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Exhibit Galleries Blog
Showing posts with label freshwater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freshwater. Show all posts
3/17/16
Hoppin' Happenings: Poison Dart Frogs!
Animals have different ways of protecting themselves in the
wild. Some are masters of camouflage, blending in with their surroundings until
they are practically invisible. There are some animals, however, that
advertise their presence with bright patterns or colors…just like our poison
dart frogs!
Located on the third floor of the Aquarium, our Poison Dart
Frog exhibit has four different species of brightly-colored amphibians. Seen hopping
around or sticking to the glass, the species
showcased are found throughout the rain forests and humid lowlands of South
America, including places like Brazil, French Guiana, Venezuela, and Colombia.
To make it seem like home, the exhibit has live plants, “rains” and has a
constantly running water feature to keep it nice and humid.
Among the green vegetation of the exhibit, it’s easy to
pick out the vibrant yellow, cobalt blue, lime green and deep black patterns
that these species wear so well. But why the bright colors? Animals that stand
out from their environment are often warning other animals that messing with
them will end in bad news! These brightly colored or patterned animals may be venomous (like
lionfish), have a foul odor (like skunks) or be poisonous to eat. As you might
guess by their common name, poison dart frogs have a toxin on their skin that
makes them non-palatable to other animals.
So where does that toxin come from? The frogs don’t create
their own toxin but rather gather it from the food that they eat. In the wild,
the frogs would eat various insects that have the toxin. The more insects they
eat, the more toxin the frogs bioaccumulate and transfer to their skin. And while the Aquarium’s frogs
continue to have the same bright colors as their wild counterparts, the frogs
here aren’t actually poisonous!
Instead of insects they would eat in the wild, we grow fruit
fries for the frogs to eat. Yup, the same fruit flies that bother the overripe
bananas you left on the kitchen counter. The flies have none of the toxin so
thus the frogs can’t accumulate it. And thank goodness! Different species have
different toxins of varying levels of potency, with many of the toxins causing
such symptoms as general pain, cramping, partial paralysis, heart complications
or even death!
These toxins and symptoms may seem extreme, but important
research is being done to see how they work! Scientists have made synthetic
versions that show promise as painkillers, muscle relaxants and heart
stimulants. So there are lots to learn from these species! It’s important to
keep their environment healthy and preserve these animals for future
generations. In the meantime, spread the word about these amazing amphibians. March 20th is World Frog Day according to some calendars, so it's the perfect time to hop over to the Aquarium to see these petite purveyors of potent pigments
5/4/13
New Kids on the Freshwater Block
Until recently, the Aquarium has been using one particularly flashy and popular fish as the spokesman for Project Piaba—the cardinal tetra.
The lifecycle of these fish fluctuates on population booms and busts according to the wet season/dry season in the Amazon. Locals around the town of Barcelos harvest these fish for the aquarium trade in a low-impact sustainable way. This trade provides valuable income to the region, which in turn provides incentive to the residents to preserve the rainforest that supports these fisheries.
Did you know that many other Amazonian fish are also harvested in the same way? Learn more about this counter-intuitive conservation effort in this piece from Discover Magazine, which features senior aquarist Scott Dowd.
Now let's meet a couple other species currently on exhibit in the anaconda display of the Amazon Rainforest exhibits. This exhibit is now teeming with beautiful fish and an important conservation message: Responsible fisheries are an important way to help protect our blue planet.
Discus
Discus get their common name from their flat, round body shape which resembles the heavy disc thrown in track and field. Like most cichlids, they exhibit parental care, with both parents assisting with the young. The male and female adult discus both produce a secretion through their skin which the larvae live off- almost like nursing their young!
Twig catfish (Farlowella)
These fish get their name from their elongated twig-like appearance. We have several in the Anaconda exhibit that can usually be found right upfront sticking against the glass. Like otocinclus, which you'll learn about below, they are algae eaters to earn their keep.
Now see if you can recognize some of the fish in this video:
Marbled hatchetfish
These fish get their name because their body resembles the head of a hatchet. Their family name Gasteropelecus actually means hatchet-shaped belly. The hatchetfish’s claim to fame is that they can leap from the water and seem to fly through the air, pumping their large pectoral fins to catch flying insects. They are generally accepted as being the only true flying fish. There are a number of fish that can leap out of the water, but only these freshwater hatchetfish actually use their pectoral fins to aid in their flight. Hatchets usually occupy the top portion of the tank, and because they will not swim to the bottom to eat, all of their food must float.
Otocinclus
Otocinclus are a type of armored catfishes, and are commonly called "dwarf suckers" or "otos". They are popular aquarium fish, and are often used as algae eaters. Unlike most catfish, otos like company and live in schools. Their claim to fame is that they have a special adaptation at the junction of their esophagus and stomach that allows them to breathe air!
Splash tetra
Splash tetras are unique among fishes in that they lay their eggs out of water. The male positions himself beneath overhanging vegetation growing beside the river and puts on displays for passing females. When a female sees something she likes, she positions herself next to the male and the two leap out of the water together, attaching themselves to the bottom of a leaf by their fins. The pair then lay and fertilize their eggs before falling back into the river. Once the egg mass is complete, the male positions himself in the water under the leaves, watching the egg and occasionally splashing the eggs with his tail to keep them moist, which is how they get the name splashing tetra. Once the eggs hatch, the fry fall into the water and swim for cover.
Three Spot Earth Eater
Found near the bottom of the anaconda exhibit, these cichlids are bottom feeders who suck up gravel to sift for food, and then spit it back out. Their Latin name, however, is much more sinister—Satanoperca acuticeps—which compares them to Satan! Earthmover cichlids are mouth brooders, with the fathers sheltering the fry in their mouths (just like the Banggai cardinalfish). People in the Amazon noticed this unusual behavior and immediately compared it with a local mythological demon that slurps up her own children and then vomits them out.
So now that you know these fishes' amazing stories, head over to the anaconda or flooded Amazon exhibits. , tell these fishes’ amazing stories, and most importantly, how they are harvested and where they come from.
Buy a fish, save a tree!
This information was prepared by Aquarium educator Lindsay Jordan. Look for Lindsay and other Aquarium educators near the exhibits and come armed with lots of questions. They'll be able to answer those questions and share information about many other exhibits throughout the building!
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| Cardinal tetra | Photo by Lerdsuwa via Wikimedia Commons |
The lifecycle of these fish fluctuates on population booms and busts according to the wet season/dry season in the Amazon. Locals around the town of Barcelos harvest these fish for the aquarium trade in a low-impact sustainable way. This trade provides valuable income to the region, which in turn provides incentive to the residents to preserve the rainforest that supports these fisheries.
 |
| Besides the massive anaconda in the exhibit, you'll also find fish of many different sizes in the anaconda exhibit. |
Did you know that many other Amazonian fish are also harvested in the same way? Learn more about this counter-intuitive conservation effort in this piece from Discover Magazine, which features senior aquarist Scott Dowd.
Now let's meet a couple other species currently on exhibit in the anaconda display of the Amazon Rainforest exhibits. This exhibit is now teeming with beautiful fish and an important conservation message: Responsible fisheries are an important way to help protect our blue planet.
Discus
Discus get their common name from their flat, round body shape which resembles the heavy disc thrown in track and field. Like most cichlids, they exhibit parental care, with both parents assisting with the young. The male and female adult discus both produce a secretion through their skin which the larvae live off- almost like nursing their young!
 |
| A discus, with those flashy neon tetras in the background. Photo via Instagram |
Twig catfish (Farlowella)
These fish get their name from their elongated twig-like appearance. We have several in the Anaconda exhibit that can usually be found right upfront sticking against the glass. Like otocinclus, which you'll learn about below, they are algae eaters to earn their keep.
 |
| You'll often find the twig catfish stuck to the smooth glass surface of the tank. |
Now see if you can recognize some of the fish in this video:
Marbled hatchetfish
These fish get their name because their body resembles the head of a hatchet. Their family name Gasteropelecus actually means hatchet-shaped belly. The hatchetfish’s claim to fame is that they can leap from the water and seem to fly through the air, pumping their large pectoral fins to catch flying insects. They are generally accepted as being the only true flying fish. There are a number of fish that can leap out of the water, but only these freshwater hatchetfish actually use their pectoral fins to aid in their flight. Hatchets usually occupy the top portion of the tank, and because they will not swim to the bottom to eat, all of their food must float.
Otocinclus
Otocinclus are a type of armored catfishes, and are commonly called "dwarf suckers" or "otos". They are popular aquarium fish, and are often used as algae eaters. Unlike most catfish, otos like company and live in schools. Their claim to fame is that they have a special adaptation at the junction of their esophagus and stomach that allows them to breathe air!
Splash tetra
Splash tetras are unique among fishes in that they lay their eggs out of water. The male positions himself beneath overhanging vegetation growing beside the river and puts on displays for passing females. When a female sees something she likes, she positions herself next to the male and the two leap out of the water together, attaching themselves to the bottom of a leaf by their fins. The pair then lay and fertilize their eggs before falling back into the river. Once the egg mass is complete, the male positions himself in the water under the leaves, watching the egg and occasionally splashing the eggs with his tail to keep them moist, which is how they get the name splashing tetra. Once the eggs hatch, the fry fall into the water and swim for cover.
Three Spot Earth Eater
Found near the bottom of the anaconda exhibit, these cichlids are bottom feeders who suck up gravel to sift for food, and then spit it back out. Their Latin name, however, is much more sinister—Satanoperca acuticeps—which compares them to Satan! Earthmover cichlids are mouth brooders, with the fathers sheltering the fry in their mouths (just like the Banggai cardinalfish). People in the Amazon noticed this unusual behavior and immediately compared it with a local mythological demon that slurps up her own children and then vomits them out.
So now that you know these fishes' amazing stories, head over to the anaconda or flooded Amazon exhibits. , tell these fishes’ amazing stories, and most importantly, how they are harvested and where they come from.
Buy a fish, save a tree!
This information was prepared by Aquarium educator Lindsay Jordan. Look for Lindsay and other Aquarium educators near the exhibits and come armed with lots of questions. They'll be able to answer those questions and share information about many other exhibits throughout the building!
11/25/12
A Fresh Feeling: The Flooded Amazon Exhibit
Many people think about ocean animals when they imagine exhibits at the Aquarium — like sea turtles and stingrays and seals. But there are hundreds of freshwater animals at the Aquarium, too! Explore the teeming Flooded Amazon exhibit at the Aquarium and you'll see animals of all shapes and sizes.
The large window reaches almost to the floor, giving even the smallest visitors a great view of the exhibit. All the Amazon Rainforest exhibits together hold more than 4,500 gallons of water!
The Amazon rainforest is one of the most diverse habitats in the world. The forests, rivers and lakes are home to uncountable numbers of species, including animals and plants that have yet to be discovered. The New England Aquarium’s Amazon exhibits feature hundreds of live plants and life-like fiberglass replicas of gigantic rainforest trees, vines and termite mounds.
The large window reaches almost to the floor, giving even the smallest visitors a great view of the exhibit. All the Amazon Rainforest exhibits together hold more than 4,500 gallons of water!
The Amazon rainforest is one of the most diverse habitats in the world. The forests, rivers and lakes are home to uncountable numbers of species, including animals and plants that have yet to be discovered. The New England Aquarium’s Amazon exhibits feature hundreds of live plants and life-like fiberglass replicas of gigantic rainforest trees, vines and termite mounds.
9/20/12
That fish is electric!
The electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) is a fish, and it's electric! These natives of the murky Amazon and Orinoco watersheds in South America use electricity to hunt for their next meal. Juveniles eat invertebrates, while adults feed on fish and sometimes small mammals. The fish can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) with weight up to 44 pounds (20 kilograms).
Electric eels have wide mouths with one row of teeth, but the fish makes its living on electric shocks.
They generate strong electric shocks with specialized organs made of hundreds of thousands of electroplates, which are modified nerve or muscle cells that can produce electricity. Think of a battery. Low-voltage shocks help with navigation (just look at their tiny eyes, they're virtually blind!), while the high-voltage zaps have been noted during predatory attacks. The shock stuns the prey, while the electric eel is protected by a thick layer of insulation.
A visitor's picture of the electric eel at the Aquarium, photo by Steven G. Johnson via Wikimedia Commons
The next time you walk by the electric eel tank at the Aquarium, keep your ears perked for a crackling sound. That's how you know the eel is active. Every time it discharges electricity, sensors send a signal to the speakers above the tank. The speakers convert the signal into sound. Stronger signals produce louder sounds. When the eel is not hunting, the sound is quiet and infrequent. When the eel is looking for food, the sound is much louder and more frequent. When it's quiet, the eel is probably resting.
Electric eel, photo by opencage via Wikimedia Commons
All animals—including you—give off small amounts of electricity. This electricity is produced by the movement of the heart and other muscles. Electric eels use electricity in a different way. They can
store up a charge and direct it outside of their bodies to stun prey.
Electric eels have wide mouths with one row of teeth, but the fish makes its living on electric shocks.
They generate strong electric shocks with specialized organs made of hundreds of thousands of electroplates, which are modified nerve or muscle cells that can produce electricity. Think of a battery. Low-voltage shocks help with navigation (just look at their tiny eyes, they're virtually blind!), while the high-voltage zaps have been noted during predatory attacks. The shock stuns the prey, while the electric eel is protected by a thick layer of insulation.
A visitor's picture of the electric eel at the Aquarium, photo by Steven G. Johnson via Wikimedia Commons
The next time you walk by the electric eel tank at the Aquarium, keep your ears perked for a crackling sound. That's how you know the eel is active. Every time it discharges electricity, sensors send a signal to the speakers above the tank. The speakers convert the signal into sound. Stronger signals produce louder sounds. When the eel is not hunting, the sound is quiet and infrequent. When the eel is looking for food, the sound is much louder and more frequent. When it's quiet, the eel is probably resting.
Electric eel, photo by opencage via Wikimedia Commons
All animals—including you—give off small amounts of electricity. This electricity is produced by the movement of the heart and other muscles. Electric eels use electricity in a different way. They can
store up a charge and direct it outside of their bodies to stun prey.
5/20/12
Something new in Ancient Fishes
Visitors to the Aquarium may have noticed the new Ancient Fishes tank in the Thinking Gallery. It’s a pretty impressive tank and it’s nice to have some of our old residents back after this recent upgrade.
In addition to returning friends like the freshwater rays and the gars, there are also a few new species on display. Some of the most charismatic of the newbies are the two species of elephantnose fish (also known simply as “elephantfish”). Have you seen them!?
Elephantnose Overview
Elephantnose fish are in the order Osteoglossiformes, the sub-order Notopteroidei and the family Mormyridae. There are an estimated 200 species in this family ranging in sizes from 5 cm to 1.5 m. While not all species have the characteristic trunk-like appendage, they all have the ability to generate a weak electric field to help navigate their turbid environments.
We have two separate species in the Ancient Fishes Exhibit here at the Aquarium. The vast majority of the large school are known as Peter’s elephantnose (Gnathonemus petersii) and there is one specimen of the longfinned elephantnose (Brienomyrus longianalis).
Peter’s Elephantnose (Gnathonemus petersii)
Photo: Jacque Moreau via fishbase
Habitat: Rivers of west and central Africa - prefers muddy, slow moving rivers with cover
Size: Averages 23-25 cm in length
Diet: Insects and worms
Life-span: Estimated at 6-10 years
Peter’s elephantnose have the elephant trunk-like protrusion. While their name implies it is their nose, it is actually an appendage attached to their lower jaw. This sensitive apparatus is known to be used in communication, self defense, navigation and for locating prey.
Longfinned Elephantnose (Brienomyrus longianalis)
Photo: RMCA via fishbase
Habitat: Similar to that of Peter’s elephantnose
Size: Approximately 16 cm max length
*There is far less known about this species
Unlike Gnathonemus p., the longfinned elephantnose does not contain the trunk-like appendage implied by their name. In addition, while the Peter’s elephantnose’s anal and dorsal fins are equal in length, the longfinned elephantnose gets its name from the anal fin, which is much longer than its dorsal fin.
The elephantnose fish have a brain to body size ratio similar to that of humans! Much scientific research has been dedicated to study how elephantfish use weak electric fields to sense their surroundings and possibly to communicate. Perhaps their cerebellum is so enlarged to help them interpret bio-electrical signals. [We recently posted about a new exhibit that shows how whales and dolphins communicate and navigate their surroundings! Check it out.]
While these species of elephantnose are themselves species of least concern, they share their freshwater habitats with other species in need of our protection. River habitats in Africa face many of the same issues as rivers all over the world (pollution, damming, overfishing, etc) so these fish can be used to inspire each of us to think about how our local actions impact global ecology.
In addition to returning friends like the freshwater rays and the gars, there are also a few new species on display. Some of the most charismatic of the newbies are the two species of elephantnose fish (also known simply as “elephantfish”). Have you seen them!?
Elephantnose Overview
Elephantnose fish are in the order Osteoglossiformes, the sub-order Notopteroidei and the family Mormyridae. There are an estimated 200 species in this family ranging in sizes from 5 cm to 1.5 m. While not all species have the characteristic trunk-like appendage, they all have the ability to generate a weak electric field to help navigate their turbid environments.
We have two separate species in the Ancient Fishes Exhibit here at the Aquarium. The vast majority of the large school are known as Peter’s elephantnose (Gnathonemus petersii) and there is one specimen of the longfinned elephantnose (Brienomyrus longianalis).
Peter’s Elephantnose (Gnathonemus petersii)
Photo: Jacque Moreau via fishbase
Habitat: Rivers of west and central Africa - prefers muddy, slow moving rivers with cover
Size: Averages 23-25 cm in length
Diet: Insects and worms
Life-span: Estimated at 6-10 years
Peter’s elephantnose have the elephant trunk-like protrusion. While their name implies it is their nose, it is actually an appendage attached to their lower jaw. This sensitive apparatus is known to be used in communication, self defense, navigation and for locating prey.
Longfinned Elephantnose (Brienomyrus longianalis)
Photo: RMCA via fishbase
Habitat: Similar to that of Peter’s elephantnose
Size: Approximately 16 cm max length
*There is far less known about this species
Unlike Gnathonemus p., the longfinned elephantnose does not contain the trunk-like appendage implied by their name. In addition, while the Peter’s elephantnose’s anal and dorsal fins are equal in length, the longfinned elephantnose gets its name from the anal fin, which is much longer than its dorsal fin.
Elephantnose and the Electric Eel – A Story of Convergence
What do elephantnose fish and electric eels have in common? No, not just that their names are both fairly misleading, they also both emit electrical fields to sense their environment and locate prey. This is a fascinating example of convergent evolution – two unrelated animals developing similar adaptations over time.The elephantnose fish have a brain to body size ratio similar to that of humans! Much scientific research has been dedicated to study how elephantfish use weak electric fields to sense their surroundings and possibly to communicate. Perhaps their cerebellum is so enlarged to help them interpret bio-electrical signals. [We recently posted about a new exhibit that shows how whales and dolphins communicate and navigate their surroundings! Check it out.]
While these species of elephantnose are themselves species of least concern, they share their freshwater habitats with other species in need of our protection. River habitats in Africa face many of the same issues as rivers all over the world (pollution, damming, overfishing, etc) so these fish can be used to inspire each of us to think about how our local actions impact global ecology.
1/19/12
Bark Worse than Their Bite?
If you mention the word piranha to people, images of razor-sharp teeth and ferocious feeding frenzies are pretty much the norm. These fish have been showcased in films and media as fierce meat-eating machines that will attack in a moment’s notice! And like most monstrous myths, that is quite an exaggeration from the truth.
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| Red-bellied piranah (via WikiCommons) |
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| Those are some teeth! |
Researchers in Belgium wanted to look closer at the strange noises that piranhas make when the fish were picked up or caught in a net. They suspended a hydrophone into a tank containing piranhas and recorded any sounds made and documented what the fish were doing at the time. And for the most part, the fish were silent and pretty chilled out. However, when food was introduced, it was a different, and very noisy story! [Here's a link to the abstract of this study.]
The first noise the researchers documented was a bark-like noise. When two fish swam directly at each other, it sounded like a dog park: barking everywhere! The researches interpreted this as a warning signal between the dueling fish, with the goal of trying to intimidate the opponent. But it didn’t stop there! In addition to the barking, researchers observed the fish making drum-like percussive sounds when the piranhas were fighting for food as well as a “croaking” sound when the fish would snap their jaws at each other. So when no food is around? It’s quiet. When there’s food around, piranhas are quite loud! National Geographic has posted a video where you can hear some of these noises.
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| Wonder if he speaks piranha... |
So come visit our Freshwater Gallery located on the third level of the Aquarium. Our red-bellied piranhas are usually calm and collected. But if you catch a feeding session and you just may just get a lot more bark for the bite!
-Jo
[Jo is part of the Aquarium's Visitor Education team. She just returned to Boston after spending several weeks in South Africa working with African penguin rescue efforts. Read her posts about the experience. She also traveled to Antarctica in 2013 and took some amazing pictures.]
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