Aquarium of the Pacific's Seahorses and Seadragons

The Aquarium of the Pacific has some new critters: seahorses and seadragons! I was lucky to get an invitation to tonight's preview before the opening to the public later this week. What a treat to visit afterhours when it is not so crowded. I found myself mesmerized by these amazing creatures!

This is a leafy seadragon, camouflaged by leaf-like appendages. It's definitely my favorite of the group! These guys are probably 10-12" long. We also saw miniature seahorses maybe 1" long. Other members of this classification are pipefish and razorfish, with various colors and sizes. Attendees learned that although the males in this group are responsible for incubating eggs and giving birth, not all of species carry the eggs in a pouch. Yes, seahorses do, but seadragons carry the eggs on their tails!

And, if you haven't yet seen the sea jellies, go! I give you official permission to log off this post and head down to Long Beach. If you have been, I think you'll be surprised by the number and variety of jellies now on display.

This is a white-spotted jelly, and there are at least nine other specimens, each as amazing as the next. Jellies also range in size from tiny to dinner-plate size; some are even bioluminescent, meaning they produce light!

Click here for the Aquarium's website.