8/2/2023 0 Comments Zebra shark diagram![]() This makes it the largest grouper in the Atlantic! While many species can reach a few feet in length, the goliath grouper stays true to its name, growing over 8 feet long and 800 pounds during its 40 year lifespan. This large species can be found relatively close to home, living along the coast of Florida, through the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the eastern part of the Atlantic. The goliath grouper ( Epinephelus itajara) is one of 159 species of groupers living near coral reefs, rocky outcrops and even shipwrecks throughout the tropics. It's called goliath, after all!Ī goliath grouper on exhibit in the Aquarium's Blue Hole exhibit But any discussion of really big fish at the Aquarium would be entirely incomplete with mentioning the goliath grouper. Well, of course there are the tarpon and permits in the Giant Ocean Tank. Many visitors want to know where they can find the really big fish. (Learn about another resident of this exhibit, the longhorn cowfish.) Look for this dangerous beauty in the armored and venomous exhibit on Level 1. And today we're seeing lionfish muscle into Caribbean reefs, far from their native habitat. Comb jellies invaded the Black Sea and have wiped out some commercial fisheries. In the Phoenix Island Protected Area, rats threaten native bird populations. ![]() Invasive species are a big problem all around the world. They've even sampled lionfish for lunch - turns out, they're quite delicious! Most recently, researchers have spotted lionfish in Belize. Don has taught many of our teen scuba diving students about this " prickly situation." (More on the students' encounters with lionfish here and here.) In fact, divers on the Bahamas Expeditions have been encountering these nasty predators in greater frequency. This invasive problem is quickly becoming one of the most important conservation issues in the world.Ī long-time Aquarium volunteer and avid scuba diver Don Stark talked about the invasion of the lionfish on the Divers Blog. That's because lionfish are prolific breeders, have quite the appetite and no natural predators to keep the population in check. But don't be fooled, this fish is armed and dangerous! These residents of the Indo-Pacific were accidentally introduced into the Caribbean in the 1990s, and they are causing havoc on native reefs today. Lionfish ( Pterois volitans) are quite lovely to watch, with their graceful fin spikes and stark brown and white bands. Come on by the Aquarium to see this stunning new addition for yourself! He's smart, he's handsome and Indo is an exciting new addition to the Tropical Oceans Exhibit. Once the shark sees the circle and touches the target with his nose, he’s rewarded with some tasty morsels. The aquarists do this by positioning a pole with the target circle in the water, indicating it’s time for the shark to station. He has grown up in aquariums and was trained to feed using a target of a yellow circle. Indo was one of the first born to the program at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, then lived in Pittsburgh for many years. Interestingly, this shark is part of an AZA breeding program, much like the penguins at the Aquarium. He's fed 0.75 pounds three times per week to ensure the animal maintains his handsome physique. Here at the Aquarium, he's given a variety of seafoods, including capelin and squid (low calorie offerings) and shrimp (only as a treat or as an enrichment or training item, Indo loves shrimp). Zebra sharks like to snack on mollusks, small fishes, crabs and shrimps. His stout body has ridges on the dorsal, or This male, named Indo, measures 6 feet long-3 feet of bodyĪnd 3 feet of tail! That's pretty average for this species, although The zebra shark ( Stegostoma fasciatum) is easy to spot because of his size andīold spots. New animal to observe, and he's a beauty. What we're calling the penguin exhibit while the birds are relocatedĭuring the reconstruction of the Giant Ocean Tank). ![]() Rays from a whole new perspective in the Tropical Oceans Exhibit (that's It's been quite an experience seeing the turtles, eels, reef fishes and
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