, you can see animals such as sea lions and rays. On the 2nd fl oor, in the Northern Pacifi c Gallery, you can fi nd the sea otters and puffi ns. The Tropical Pacifi c Gallery is also on the 2nd fl oor and is home to our coral reef fi shes, sea dragons, and more.


Whales A Journey with GiantsFree To All Guests

Step into the wondrous world of whales in Whales: A Journey with Giants. Through a compelling multi-sensory experience of light, sound, and imagery, the Aquarium’s Great Hall will transform into the under-water realm of the planet’s largest living animal—the blue whale.

Sharks free to all guests

See our sharks in action in this short movie shown on eight screens in the Great Hall. Featuring our very own Aquarium sharks, this tribute will give you glimpses of the animals you have seen in Shark Lagoon and throughout the galleries. Which sharks can you identify?

water realm of the planet s largest living animal—the blue whale.

Sharks fi re our imaginations. The species shown here is a zebra shark, which is a

bottom-dwelling shark. When a zebra shark is a juvenile, its skin has markings reminiscent of a zebra’s stripes. When it

becomes an adult, the narrow bars change to spots. In Australia, these sharks are called leopard sharks, in reference to the spotted

appearance of the adults.

AMAZING SHARKS AMAZING SHARKS

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GREAT HALL OF THE PACIFIC

Great Hall Films 6

Shark Smart Restoring Order in the OceanFree to All Guests

Over the last 400 million years, sharks have played major roles in helping keep ocean ecosystems in balance, including coral reefs and seagrass beds. But recently, a new apex predator has risen to the top, threatening the order of the seas. Find out what has been happening to cause such imbalance and what we can do to change it. Shown daily at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.

A Fish Story 3D additional admission charge

A Fish Story is a fun animated tale where a little fi sh named Deepo takes audiences on a journey into his world to meet his undersea friends. Discover some of the animals that call the ocean home and fi nd out how what we do up here aff ects the animals down there in the ocean. Catchy songs, endearing animal characters, and striking 3D animation teach families important conservation messages about the ocean. See theater kiosk for additional 3D fi lms available.

Sharks and rays do not have hard bony jaws that

provide sockets for their teeth. Therefore, sharks and rays continually

replace worn out or missing teeth throughout their lives. It is thought

that some sharks may go through up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime.

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Honda Theater FilmsHonda Theater Films 7

The Aquarium of the Pacifi c’s Ocean on the Edge gallery highlights important issues facing our ocean.

Importance of Sharks in Maintaining Healthy Marine EcosystemsSharks have been swimming in the ocean for more than 400 million years—100 million years before dinosaurs appeared on land. They inhabit the ocean from its deep seas to its coastal wetlands and coral reefs. Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems, but today many species of sharks that are at the top of the food web, are in danger of extinction. While many people fear sharks, a greater fear should be what the consequences of the loss of sharks will do to the already stressed ocean.

Ocean Acidifi cationMost of the carbon dioxide that is added to the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere for an average of about a century, and then is transferred into the ocean where it remains, on average, for a thousand years or longer. This causes a change in the ocean’s pH—its acidity—and makes it diffi cult for many organisms to create bones or shells.

Explore this exhibit to learn more about:

Shark Conservation •

Global Climate Change•

Overfi shing and Bycatch•

Biodiversity Loss•

Ocean Governance•

Loss of WetlandsCalifornia has destroyed 90 percent of its wetlands. The rapid and widespread decline is mostly due to coastal development. This loss of wetlands, with a mere 13,000 acres remaining in Southern California, has led to a decline in migratory birds. The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is an example of a saltwater marsh that is being restored. After 107 years of being cut off from the Pacifi c Ocean, nature has a second chance.

Paul

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Ocean on the Edge Gallery 8

The Blue Cavern habitat in the Great Hall is modeled after Blue Cavern Point, a kelp forest along the northeastern coast of Santa Catalina Island. This exhibit represents the underwater habitat you would fi nd both along our coast and around local islands.

KELP BASSParalabrax clathratus

SHOVELNOSE GUITARFISHRhinobatos productus

GIANT SEA BASSStereolepis gigas`

WHITE SEABASSAtractoscion nobilis

CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD (Male)Semicossyphus pulcher

OCEAN WHITEFISHCaulolatilus princeps

CALIFORNIA MORAY EELGymnothorax mordax

CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD (Female)Semicossyphus pulcher

Leopard SharkTriakis semifasciata

Leopard sharks are among the most common sharks seen off the coast of California. They prefer the shallow waters of bays and estuaries and occasionally patrol kelp forests, usually staying near the bottom. Leopard sharks are identifi ed by their distinct markings. They can grow up to six feet in length. In 2005 the Aquarium’s leopard sharks participated in a CSULB study of thermoregulation to determine how long they can maintain their body temperature in varied temperature environments. To view the report, see the Conservation link on the Aquarium’s website, and look under MCRI.



Blue CavernBlue Cavern 9

From Point Conception to the tip of Baja California, the Southern California and Baja coasts include a variety of ecosystems. From kelp forests teeming with life to biologically productive wetlands to extreme environments such as tidepools, each habitat is home to an array of life forms.

1ST FLOOR

2ND FLOOR



surf, Seals & Sea Lions

Rocky Intertidal

ShorebirdSanctuary

Ray Touchpool

Tidepool Treasures

Discovery Lab GardenEels

Gulf of California

Blue Cavern

Blue Cavern

JelliesPinnacle

Breakwater

Abalone & UrchinsSpiny

Lobsters

KelpCamoufl age

KelpConnection

AmberForest

RedondoCanyon

EelGrass

Seals & Sea Lions

Seals & Sea Lions

K

Underwater Viewing Tunnel

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parking

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LEGEND 21

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FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS

Southern Southern CaliforniaCalifornia/Baja Gallery/Baja Gallery

Our Amber Forest represents the diversity of marine life that depends on kelp forests for food, protection, and breeding.

Seals and sea lions live throughout our coastal waters. Their local breeding grounds are protected in the Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Unlike seals, sea lions have external ear fl aps and large front fl ippers that they walk around on. Seals are less agile on land. The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) are pinnipeds, animals that have fi n-like fl ippers, such as seals, sea lions, and walruses.

SENORITAOxyjulis californica

ZEBRA PERCHHermosilla azurea

BLUE ROCKFISHSebastes mystinus

BLACKSMITHChromis punctipinnis

SALEMAXenistius californiensis

SARGOAnisotremus davidsonii

GARIBALDI Hypsypops rubicundus

CALIFORNIA SEA LIONZalophus californianus

California State Marine Fish

Horn Shark Heterodontus francisci

Horn sharks are named after the two horn-like spines in front of their dorsal fi ns. Adults are three to four feet long. These nocturnal animals are fairly sluggish dur-ing the day and tend to swim away from people if approached. Inhabit-ing the cool, temperate, and subtropical regions of the eastern Pacifi c, horn sharks are found in coastal areas from Southern California to

the Gulf of California.

Horn Shark


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA/BAJA GALLERY

Amber ForestAmber Forest 11


Seals & Sea LionsSeals & Sea Lions 11

Our Shorebird Sanctuary represents a tidal wetland, much like Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.

The exhibit features Black-necked Stilts, Black-bellied Plovers, the endangered Western Snowy Plover, and American Avocet shorebirds, as well as Ruddy Ducks. Aquatic animals such as topsmelt, Pacifi c sardines, and black perch are also on display. This habitat exhibits several microecosystems with native vegetation.

Tidepools teem with life, including purple sea urchins, giant green anemones, bat stars, and other invertebrates. Each of these animals has specifi c adaptations to handle the harsh tidepool conditions.

Every rising tide brings in water rich with food and oxygen. As the water recedes, it carries away waste, eggs, and larvae to be dispersed in the ocean. Be sure to also visit our Tidepool Treasures Discovery Lab, where you can touch some local marine residents.

KELLET’S WHELK Kelletia kelletii

BAT STARAsterina miniata

OCHRE SEA STARPisaster ochraceus

PURPLE SEA URCHINStrongylocentrotus purpuratus

GIANT KEYHOLE LIMPETMegathura crenulata

SHINER SURFPERCHCymatogaster aggregata

WARTY SEA CUCUMBERParastichopus parvimensis

RUDDY DUCKOxyura jamaicensis

AMERICAN AVOCETRecurvirostra americana

WESTERN SNOWY PLOVERC. Alexandrinus nivosus

BLACK-NECKED STILTHimantopus mexicanus

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Rocky IntertidalRocky Intertidal 12


Shorebird SanctuaryShorebird Sanctuary 12

Reach into our Ray Touchpool and gently feel one of our bat rays or shovelnose guitarfi sh. These local residents live along the sandy bottom of our bays where they feed on invertebrates such as clams and crustaceans.

Some rays have a stinger on their tails. This helps to protect them from predators or may be used if accidentally stepped on. Our rays have their stingers painlessly clipped, so they are safe to touch.

We now off er a Feed a Ray program. Sign up at the Information Center. See page 4 for more information.

Bat ray at the Ray Touchpool

ATTENTION For the health and

safety of our animals, please be gentle!

Use Only Two Fingers!

Do Not Scratch!

Do Not Grab!

Do Not Scratch!

Do Not Grab!

Sharks have a wide range of sizes, appearances, and behaviors.

The largest fi sh in the world is the 40-foot whale shark that feeds on plankton. The

sandbar shark can grow up to six feet long as an adult. At the other extreme, a

full-grown dwarf shark only reaches seven inches in length.

Do Not Grab!


Round Ray Urobatis halleri

Full-grown round rays are about the size of a dinner plate. Round rays are good swimmers, propelling themselves by undulating the edges of their over-sized pectoral fi ns. They are capable of substantial bursts of speed if needed. They cover themselves with mud or sand, leaving only their eyes and spiracles exposed, an excellent camoufl age technique.

A large number of round rays congregate off Seal Beach, California seasonally. When visiting a beach such as Seal Beach, it is a good idea to shuffl e your feet through the sand if you go in the water to be sure not to step on a round ray.



Ray TouchpoolRay Touchpool 13

The Gulf of California is one of the world’s most biologically productive and diverse seas. Described by Jacques Cousteau as “the world’s aquarium,” the Gulf of California is home to many unique species. The Aquarium has partnered with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to raise awareness of this region.

Life in the GulfMany animals rely on the Gulf of California for vital habitat, nursing grounds, and food supply. Whales, sharks, turtles, and fi shes pass through this area during their migrations. However, tourism and development have put pressure on the region. The Aquarium and WWF work together on public outreach and conservation eff orts in this area.

BALLOONFISHDiodon holocanthus

MEXICAN LOOKDOWNSelene brevoortii

GARDEN EELHeteroconger sp.

YELLOWTAIL SURGEONFISH Prionurus punctatus

CORTEZ ANGELFISHPomacanthus zonipectus

CORTEZ RAINBOW WRASSEThalassoma lucasanum

KING ANGELFISHHolacanthus passer

POPEYE CATALUFAPseudopriacanthus serrula

LONGNOSE BUTTERFLYFISHForcipiger fl avissimus

United States

Gulf ofMexico

Gulf ofCalifornia



Gulf of CaliforniaGulf of California 14

For millions of years sharks have been a factor in the ocean’s biodiversity and contributed to its health. Today they still play a vital role in maintaining marine ecological balance. The numbers of fi shes, invertebrates, and marine plants fall out of equilibrium in the absence of sharks, causing shifts throughout the food web that in turn aff ect us.

We still don’t know a great deal about many shark species, even the common ones. How have they succeeded in surviving for millions of years almost unchanged? Where do they go to reproduce? How do they navigate the ocean? How long do they live? Questions like these motivate researchers.

Shark MythsAfter the 1975 release of the movie Jaws, the media started to use fear-inducing terms like man-eating monster, ruthless killer, etc. to describe sharks, despite the few attacks that occur each year. The public has been so infl uenced by myths that it is easy to lose sight of how important, complex, and intriguing sharks are.


AQUARIUM-WIDE

SharksSharks

Like lions and tigers and other top land predators, sharks

need to be viewed as awesome wild animals.

They are important to our ocean and to us, and we need to do our part to protect them. There are a

number of laws designed to protect marine mammals as well as threatened or

endangered species. Sharks also need protection. The Shark Conservation Act of

2009 (S.B. 850) is the type of legislation that could

make a diff erence for sharks.

LiLiLiLiLiLikkekkekeke lllllliiiiiiiioioioionsnsnsns aaaa dndnddndnd ttttttigiigiigigererererssssAMAZING SHARKS AMAZING SHARKS

The Bering Sea is home to more than 450 species of fi sh and invertebrates, 50 bird species, and 25 species of marine mammals. The Aquarium’s journey through the Northern Pacifi c, focusing on the Bering Sea, includes exhibits that feature southern sea otters, the giant Pacifi c octopus, four species of diving birds, and the giant spider crab.

RED TAILED SURFPERCHAmphistichus rhodoterus

SUNFLOWER SEA STARPycnopodia helianthoides

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1ST FLOOR

BP Sea Otters

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LEGEND

Jellies

Giant Pacifi cOctopus

Coastal CornerDiscovery Lab Sea

Stars

Bays & Sounds

Sandy Bottom

Giant Spider Crabs

Whales: Voices in the Sea

Diving Birds

Surge Channel

Surge Channel

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SECOND FLOOR

Northern Pacifi c Gallery

Our award-winning Whales: Voices in the Sea interactive kiosk exhibit allows guests to explore how whales use complex sounds to commu-nicate and navigate around their world.

Watch the call of a whale on a spectrogram, and then record your own version of the call to see how closely you copy it.

Living in and above the icy waters of the Northern Hemisphere, puffi ns, auklets, and other diving birds spend most of their lives on the open ocean. In the summer months, they use rocky coasts and islands for breeding.

CRESTED AUKLETAethia cristatella

TUFTED PUFFINFratercula cirrhata

HORNED PUFFINFratercula corniculata

PIGEON GUILLEMOTCepphus columba

California SkateRaja inornata

This hardnose skate is found nearshore from the Gulf of California to the California and Washington coasts. California skates live on or near the bottom of the ocean, mingling among lingcod, rockfi sh, sole, Pacifi c cod, and other groundfi shes. This plain-looking animal was given the species name inornata, which is Latin for “without adornment.”

Note: The California Skate and its embosser are located on the 1st fl oor in the Northern Pacifi c Preview.


NORTHERN PACIFIC GALLERY

Whales: Whales: Voices in the SeaVoices in the Sea

17


Diving Birds 17

While jellies certainly appear graceful and delicate, these elegant invertebrates can wield painful stings when protecting themselves or capturing prey. Depending on the species, a sea jelly may have up to 800 tentacles that bear the stinging nematocysts that can injure or immobilize enemies or prey. These stinging cells behave like tiny harpoons armed with toxic chemicals. When a tentacle touches another object, thousands of stinging cells involuntarily explode, launching barbs into the victim. This adaptation makes the sea jelly an effi cient, if unintentional, predator and helps protect it from most other animals that would make a meal of its soft body.

Of the estimated 200 species of sea jellies, approximately 70 are known to sting humans, with varying degrees of severity. Real “ghosts” of the sea, some jellies can infl ict stings long after death,a good reason to let them rest in peace.

Sea jellies are made up of over 90 percent water. A jelly has no brain, no eyes, no heart, and no bones. It is hard to imagine surviving without them, let alone thriving. Yet, sea jellies have fl ourished in the world ocean for 650 million years. These simply constructed creatures have pulsated through coastal waters and icy ocean trenches for ages.

WEST COAST NETTLEChrysaora fuscescens

CRYSTAL JELLYAequorea aequorea

Exploding Sea JelliesSea jellies are a natural part of healthy ecosystems. But in many parts of the ocean, jellies are more abundant than they used to be, indicating unhealthy changes. Nutrients from sewage treatment plants and river runoff trigger intense plankton blooms, providing a rich food source for jellies. Also overfi shing eliminates competition, allowing jelly populations to explode.



Sea Jellies 18

Sea otters, the smallest of the marine mammals, are the only ones that do not have blubber to keep them warm in the cold ocean water. In order to stay warm, sea otters have to eat a lot. By eating 25 to 30 percent of their weight each day, sea otters turn that food into energy with their high metabolisms. Abalone, squid, sea urchins, clams, snails, and numerous other invertebrates are part of their diet. An adult male sea otter may consume as much as 15 pounds of food in one day.

Sea otters also have very dense fur to keep them warm. Grooming is almost a constant activity for sea otters. You have probably seen the Aquarium’s sea otters roll at the surface of the water. They are busy trapping a layer of air inside their fur. Amazingly, water never touches the otter’s skin. Of course, it is vital for an otter to keep its fur clean so that the undercoat stays dry.

Sea otter pelts were once in high demand. Widespread hunting almost led to their extinction. Now protected, sea otters are making a slow comeback. It is estimated that millions of Southern sea otters once existed along the California coast. In the 19th century, hunting left as few as 50 otters off the California coast. Since then, federal protection as an endangered species has brought their numbers back up to nearly 3,000 sea otters. A caring public is still needed to ensure their recovery.

SOUTHERN SEA OTTEREnhydra lutris nereis

Sponsored by BP

A Sea Otter’s CoatSea otters’ dense fur maintains their body temperature at 100°F in the cold ocean water. They have the densest fur of any animal on the planet! In just one square inch of its fur, a sea otter has enough hair to cover an entire German shepherd.



BPBP Sea Otters Sea Otters 19

The Aquarium’s Tropical Pacifi c Gallery represents the archipelago of Palau, the western-most section of Micronesia. Palau’s waters contain an incredible diversity of coral, fi sh, and other marine animals. This area is home to sharks, seahorses, stonefi sh, sea turtles, and many other animals.

OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLELepidochelys olivacea

Tropical Reef Habitat

2ND FLOOR

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child care station

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LEGEND

Baby Bamboo Sharks & Egg Cases

Sex Change Exhibit

Jewels of the Pacifi c

Seahorses

Sea Snakes

Weedy Sea DragonsLeafy Sea

Dragons

The Reef

Sea Turtle

Soft Coral Tunnel

Clownfi sh & Anemones

Coral Bleaching

Coral Lagoon

Live Coral

Stonefi sh Frogs

Deep Reef

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SECOND FLOOR

Tropical Pacifi c Gallery

Our Coral Lagoon is a habitat for many animals that have developed very specifi c adaptations to capture and consume their meals as well as to avoid becoming someone else’s prey. Through specialization, coral reef animals have found ways to coexist in a very dense and competitive environment.

CLOWN TRIGGERFISHBalistoides conspicillum

MONOMonodactylus argentus

YELLOWTAILED FUSILIER (Juvenile)Caesio cuning

FLATHEAD MULLETMugil cephalus

FOXFACE RABBITFISHSiganus vulpinus

THREE SPOT DAMSELFISHDascyllus trimaculatus

Epaulette Shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum

Epaulette sharks have cream-colored skin with black dots. Two larger dots above the pectoral fi ns are called ocelli and resemble the epaulettes on a military uniform. A type of bamboo shark, epaulettes live in coral reefs and in tidepools off the shores of Austalia, Papau New Guinea, Indonesia, and Malaysia. These slender sharks have been seen “walking” on the ocean fl oor on their fi ns. If caught in a tidepool after the tide has receded, an epaulette can “turn off ” enough if its body functions to survive several hours with little or no oxygen.


TROPICAL PACIFIC GALLERY

Coral Lagoon 21

Corals are animals that rely on a community of tiny single-celled plants known as zooxanthellae. In fact, it is the zooxanthellae that give corals their brown color.

Zooxanthellae live within the coral tissue and can provide up to 95 percent of a coral’s nutrition. In return, they get nutrition from the coral’s waste. These small inhabitants are very sensitive to the surrounding water’s temperature as well as other factors. If the conditions become undesirable for the zooxanthellae, they leave or are expelled. When this happens, the coral bleaches. When corals bleach, they commonly lose 60 to 90 percent of their zoo-xanthellae, and the coral animal is at risk of dying.


Live Coral 21

Poison dart frogs have glands in their skin that contain strong neurotoxins. The toxin in these frogs is acquired through their diet of insects, so they lose it when they are in an environment such as the Aquarium.

Like canaries in coal mines, frogs are sensitive animals that often show the fi rst signs that indicate a problem in an ecosystem. These amphibians are prone to genetic abnormalities, disease, and reproductive disorders caused by pollution, habitat loss, and global climate change.

Showcasing animals that live on deep reef slopes, this exhibit features many types of orange cup corals (Tubastrea coccinea, T. micrantha), longfi n anthias (Pseudanthias ventralis), and fi refi sh (Nemateleotris magnifi ca).

Most corals use zooxanthellae to convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. However, all of the corals in this exhibit lack zooxanthellae. Therefore, they must eat plankton, tiny microorganisms that drift in the sea, for subsistence. Water motion is very important for corals, as they rely on ocean currents to bring them their food. The water motion in this exhibit was modifi ed to create an ideal habitat for these animals.

SPLASHBACK POISON DART FROGDendrobates galactonotus

GREEN AND BLACK POISON DART FROG Dendrobates auratus

BLUE POISON DART FROGDendrobates azureus

GOLDEN POISON DART FROGDendrobates terriblis



Frogs 22


Deep Reef 22

The blue-spotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) in the Sex Change Exhibit does not change sex during its life. It was placed in this display because it gets along so well with the other animals.

This docile ray has a long thin tail with blue on each side and one or two venomous barbs. Female blue-spotted ribbontail rays usually have litters of seven pups. The ribbon-tail ray needs coral reefs for habitat and could be threatened if these ecosystems are not conserved. Shark Egg Case

Some sharks lay eggs in a case that looks like seaweed. At the ends, the egg tapers to small openings, so water can move through. The egg cases have long threads that attach to hard structures. Shark pups inside an egg feed on the yolk sac. As they grow, the yolk gets smaller and smaller and the pup hatches. A shark egg case is also called a “mermaid’s purse.”



Blue Spotted Ray

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AMAZING SHARKS AMAZING SHARKS Generally speaking, rays are

fl at-bodied sharks. Their gill slits are on the undersides of their bodies, rather than on the sides

of their heads. Most rays swim by fl apping or undulating their pectoral

fi ns, as opposed to using their tails like sharks. Exceptions to the rule include the guitarfi shes, electric rays, and sawfi shes.

The Tropical Reef Habitat is the Aquarium’s largest exhibit, containing 350,000 gallons of water and over 1,000 animals from the tiny cleaner wrasse to the zebra shark. This exhibit represents the famous Blue Corner off the coast of Palau. This area, lush and abundant with life, is considered one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world.

REDTOOTH TRIGGERFISHOdonus niger

SERGEANT MAJORAbudefduf troschelii

SAILFIN TANGZebrasoma veliferum

ORANGESPINE UNICORNFISHNaso lituratus

BLUESPINE UNICORNFISHNaso unicornis

PYRAMID BUTTERFLYFISHHemitaurichthys polylepis

PALETTE TANGParacanthurus hepatus

BLUE-LINED SNAPPERLutjanus kasmira

POWDER BLUE TANGAcanthurus leucosternon

CRIMSON SNAPPERLutjanus erythropterus

BLUEFIN TREVALLYCaranx melampygus

ACHILLES TANGAcanthurus achilles

RACCOON BUTTERFLYFISHChaetodon lunula

EMPEROR ANGELFISHPomacanthus imperator

SEMICIRCLE ANGELFISHPomacanthus semicirculatus



Tropical Reef 24

NAPOLEON WRASSE (MALE)Cheilinus undulatus

QUEENSLAND GROUPEREpinephelus lanceolatus

BONNETHEAD SHARKSphyrna tiburo

COWNOSE RAYRhinoptera steindachneri

OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLELepidochelys olivacea

GOLDEN TREVALLYGnathanadon speciosus

YELLOW TANGZebrasoma fl avescens

Bowmouth Guitarfi shRhina ancylostoma

The bowmouth is found in the tropical and subtropical coastal waters of Australia, in the Indo-Pacifi c, and off the coast of East Africa. This unmistakable creature is also known as a sharkfi n guitarfi sh or shark ray. A large adult may be six feet long and weigh about 150 pounds, but can get up to 10 feet long and 300 pounds.


The Aquarium’s aviary is home to approximately 100 lorikeet birds. Our feath-ered friends enjoy the company of guests like you. If you would like a bird to spend some time perched on your arm, try off ering them a cup of their favorite drink of nectar, available for purchase upon entry. In addition to what the birds are fed by guests, Aquarium staff members bring out bowls of blended fruit and nectar to fi ll out their diet.

A Forest of ColorNative to Australia, the lorikeet’s diet is comprised of nectar, fl owers, fruits, berries, and unripe grain. They have a specialized tongue that allows them to easily consume their soft food and liquid diet.

Lorikeet Forest features fi ve sub-species of Rainbow Lorikeets. Lorikeet Forest also features two close relatives of Rainbow Lorikeets, the Black-capped Lory and the Violet-necked Lory. Unlike lorikeets that have long tapered tails, lories have short blunt tails. If you notice a bird with an orange band on its leg, that means it was born at the Aquarium of the Pacifi c!

SWAINSON’S LORIKEET Trichoglossus haematodus moloccanus

BLACK-CAPPED LORY Lorius lory

EDWARD’S LORIKEET Trichoglossus haematodus capistratus

VIOLET-NECKED LORY Eos squamata riciniata

ORNATE LORIKEET Trichoglossus ornatus

GREEN NAPE LORIKEET Trichoglossus haematodus haemotodus

FORSTEN’S LORIKEET Trichoglossus haematodus forsteni


EXPLORERS COVE

Lorikeet ForestLorikeet Forest 26

A watershed is an area of land where all the surface water drains to the same lower destination, such as San Pedro Bay. This water can come from high in the mountains or from rain that falls on our streets. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state, and national boundaries. No matter where you are, you are in a watershed. And what you do in your watershed impacts the ocean and the animals that call it home.

In Los Angeles and Orange Counties there are several watersheds, including those of the San Gabriel, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and Santa Ana Rivers; Ballona, Malibu, and Topanga Creeks; and the Dominguez Channel. Our exhibit focuses on the watersheds of San Pedro Bay, which includes the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers and the Dominguez Channel. Our Watersheds features a native garden with a mosaic of plants found along the coastal areas of the San Pedro Bay watersheds. Native plants require little to no water and attract native birds, bees, and butterfl ies.

Be sure to visit the wave fountain located towards the front of the Aquarium, and take note of the Rios de la Vida mosaic mural, which explores the journey of water from our mountains to the sea.

Next, imagine what our watershed looked like 200 years ago. Stroll along the public walkway outside the Aquarium towards Pierpoint Landing. You will fi nd Our Watershed Story, an educational panel that compares the historic and current watersheds.

The Watershed ClassroomThe Aquarium has a classroom that is a LEED-certifi ed, carbon-neutral building. The Aquarium harvests energy for this building through solar panels. Any excess green energy that is acquired during the day goes to Southern California Edison. The classroom is used for education programs and for meetings.


EXPLORERS COVE

Our Watersheds Our Watersheds Pathway to the Pacifi cPathway to the Pacifi c

27

FUNDED BY THE RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY

Other Watershed DisplaysOther Watershed Displays 27

Visit Shark Lagoon and learn more about the ocean’s most mysterious and misunderstood predators. Touch a zebra or bamboo shark, and peer into the depths to see a sand tiger or blacktip reef shark.

ATTENTION For the health and

safety of our animals, please be gentle!

Use Only Two Fingers!

Do Not Scratch!

Do Not Grab!

Shark Have Six Senses!Sharks can hear up to one mile away and smell up to 1,000 feet away. They can sense through touch and have excellent vision, with the ability to see up to 70 feet away. Using an organ called the lateral line, sharks can feel movement or the vibration of water up to 300 feet away. Using specialized receptors called Ampullae of Lorenzini, sharks can sense electrical impulses up to four inches away.

PLEASE NOTE: To continue your journey to Southern California/Baja, proceed up the stairs or elevator and return to page 12, Rocky Intertidal.

BROWN-BANDED BAMBOO SHARKChiloscyllium punctatum

WHITE-SPOTTED BAMBOO SHARKChiloscyllium plagiosum

EPAULETTE SHARKHemiscyllium ocellatum

ZEBRA SHARK (JUVENILE)Stegastoma fasciatum

STINGRAYDasyatis sp.

HORSESHOE CRABLimulus polyphemus

RETICULATE WHIPTAIL RAYHimantura uarnak


EXPLORERS COVE

Shark LagoonSharks You Can Touch!

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ZEBRA SHARK (ADULT)Stegastoma fasciatum

WHITETIP REEF SHARKTriaenodon obesus

FRESHWATER SAWFISHPristis microdon

SAND TIGER SHARKCarcharias taurus

BLACKTIP REEF SHARK Carcharhinus melanopterus

NURSE SHARKGinglymostoma cirratum

Sandbar SharkCarcharhinus plumbeus

The sandbar shark is one of the biggest coastal sharks in the world. Commonly found over muddy or sandy bottoms in shallow waters such as bays, estuaries, harbors, or the mouths of rivers, it also swims in deeper waters and intertidal zones. Its prominent dorsal fi n can be up to 18 percent of its total body weight, making it of particular interest to commercial fi shing for shark fi ns. The sandbar shark is an opportunistic bottom-feeder that preys primarily on relatively small bony fi shes, eels, skates, rays, dogfi sh, octopus, squid, bivalves, shrimp, and crabs.


EXPLORERS COVE

Shark Lagoon Sharks You CAN’T Touch!

Healthy oceans need sharks, and without them there are unpredictable consequences to the balance of ecosystems and, in turn, the seafood we rely on. And while sharks are rarely a threat to humans, we have become the number one threat to sharks. Somewhere between 30-100 million sharks die each year due to fi shing activity.

Do not order shark fi n soup. ✓ Let your host know if you do not want to be served shark fi n soup at a wedding reception or other function.

Look for shark oil in the list of ✓ingredients of products such as lotions, lipsticks, and hemorrhoid creams, and avoid these products. Also if you see squalene listed, fi nd out if it was made from sharks.

Eat sustainable seafood ✓ and avoid fi sh caught on a longline, which puts sharks and other non-targeted animals at risk.

Our Appetite for SharksShark liver oil is often used in the cos-metics industry as a softening agent for creams and lipstick. Shark and ray skin has been used as an alternative to leather in the manufacture of boots, belts, and other items. Shark meat has become an important source of protein as other species of food fi sh disappear. And shark cartilage and oil are used to make health

Do not purchase shark oil ✓ or shark cartilage supplements whenever possible.

Do not eat shark ✓ steaks or other shark meats.

Do not buy shark skin leather. ✓

Support legislation ✓ that protects sharks.

Educate others ✓ on the importance of sharks.

Things you can do!While the ocean can be a source for many of our needs and has been seen as a potential source for many miracle drugs, there are many products that use shark where other alterna-tives exist. Each of us can make decisions that can help sharks. Below are a few suggestions to help.

supplements. Shark fi ns are used to make popular shark fi n soup. Shark fi nning in particular is a major cause of shark mortality. It is often done in an inhumane manner because the fi ns are removed while the sharks are alive. Because the rest of the shark is usually thrown back, it is also considered a wasteful fi shing practice.

and has there



Shark Conservation

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EducationThe Aquarium of the Pacifi c hosts a variety of fun and engaging programs for both adults and children. Visit our website at www.aquariumofpacifi c.org, call (562) 951-1630, or pick up a brochure at our Information Center to fi nd out more.

VolunteerDo you want to make a diff erence? The Aquarium depends on its more than 600 volunteers to help us achieve our mission of ocean education and conservation. Help behind-the-scenes or with our guests as an exhibit interpreter or guest ambassador. For information on becoming a volunteer, pick up an application at the Information Center, visit www.aquariumofpacifi c.org, or call (562) 951-1659.

Pacifi c CollectionsBe sure to stop by the Pacifi c Collections gift store for a unique selection of gifts, toys, CDs, educational items, housewares, clothing, and art. Open daily from 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. or go to shop.aquariumofpacifi c.org to browse from home.

Adopt an AnimalStarting at $40, you can Adopt an Animal, helping to pay for the care and feeding of our Aquarium family. In return, you receive a special certifi cate, photo, and much more. Pick up an Adopt an Animal brochure at the Information Center.

Annual Membership PassApply the cost of your admission today to an Aquarium membership! Support our great non-profi t while enjoying our exhibits all year. In addition to unlimited admission for 12 months, you will be invited to member events, receive discounts, and be subscribed to our member magazine. Call (562) 437-FISH (3474).



Additional Additional Aquarium OpportunitiesAquarium Opportunities

Aquarium DirectoryArea code: 562

General Information: ..................................................................590-3100Membership Information: ...........................................437-FISH (3474)Group Tours & Reservations: .................................................... 951-1695Special Events & Private Parties: ............................................... 951-1663Education Programs: ................................................................... 951-1630Gift Store: .......................................................................................951-1732Volunteer Opportunities: ............................................................ 951-1659Café Scuba: .................................................................................... 951-1740TDD: ................................................................................................951-3140Development: ................................................................................ 951-5341Website: .......................................................www.aquariumofpacifi c.org

The Aquarium of the Pacifi c is a non-profi t 501(c)3 institution with a mission to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacifi c Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. We rely heavily on the generous donations of individuals and organizations.

During your visit, you may be fi lmed, videotaped, or photographed by an Aquarium of the Pacifi c employee, volunteer, or contract service professional. Your admission to our facility serves as permission for use of your image by the Aquarium of the Pacifi c and its constitu-ents. The commercial use of photographs, video, and fi lm you may have taken during your visit is strictly prohibited without the full written consent of the Aquarium of the Pacifi c.

100 Aquarium Way • Long Beach, CA • 90802www.aquariumofpacific.org

Hours: 9:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. daily

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Documents

2009 Aquarium of the Pacific Visitor Guide