Why Rivers Matter and How We Can Protect Them Tennessee Aquarium 2023-09-25 | Rivers play many roles in our lives, as a source for drinking water, a place to play and a critical habitat for a huge variety of aquatic life. The Southeast is criss-crossed by a network of amazing rivers, so two of our freshwater scientists took time to sound off on which regional rivers excite them most, why these waterways are so important and how we all can work to safeguard them.#animals #biology #geography #water #freshwater #rivers #worldriversday
What the Heck? That Group Of Animals Is Called A What?! (Ocean Journey edition) Tennessee Aquarium 2023-09-18 | Have you ever wondered what the heck to call a group of stingrays or sharks? Here are some of our favorite collective nouns for animals in the Ocean Journey building! Check out Part One, featuring animals from the River Journey building! youtube.com/shorts/AvZS3GVseP0#animals #names #name #biology #taxonomy #science #funny #fun #til #dyk
What the Heck? That Group Of Animals Is Called A What?! (River Journey edition) Tennessee Aquarium 2023-09-15 | Sometimes, animals have funny names. More often, though, it's GROUPS of animals that have some funny, bizarre or just evocative collective titles. Here are some of our favorites for animals in the River Journey building to share at your next cocktail party! (Not featured, a group of shrimp, which is called a "troupe.")Check out Part Two, featuring animals from the Ocean Journey building! youtube.com/shorts/G3E-CnZthCU#animals #names #name #biology #taxonomy #science #funny #fun #til #dyk
What the Heck? Why Is That Fish Picking At That Other Fish? Tennessee Aquarium 2023-09-12 | If you ever wander by the Live Coral or Indo-Pacific Reef exhibits and wonder “Why is that little fish pestering the other fish?” you’ve got the situation twisted. Cleaner Wrasses serve a vital function on coral reefs by removing parasites, dead skin and other detritus from other fish’s bodies! In exchange for this little aquatic detail service, Cleaner Wrasses get the nourishment they need and are safe from predation from other fish.#animals #biology #marinebiology #cleanerwrasse #wrasses #coral #reefs #coralreefs #til #dyk #indonesia #pacificocean #fish
Meet the Harlequin Sweetlips: A Fish With A Funny Name Thats Right On The Money Tennessee Aquarium 2023-09-12 | Yes, it’s got an amusing name, but the Harlequin Sweetlips definitely earned it. Like all Sweetlips, the Harlequin belongs to the family Haemulidae, better known as “grunts.” Members of the Sweetlips sub-family (Plectorhinchinae) are known for their thick lips, which they use to forage for prey among reefs and along the ocean floor. This particular species earned its name due to its distinctive patterning, which changes dramatically as it ages!#animals #biology #marinebiology #sweetlips #coral #reefs #coralreefs #til #dyk #indonesia #pacificocean #fish
Meet the Sicklefin Redhorse: A Sucker Species With A Cool Name and Cultural Significance Tennessee Aquarium 2023-09-06 | Recently, we introduced six Sicklefin Redhorse into the large stream exhibit in the Ridges to Rivers gallery. This undescribed member of the sucker family is only found in a handful of counties in North Carolina and Georgia but has long been of great significance as a food resource to citizens of the Cherokee Nation. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are members of a focused effort to conserve this species along with state and federal agencies. Because of the species' low numbers and lack of formal description, few Sicklefin Redhorse are in human care, and no other aquarium has them on display. #shorts #animals #freshwater #fish #suckers #sicklefinredhorse #cherokee #wildlifemanagement
Meet the Magnificent Tree Frog: Pretty Much Lives Up To Its Name Tennessee Aquarium 2023-09-01 | With its muscular body, spectacular climbing and leaping skills and a hefty dose of defensive poison stored on top of its head, Australia’s Magnificent Tree Frog definitely earns its superlative name. Trust us, this is no average amphibian!#shorts #animals #biology #amphibian #herpetology #frog #frogs #treefrog #magnificenttreefrog #australia #australiananimals #til #dyk
Meet Rainbowfish: Freshwater Beauties From Oceania Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-31 | It's not too hard to understand why Rainbowfishes are so named. A quick glance at these vivacious fish in our Fly River exhibit is more than enough to thoroughly disprove the "freshwater fish aren't colorful" myth. #shorts #animals #fish #biology #color #colors #rainbow #rainbowfish #australia #indonesia #til #dyk #tennesseeaquarium
What the heck? Why is that turtle’s neck so long? Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-30 | Most people think of turtles as walking tanks, with the ability to protect their head and other vulnerable parts by retreating inside their shells. The aptly-named Snake-necked Turtles, however, lack this adaptation, trading defense for extremely long necks that allow them to agilely target and consume prey!#nature #animals #biology #evolution #snakeneckedturtles #snakeneckturtles #turtle #reptile #wth #whattheheck #til #dyk
Reflecting on the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have A Dream speech Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-28 | We continue to be humbled by the timeless, immutable words of the “I Have A Dream” speech, which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered 60 years ago today (Aug. 28, 1963) on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Dr. King’s passionate commitment to making equality a reality in “every village and every hamlet” in America resonates just as powerfully six decades later. Since the Aquarium’s founding 31 years ago, we have proudly enshrined his call to “Let Freedom Ring From Lookout Mountain Of Tennessee” in a plaque located on the archway at the entrance to our plaza.#ihaveadream #mlk #equality
What the Heck? Your Exhibits Are HOW Cold?! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-22 | In the waning days of summer, Chattanooga (and much of the rest of the U.S.) is sweltering under an intense heat wave. Rest assured, though, our animals are comfortably chill, thanks to complex life support systems that automatically adjust to keep their habitats at the optimal temperature! Can you guess the five coldest exhibits at the Aquarium? #shorts #heatwave #aquariums #biology #fish #animals #marinebiology
Meet the Ripsaw Catfish: Just As Metal As Its Name Suggests Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-18 | Continuing our celebration of National Catfish Month, we'd like to introduce the Ripsaw Catfish, a South American species whose name sounds like a hardcore metal band concept album. The Ripsaw Catfish makes its home in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, where it feeds on detritus, protected by namesake, pointy protrusions along its flank known as scutes.#shorts #biology #animals #fish #southamerica #amazon #rainforest #catfish #ripsawcatfish
Ojo de Linterna Indio Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-18 | Probablemente hayan oído hablar de las Ojo de Linterna Indio, pero ¿se dieron cuenta de que hay peces que también pueden lograr ese ingenioso truco de brillar? Los peces Ojo de Linterna Indio se encuentran en cuevas de aguas profundas cerca de los arrecifes en el Indo-Pacífico, ¡y tenemos la escuela más grande de ellos en cualquier acuario del mundo!#shorts #español #biologia #peces #animales
Aguaviva o Medusas Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-18 | El cultivo de medusas requiere navegar con éxito una serie increíblemente compleja de etapas de la vida, comenzando con pólipos inmóviles que brotan de pequeños clones llamados efiras que eventualmente se convierten en adultos conocidos como "medusas". Hacer bien este proceso y criar medusas saludables es extremadamente difícil, ¡pero nuestra curadora asistente de peces acaba de lograr criar sus primeras ortigas marinas del Pacífico!#shorts #español #biologia #medusas #animales
Anguila de Fuego Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-18 | Con su patrón colorido y sus barbas en forma de bigotes en la parte delantera de su nariz, la anguila de fuego es definitivamente un residente interesante del río Kapuas de Indonesia. ¡Lo que NO ES, sin embargo, una anguila!#shorts #español #biologia #peces #anguila #animales
Peces coloridos de agua dulce Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-18 | La gente tiende a asociar los coloridos animales acuáticos con los hábitats marinos, pero peces de agua dulce también pueden exhibir intensos tonos de rojo, amarillo, azul e incluso púrpura para atraer parejas.#shorts #español #biologia #peces #animales #coloridos
Meet the Blue Catfish: Yep ... Thats A REALLY Big Cat! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-16 | Well, y'all, we're o-fish-ially more than halfway through National Catfish Month! What better way to celebrate than taking a look at the mighty Blue Catfish? In the Southeast, literal "big fish" stories abound of catfish the size of Volkswagens (we expect a few of those in the comment section, naturally). No official records come anywhere close to "Bug size," but that doesn't mean some cats aren't pretty stinking big. In the Tennessee River, Blue Catfish have been caught that tip the scales at more than 120 pounds!#shorts #catfish #fishing #biology #freshwater #angling #bluecatfish #bigfish #dyk #didyouknow #til #todayilearned
Fish Person Point of View: Drawing a Crowd With Our 🔥 Underwater Housekeeping! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-14 | OK, so we know most people come to the Aquarium so see the animals, but whenever our aquarists dive into an exhibit to tidy things up, they ALWAYS draw crowds. Imagine if you got this much attention just by vacuuming and washing YOUR windows!#diving #scuba #cleaning #housekeeping #aquariums #pov #firstpersonpointofview
AquaVentures episode No. 13 Explore Our Underground Animal Holding Room! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-11 | ...
AquaVentures episode No. 12 Meet the Arapaima - A Giant Trainable Fish! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-11 | ...
AquaVentures episode No. 11 A shocking encounter with a Twitter-famous Electric Eel! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-11 | ...
AquaVentures episode No. 8 Serving Up a Shark-tastic Breakfast in Stingray Bay! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-11 | ...
AquaVentures episode No. 7 Preparing a Turtle Cupcake You Definitely Wouldnt Want to Eat! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-11 | Dessert ... with a tail.
AquaVentures episode No. 6 What has Eight Arms, Three Hearts, Nine Brains and Blue Blood? Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-11 | Introducing the Giant Pacific Octopus!
AquaVentures episode No. 5 Meet the Super-Brainy Elephantnose Fish! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-11 | ...
AquaVentures episode No. 4 Hungry Sharks, Doo-Doo Doo-Doo Doo-Doo! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-11 | ...
Check out the INCREDIBLE summer our Jim Hill Fellows had! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-10 | As we look back on this summer, we're in awe of all the amazing work (and adventures) tackled by our latest group of Jim Hill fellows!This fellowship is a paid, 11-week, work-based learning opportunity at the Aquarium. This experience helps guide and empower conservation-minded students to develop solutions to complex conservation challenges in their communities and gain valuable hands-on work experience.The application period for the Jim Hill Fellowship takes place in the winter with the fellowship period lasting from May to July.
Aqua-Escapes: Stream Some Serenity from Ridges to Rivers Tennessee Aquarium 2023-08-04 | Feeling stressed? Take a moment (or, say, nine minutes) to relax to the soothing sight of dozens of beautiful freshwater fish bustling in the large stream exhibit of our latest gallery, Ridges to Rivers. From Whitetail Shiners and Tangerine Darters to Northern Hogsuckers and Tennessee Dace, this exhibit showcases the entrancing beauty found just beneath the surface of many streams in the Upper Tennessee watershed!
What the Heck? Freshwater Fish Arent Just Green and Brown? Tennessee Aquarium 2023-07-24 | People tend to associate colorful aquatic animals with marine habitats, but did you realize that freshwater fish can also exhibit intense bursts of red, yellow, blue and even purple to attract mates? #shorts #whattheheck #dyk #didyouknow #biology #color #colors #breeding #animals #til
We just hatched our first baby Swell Shark! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-07-19 | Just in time for Shark Week, we're giving each other high fins to celebrate the hatching of a Swell Shark, a first for the Aquarium! This species is found in cool, deep waters off America's Pacific coast and currently lives in a pair of off-exhibit systems. The Swell Shark's mottled brown coloration belies a super-cool trick, though: biofluorescence! To help see each other in the deep waters they call home, Swell Sharks have specially adapted eyes that filter out certain wavelengths of light. By looking through a yellow filter and shining an ultraviolet light, humans can see what these sharks see when they look at each other, which is a lurid glow that makes them appear to shine in the dark.#biology #marinebiology #shark #sharkweek #sharks #glowinthedark #animals #bioluminescence #biofluorescence #didyouknow #weird
Diving the Flower Garden Banks to Protect It From Invasive Predators! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-07-18 | Recently, a pair of senior aquarists from the Tennessee Aquarium flew to the Gulf Coast to take part in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Lionfish Invitational. During this multi-day event, dive teams worked to remove as many Lionfish as possible while collecting helpful data on this aggressive invasive species' activity in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. This trip represented a unique opportunity for our specialists to experience and help to protect the life-rich system of coral reefs upon which the Aquarium's 618,000-gallon Secret Reef exhibit is modeled!#fish #lionfish #invasivespecies #flowergardenbanks #diving #spearfishing #marinebiology #animals #scubadiving
Meet the King Snake: Heavy Liessssss the Crown Tennessee Aquarium 2023-07-14 | The aptly named King Snake is a beautiful example of the important role many animals play as both predator and prey. Although they are known to eat a wide variety of animals (and even other snakes), King Snakes are, themselves, prey for raccoons, opossums and raptors!#shorts #biology #animals #reptiles #snakes #kingsnake #nature #foodweb #foodchain
Meet the Split-fin Flashlight Fish: A Bacteria-Lover with Bright Ideas Tennessee Aquarium 2023-07-13 | Y'all have probably heard of Fireflies (or Lightning Bugs as we call them here in Tennessee), but did you realize there are fish that can pull off that nifty glow-up trick, too? Split-fin Flashlight fish are found in deep-water caves near reefs in the Indo-Pacific, and we've got the largest school of them at any aquarium in the world!#shorts #biology #fish #fireflies #lightningbugs #didyouknow #todayilearned #dyk #til #weird #flashlightfish
Growing Veggies and Fruits to Feed Our Animals! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-07-12 | Unlike zoos, which tend to have abundant acreage upon which to grow plants for their animal residents, aquariums often need to purchase their vegetables and fruits from wholesalers. At the Tennessee Aquarium, a pair of horticulturists are taking advantage of greenhouse space below the Aquarium's glass peaks and at an off-site facility to grow food for the animals. Started earlier this year, this farm-to-Aquarium dietary program has been providing a steady supply of organic produce enjoyed by a range of animals, from lemurs and tortoises to -- believe it or not -- Amazonian fish!#biology #animals #farming #gardening #eating #food #farmtotable #tomatoes #lettuce #organicfarming #organic
Meet the Brook Trout Who Will Help Us Populate a New Mountain Stream Tennessee Aquarium 2023-07-06 | In Tennessee, there's only one native species of trout, the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout. To help repopulate streams out of which this beautiful game fish was forced decades ago, we help to spawn and raise babies for later release into the wild. To ensure these reintroduced trout are a genetically suitable for their new home, we collect wild adults from target streams. These brood stock will spawn future generations of baby brookies we will raise and then reintroduce. Join us as we collect the newest brood stock that will help bring this species back to Tennessee waterways!#animals #freshwater #trout #fish #brooktrout #science #fisheries
Were Raising Hundreds of Baby Darters to Help Endangered Mussels! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-07-03 | For the past two years, the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute has been partnering with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to raise Tangerine Darters for use in a program to propagate endangered freshwater mussels. Being mostly immobile, mussels can’t populate new areas without assistance, which is why they have developed elaborate luring mechanisms to attract fish to serve as hosts for their offspring. Once close enough, the mussels release their larvae, which harmlessly attach to the fish’s gills. Hitching a ride while they develop, the larval mussels eventually dislodge, floating down to create beds in new locations farther up or downstream. At the Cumberland River Aquatic Center, Tangerine Darters raised by the Aquarium are acting as hosts for larval Crackling Pearlymussels. This fascinating project is getting plenty of assistance with these Aquarium-raised foster-fish, more than 400 of which are currently being cared for at our freshwater field station until they’re large enough to be sent to TWRA. #science #mussels #bivalves #endangerdspecies #fish #animals #freshwater #waterquality
Meet the Fire Eel: An Eel That Isnt Really An Eel Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-29 | With its colorful patterning and whisker-like barbels on the front of its nose, the Fire Eel is definitely an interesting resident of Indonesia's Kapuas River. What it ISN'T, however, is an eel!#shorts #biology #kapuasriver #indoensia #fish #fireeel #eel #didyouknow #til #whattheheck #dyk
Director Jonathan Bird Discusses Ancient Caves 3D Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-27 | Emmy Award-winning underwater director and cinematographer Jonathan Bird talks about what he loves about cave diving and the making of his first giant-screen film, Ancient Caves 3D. This thrilling production is now playing at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater!For more information, including a screening schedule, or to purchase advance tickets, visit tnaqua.org/imax/ancient-caves-3d
Meet the Long-spine Porcupinefish: A Spiky Underwater Balloon Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-26 | Sometimes, an animal’s name just makes sense. The Long-spine Porcupinefish (also known as a Balloonfish or Pufferfish) gulps water into a specially configured stomach causing its body to inflate massively and the spines on its skin to stand straight out, a highly effective deterrent to predators!Check out these guys in the Indo-Pacific Reef and Fish Nursery exhibits located in our Island Life gallery!#shorts #pufferfish #balloonfish #porcupinefish #marinebiology #biology #didyouknow #dyk #whattheheck #til #fyi
What the Heck Is a Guitarfish? A Shark? A Stingray? Neither? Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-23 | When it comes to elasmobranchs, those marine fish with cartilaginous — rather than bone — skeletons, most people are familiar with sharks and rays/stingrays. But have you heard of guitarfish? These bizarre-looking elasmobranchs share traits in common with both sharks and rays, yet they are their own distinct animals!#shorts #shark #ray #stingray #marinebiology #biology #guitarfish #fiddlerray #elasmobranch #didyouknow #dyk #whattheheck #til #fyi
Growing Pains — The Danger of Removing Turtles from the Wild! Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-22 | Did you realize that many turtle species can live as long as (or even longer) than humans? That longevity can be a double-edged sword, though. With such long lifespans, turtles can also take longer to reach sexual maturity and produce just a few eggs per clutch. That means the loss of a single turtle can create a hole that takes years or even decades to fill. Just some food for thought as you enjoy this adorable footage of our baby Radiated Tortoises being dwarfed by an adult of their species and a not-at-all-gigantic strawberry.#turtles #animals #babyanimals #babyturtles #biology #babies #didyouknow #didyouknowfacts #reptiles
Why Pollinators Are In Trouble and How You Can Help Them Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-21 | From bees and butterflies to beetles and bats, the actions of pollinators are critical to plants all over the world. Despite their importance, pollinators worldwide face many challenges that have led some, including the now-endangered Monarch Butterfly, to experience a steep decline in recent years. The Aquarium recently became a member of the new Association of Zoos and Aquariums Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program to support the Monarch Butterfly, but our entomologist has a few suggestions for ways you can aid and entice Monarchs and other pollinators to your home!#butterfly #bee #pollination #animals #biology #nature #flowers #plants #gardening #apiary
Why Tennessee Is Working to Support Pollinators Along Its Highways and Byways Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-20 | Visitors to Tennessee in recent months may have noticed a bit of a “bloom up” at select welcome centers and state parks. These locations have been targeted by the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Pollinator Habitat Program, a statewide effort to incorporate landscaping elements and plant selections at these areas to support the health and wellbeing of native pollinators. From pollinator fields full of native flowers and demonstration “bee hotels” in welcome center lobbies to model gardens and informative signage, visitors can enjoy a pit stop at locations that also serve as waystations for local and migrating pollinators, who play a crucial role in supporting the state’s agricultural efforts. The Aquarium and TDOT are partnering to support pollinators through these efforts and, closer to home, the newly opened Pollinator Pathway on the Aquarium’s campus in downtown Chattanooga. For more information, visit tnpollinators.org and tnaqua.org/pollinators
What the Heck? Alligators Can Eat Watermelons? Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-16 | Croc of the morning to you, everyone! In recognition of our amazing crocodilians — and just in time for World Croc Day — we decided to give some enriching (and refreshing!) watermelon chunks to our American Alligators and West African Dwarf Crocodile. Yes, despite being mostly carnivorous, crocodilians are opportunistic feeders, so fruit is fair game. As a bonus, these fun-to-crush snacks also do an excellent job of demonstrating their incredible bite pressure!#shorts #animals #alligators #gators #crocodiles #reptiles #animalseating #nomnom #food #watermelon #whattheheck #didyouknow #til
How Were Using a Laser to Help Our Elderly Lemur Feel More Comfortable Tennessee Aquarium 2023-06-11 | As animals age, they — like humans — tend to begin experiencing geriatric conditions such as arthritis that can diminish their ability to move comfortably. Recently, our veterinary team and animal care specialists demoed a relatively new technology, “cold laser therapy,” in hopes of improving the mobility of our aging female Red-ruffed Lemur, Lyra!The results were positive and almost immediate. Thanks to a generous donation from an Aquarium volunteer, the equipment our team used during a demo period has become a permanent addition to our toolkit for non-invasively improving the quality of life for our aging animal population. #animalcare #animals #lemurs #geriatric #mammals #arthritis #coldlaser #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian
