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Key West Marine Life You Might See On Vacation
Key West is surrounded by a unique ecosystem at the fusion of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Here, you’ll find the third largest coral barrier reef in the world, much of it protected by NOAA’s Marine Sanctuary, and miles of shallow backcountry sand flats. This environment supports a diverse ecology of marine life […]
Sea Urchins
Sea urchins are commonly found along a rocky ocean floor in both shallow and deeper water, and coral reefs. There are nearly 200 different species of recognized sea urchin, that come in all shapes and sizes. The main predators of the sea urchin are crabs, large fish, sea otters, eels, birds and humans. The sea […]
Time to get Crabby
Hermit Crabs: There are at least 9 species of “hermit crabs” in the Florida Keys. As with many species in Florida, the hermit crab grows quite large due to the warm waters and mild winters. Hermit crabs are “mobile home” dwellers using abandoned sea shells as their home. As they grow, a new larger home […]
Your Friendly Neighborhood Iguana
An herbivore, originally from Central, South America and the Caribbean, the iguana is a large species of lizard. Large in size, males usually reach up to nearly 5 feet in length. With sunny skies and sub-tropical temperatures, it’s no wonder that iguanas have found another home in the Florida Keys. It’s believed that the first […]
Save the Seahorses
What exactly is a seahorse? Well, it’s a fish! It’s horse-shaped head gives it it’s name. Other features include their monkey-like tail, and their color changing abilities like chameleons. What makes seahorses endangered? Their preferred habitats are coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds and estuaries, which are threatened by development and water pollution. Threats to […]
Sea Anemone Facts
A close relative of coral and jellyfish, anemones are stinging polyps that spend most of their time attached to rocks on the sea bottom or on coral reefs waiting for fish to pass close enough to get ensnared in their venom-filled tentacles. There are more than 1,000 sea anemone species found throughout the world’s oceans […]
Finding Manatees In The Florida Keys
The Florida Manatee is one of two subspecies of the West Indian manatee. Manatees are well represented in Florida’s fossil record. Their remains date back to prehistoric times and they are one of the more common vertebrae fossils known from ancient marine deposits. Manatee remains are also found in Native American rubbish heaps in Florida, […]
Protecting Sea Turtles
When you visit our aquarium you will notice we have a sea turtle conservation tour. In this tour we introduce you to our turtles that have been rescued and are now living with us because they wouldn’t survive out at sea. Dry Tortugas National Park is the most active turtle nesting site in the Florida […]
Fin vs. Flipper
Fins have no true bones or skeletal structure within and are composed primarily of cartilage. A flipper has a bone structure as well as cartilage, joints, and tendons. If you x-ray the flipper of a dolphin it looks almost identical to a human arm from the shoulder down to the fingers.
Interactive Tours
Come on in, the waters fine! Join us for our tours as we get up close and personal in our touch tank. We are open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm. We have made our aquarium specifically to make your experience more exciting and educational. You are welcome to join us at your […]
