During summer vacation, thousands of kids will probably want to see the dolphins, or the powerful nurse and sand tiger sharks at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
These animals hold understandable appeal. But the aquarium is home to 16,000 other creatures that are equally fascinating.
“One of my favorite animals to share with visitors is the seven-spot archerfish,” aquarium volunteer Ed Dick said. The archerfish, in the Australia exhibit, may look like your average fish, but it harbors an exciting skill. It attacks its prey by shooting a stream of water at the insects flying overhead, up to 5 feet away.
“It?s absolutely amazing to see,” Dick said.
The archerfish share the Australia exhibit with some other weird residents.
The pig-nosed turtle, which is found in the rivers and billabongs of northern Australia and New Guinea, gets its name from its fleshy nose, which resembles a pig?s snout.
“People come into the exhibit looking for the crocodiles, but they often come out talking about these odd, fascinating turtles,” aquarium volunteer Polly Yanick said.
Pig-nosed turtles also have an odd way of determining gender. The outside temperature determines the sex of the turtle hatchlings. Cooler temperatures produce males; warmer temperatures produce females.
Find your favorite creature next time you visit the aquarium.
“I find a new favorite animal almost every time I walk through,” said Beth Lacey Gill, the aquarium?s publication manager.
Provided by the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Visit www.aqua.org.
