The Florida Aquarium, a mere 19 miles from Newsome, is about much more than just fish. At the beginning of July came a brand-new exhibit entitled MORPH’D, crafted to showcase unique animals and their adaptations. While some special fish species are included in this new addition, other creatures such as poison dart frogs and axolotls can be viewed in the new exhibit.
This transformation of the aquarium’s versatile and ever-changing Mosaic Special Exhibit Hall is the largest new addition since the opening of the aquarium in 1995 and serves as the first of three phases of the $40 million expansion plan in place to be completed by the end of 2025.
The Florida Aquarium is thinking bigger with the construction of the new exhibit. High-tech educational touch screens at each of the 18 unique habitats in the MORPH’D exhibit allow visitors to learn all about the lives and adaptations of each curious creature showcased.
Guests can also be involved with the new exhibit by viewing one of the twice-daily feedings of the Archerfish, one of the unique animals on display. During feeding time, the archerfish will shoot a high-speed jet of water at the food dangling over its tank to obtain its meal. This is an example of just one of the many amazing things that can be seen at the new MORPH’D exhibit.
The Florida Aquarium has also brought axolotls into the MORPH’D exhibit, popular little amphibious creatures hailing from Mexico. Guests can view their webbed feet and feathery gills, adaptations that allow them to lead an aquatic life instead of fully metamorphosing to become land-dwellers like frogs.
One can see that the local aquarium has taken an educational approach with the construction of this new exhibit. By drawing attention to the special adaptations of unique animals, the MORPH’D exhibit teaches patrons more about how special all creatures can be and how important each can be to its ecosystem. This also encourages the conservation of animals seen inside and outside of the aquarium, which is a message central to the Florida Aquarium’s mission.
The second floor of the Florida Aquarium has experienced a change that will make it forever better. New and exciting creatures now take residence and will become an integral part of the excitement and education of the aquarium.
In addition to the MORPH’D exhibit taking over the Mosaic Special Exhibit Hall, the Florida Aquarium has even more in store for its $40 million expansion. Still to come are the Rugged Coast and Rocky Shore outdoor habitats. The Rugged Coast addition will showcase an extraordinary two-level, 20-foot tall puffin habitat complete with a kelp forest tank that will serve as a home to the diving puffins as well as familiar fish such as Atlantic salmon. The Rocky Shore addition will serve as an expansion to the existing outdoor penguin habitat but will also bring wondrous California sea lions right here to Florida.
This is a time full of excitement and innovation at the Florida Aquarium, with a truly unique new exhibit in place and two more coming soon.