Visit the Aquarium this spring to see new animals, enjoy your spring break with friends and family, and attend special events and celebrations.
New pinecone fish (Monocentris japonica) are on display in the Wonders of the Deep gallery. Pinecone fish are native to the waters off the coast of southern Japan and other areas of the Indo-West Pacific. They have bright yellow scales outlined in black. Like their flashlight fish relatives, pinecone fish also have a spot beneath their eyes that lights up.
In the Northern Pacific gallery, several new smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) fish are on display in the Jewels of the Northern Pacific exhibits. These bluish-gray fish are equipped with a clinging disc that allows them to suction to rocks and other surfaces. They are called smooth lumpsuckers because they lack scales. Both smooth and spiny lumpsuckers are on view in the same exhibit.
Visitors can find a new Amazon milk frog on display in the Tropical Pacific gallery. Native to tropical rainforest canopies of South America, this frog excretes a poisonous substance that is white in color, giving this species its common name.
A new female giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) named Grady is on exhibit in the Northern Pacific gallery. The new octopus is about three years old and seems to prefer mackerel. Giant Pacific octopuses can reach 16 feet in width and up to 110 pounds. They live in temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean along the Pacific Rim from Southern California to Japan, feeding on shrimp, clams, fish, and lobsters. They are known to be highly intelligent and able to open containers and solve puzzles. Like other cephalopods, they also have the ability to instantly change the color and texture of their skin.
This spring will feature several special events at the Aquarium. On St Patrick’s Day, the Aquarium will host a special event with Irish food and craft beer on the rooftop Veranda from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. On Friday, March 27, the Aquarium’s annual Latin-themed late night Noche de Estrellas will feature live bands, DJs, Mexican food, and more. Easter Breakfast on Sunday, April 5, will include a breakfast buffet, omelet station, pastry station, fresh fruit, and beverages. Tickets include a $5 gift certificate to the Aquarium’s Pacific Collections gift store. In addition, the annual Earth Day Festival will held on the weekend of April 25 and 26, and the Urban Ocean Festival will take place on May 2 and 3.
The Aquarium will begin taking reservations for its popular summer day camps on March 16. With camps for all ages, participants will take part in hands-on activities, crafts, learning, and more.