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What's New in '22
As you plan your next visit, don’t miss out on the new amazing animals, exhibits and activities at the Aquarium this year!
Axolotls
NEW! The Axolotl is a unique aquatic salamander with some distinct biological quirks. Unlike most amphibians, they never truly go through that metamorphosis process to become land-dwellers. As a result, Axolotls spend their entire lives in the water.
Axolotls are only found in Mexico. They’re often referred to as Mexican Walking Fish. Unfortunately, these animals have become critically endangered in the wild due to habitat loss and pollution.
Axolotls have amazing regenerative abilities! Not only can they fully replace a lost tail or limbs-- without leaving a scar-- but axolotls can even replace parts of their brain!
Perhaps the most defining feature of the Axolotl is the gills which are located on protruding crown-like appendages that branch out from the head, called rami. They are positioned to the rear of the head, creating a very interesting look for the creature. Each appendage is covered in tiny gill filaments.
Axolotls are only found in Mexico. They’re often referred to as Mexican Walking Fish. Unfortunately, these animals have become critically endangered in the wild due to habitat loss and pollution.
Axolotls have amazing regenerative abilities! Not only can they fully replace a lost tail or limbs-- without leaving a scar-- but axolotls can even replace parts of their brain!
Perhaps the most defining feature of the Axolotl is the gills which are located on protruding crown-like appendages that branch out from the head, called rami. They are positioned to the rear of the head, creating a very interesting look for the creature. Each appendage is covered in tiny gill filaments.
Ball Python
NEW! Ball pythons are from west and central Africa, close to the Congolian rainforests. Despite having 100 sharp teeth, ball pythons do not chew their prey, but use their teeth to hold onto their food while they swallow it whole.
Ball pythons are good climbers but are usually seen on the ground.
Ball pythons can easily find prey in complete darkness because they have heat sensing pits located along their upper jaw.
Pythons are an excellent example of why people should carefully consider what type of pet they want, and NEVER release unwanted pets into the wild. Pet pythons released in the Florida everglades have flourished and are now devastating the natural habitat. What started as a few unwanted pets, has become a reproducing population of more than 300,000 snakes.
Ball pythons are good climbers but are usually seen on the ground.
Ball pythons can easily find prey in complete darkness because they have heat sensing pits located along their upper jaw.
Pythons are an excellent example of why people should carefully consider what type of pet they want, and NEVER release unwanted pets into the wild. Pet pythons released in the Florida everglades have flourished and are now devastating the natural habitat. What started as a few unwanted pets, has become a reproducing population of more than 300,000 snakes.
Walking Batfish
This unusual fish called a walking batfish is a very poor swimmer, but has developed very strong pectoral and pelvic fins that it uses as hands and feet to creep along the sea floor.
FUN FACT: When hungry, the walking batfish nearly freezes on the sea floor, moving the antennae-like structure on its nose, back and forth. When a small fish gets curious and moves in for inspection, it opens its mouth and sucks in the unsuspecting victim.
FUN FACT: When hungry, the walking batfish nearly freezes on the sea floor, moving the antennae-like structure on its nose, back and forth. When a small fish gets curious and moves in for inspection, it opens its mouth and sucks in the unsuspecting victim.
Baby Epaulette Sharks
Shark 'pup'date! Our baby epaulette shark pups are really growing. These juveniles were hatched at the aquarium in 2019. These amazing creatures can “walk” by wriggling their bodies and pushing with their fins along the sea floor and even on land when needed! For that reason it is often referred to as the “walking shark”. They love to hide but try and spot them in our Shipwreck Gallery.
Blaze the Whitetip Shark
Sometimes animals come to us with unique sets of circumstances. Meet Blaze our new white tip reef shark who was donated to us in April 2021 from a private collector. After spending several months acclimating off exhibit, Blaze is now swimming in our ocean tank along with some of our other sharks. She is slowly getting used to her new surroundings. You can easily spot Blaze because she is the smallest of our 2 whitetips and can often be seen resting on top of the tunnel.
Cowfish
Have you met our Longhorn Cowfish? 🐮🐟 These cuties have unique defense mechanisms against predators. Their long horns prevent other fish from swallowing them whole. Also when threatened, they can release a poison into the water that can harm their predators. See if you can spot one hovering around our Contact Cove Gallery
Seahorse and Pipefish nursery
Can you spot the baby pipefish in our nursery? Pipefish have a prehensile tail like a seahorse that they use to hitch onto just about anything around them, including each other. The strange-looking, elongated bodies help them camouflage themselves in sea grass beds to avoid predators. FUN FACT: Similar to the seahorse, the male pipefish fertilizes and incubates the eggs, keeping them safe until the babies are ready to be born. Come SEA these little cuties in our Submarine Gallery.
Science Station
Our new high-powered microscope will have you seeing things you've never seen before! Get an up-close look at all kinds of cool specimens including shark teeth, crab molt, fish scales, stingray teeth and even see microscopic brine shrimp at work! Don't miss this exhibit in our Submarine Gallery on your next visit to the aquarium!
Poison Dart Frogs
A poison dart frogs colorful designs tell potential predators, "I'm toxic. Don't eat me." Scientists think that poison dart frogs get their toxicity from some of the insects they eat. How do poison dart frogs capture their prey? Slurp! With a long, sticky tongue that darts out and zaps the unsuspecting bug! Come check out these little cuties and all our other amazing animals.
Sheep Crab
How does a sheep crab eat? Crabs use their multiple appendages to hunt and eat. They use their antennae for touch and smell; a number of modified appendages act as a mouth for cutting, picking, sorting and pulverizing food; and the pincers, the most recognizable appendage, are used for grasping and tearing. Come on down and meet our sheep crabs and all of our other amazing animals.
Horn Shark
Where did the horn shark get its name? From its short, blunt head with pronounced ridges over the eyes that look just like horns. While sleeker sharks rule the open waters, the horn shark hides out in the shadows of the seafloor. It is not a graceful swimmer and doesn't move around like its streamlined kin — in fact, sometimes the horn shark uses its strong pectoral fins to crawl along rocks.
Swell Shark
Gee you’re swell! Our new swell sharks have a very unique response when they feel threatened. They swallow large quantities of water and swell to twice their normal size! This makes it difficult for predators to bite or pull the shark from its rocky crevice. When letting the water out, the shark makes a dog like bark!!
Baby Paddlefish
Baby Paddlefish! Shreveport Aquarium, in partnership with Caddo Lake Institute is actively rearing and reintroducing the American Paddlefish into areas where they have locally gone extinct.
By raising this freshwater species onsite, the public can see and learn about them before the annual release into Caddo Lake. Although once common in Caddo Lake, the 300 million year old species had completely disappeared from the lake in the 70s. Come visit these special creatures at the aquarium!
By raising this freshwater species onsite, the public can see and learn about them before the annual release into Caddo Lake. Although once common in Caddo Lake, the 300 million year old species had completely disappeared from the lake in the 70s. Come visit these special creatures at the aquarium!
Shovelnose Sturgeon
NEW👀 Come meet our new shovelnose sturgeon. Sturgeon live in freshwater rivers and are long-lived, late maturing fish with an average lifespan is 40+ years!
Their evolution dates back to the Triassic period, 245 to 208 million years ago but despite surviving on Earth for millions of years, sturgeon are now vulnerable to overfishing for their flesh and roe (caviar) and interference in their natural habitat.
FUN FACT: Sturgeon use their sensitive barbels to detect prey and vacuum the food items up through their long tubular mouths.
Their evolution dates back to the Triassic period, 245 to 208 million years ago but despite surviving on Earth for millions of years, sturgeon are now vulnerable to overfishing for their flesh and roe (caviar) and interference in their natural habitat.
FUN FACT: Sturgeon use their sensitive barbels to detect prey and vacuum the food items up through their long tubular mouths.
Stay tuned