Weird, Wild and Wonderful at Aquarium of the Pacific

Can a fish actually change from a she to a he? Do some predators carry chainsaws? Can a male sea horse really become pregnant? And is there a fish that grows its very own fishing pole?

   This summer, come discover the strange-but-true ways ocean animals survive and thrive in their watery world at Weird, Wild, and Wonderful at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Meet mysterious sea dragons, prehistoric sawfish, deadly stonefish, and a sea of unusual creatures. And learn why these fantastic and bizarre adaptations are necessary for these animals to reproduce, eat, or avoid being eaten. Discover another world with your family at the Aquarium of the Pacific-where the weird things are! 

   The Aquarium's new Weird, Wild, and Wonderful highlights the many unique and strange ways animals have adapted to their ocean environment. Using some of nature's most exceptional examples, learn about the vast diversity of camouflage techniques, reproductive strategies, self-defense measures, hunting practices, modes of communication, navigation, and more. The Aquarium's innovative and intriguing learning materials unravel the mysteries and provide human comparisons to these animals' seemingly strange adaptations. In doing so, the Aquarium highlights their beauty and fragility as well as our impact on these creatures that have superbly adapted to their habitats.

Program highlights include a new film in the Honda Theater that is free to all Aquarium guests; a fun and educational Passport Book for all guests that highlights new and existing animals; Passport stamping stations; special interactive displays; new exhibits on camouflage and deep sea creatures; a new Marine Life Theater - Build-A-Fish; and much more. Weird, Wild, and Wonderful animals include:

• Sawfish-uses its saw-like snout to capture prey
• Frogfish-walks on the ocean floor and captures prey with a tiny fishing pole on its head
• Sea Dragon and Pipefish-resemble plants for camouflage
• Seahorse-males become pregnant and give birth to the young
• Crested Auklets-emit a tangerine smell during breeding season
• Binturong-emits a smell similar to buttered popcorn
• Rockmover Wrasse-can lift and move rocks many times its own weight
• Stonefish-the ocean's most deadly fish that also uses camouflage
• Archerfish-spits water above the surface to capture prey
• Wrasses and other fish-change sex
• Flashlight Fish-emit bioluminescence
• Red Sea Urchins-live to be more than 100 years old
• Mudskipper-fish that lives on land and in the sea
• Anglerfish and Scorpion Fish-ambush predators that camouflage

The Aquarium of the Pacific is located in Long Beach. For more information, call 562.590.3100