5 Facts about Butterfly Pavilion’s Aquatic Exhibit, Water’s Edge

Butterfly Pavilion isn’t just home to butterflies; it’s also full of amazing aquatic invertebrates! There is a whole underwater world to explore right here at Butterfly Pavilion. So, let’s dive in! Here are five fun facts you probably didn’t know about our aquatic residents.

1. Mantis Shrimp can’t punch through our tanks!
If you’ve ever seen a mantis shrimp, you know they look small but mighty and that’s because they are. These powerful crustaceans are famous for their lightning-fast strikes. It’s easy to see how rumors started that a peacock mantis shrimp could break through aquarium glass. But don’t worry, our mantis shrimp isn’t breaking out anytime soon. At Butterfly Pavilion, they live in special acrylic tanks, which is actually a type of plastic, that can flex under impact instead of regular glass that can microfracture and eventually shatter. That means even the toughest shrimp punches are safely absorbed and if the tank is damaged, we have enough time to repair the tank before any serious damage is done. Mantis shrimps’ claws come in two forms, “smashers,” who deliver those powerful clublike hits, and “spearers,” who use sharp, spiny limbs to jab at prey with precision. A peacock mantis shrimp is said to have a punch as strong as a .22 caliber bullet! This just goes to show the technology behind their tanks that lets us witness some of nature’s most fascinating animals.

2. Coral are not plants or rocks… They’re animals!
One thing that our guests often get confused about is mistaking our corals for colorful underwater plants or even rocks. However, they’re actually invertebrates, playing one of the most important roles in our oceans! There are different kinds of corals, hard or stony corals, and soft corals. Each coral is called a colony, and each coral colony is made up of hundreds of tiny polyps. Hard corals are made of tiny polyps that build hard skeletons of calcium carbonate to form corals such as staghorn and brain corals. Whereas soft corals lack these rigid skeletons and are more flexible with variants being known as sea fans, sea whips and leather corals. Combined, these hard and soft coral colonies form the reefs we know and love, which support nearly 25% of all marine life on Earth. Corals also have an incredible partnership with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae (zoh-uh-zan-thel-ee). These algae live inside coral tissue and provide food through photosynthesis, while the coral offers protection and nutrients in return resulting in a mutualistic relationship. This relationship not only fuels coral growth but also gives reefs their brilliant colors.  

3. Horseshoe crabs aren’t stingrays, arachnids or crabs… So, what are they?
Horseshoe crabs are ancient animals that have existed for more than 450 million years, long before dinosaurs ever roamed the Earth. Though many people mistake them for stingrays, arachnids, or true crabs, horseshoe crabs are arachnids, making them distant cousins of spiders and scorpions. Their long, pointed tail, called a telson,isn’t for stinging. Instead, it’s a handy tool they use to flip themselves over if they get stuck upside down and steer themselves through the water. Their blue blood plays an essential role in modern medicine. It’s used to test vaccines and medical equipment for bacterial contamination, helping to keep people safe worldwide! 

4. Our animals don’t like tapping or flash photography
While our aquatic animals are full of surprises, they don’t like surprise lights and vibrations. Tapping on the glass or using flash photography might seem harmless, but to our animals, it can feel like an earthquake or a flashing spotlight. Over time, these vibrations and bursts of light can stress them out, affecting their natural behavior. At Butterfly Pavilion, we like to think of our aquariums as underwater spas calm, quiet, and relaxing. So, when you visit, we ask that you enjoy the view without tapping or using flash. Your favorite aquatic friends will thank you for it. 

5. Touch tank tips: Use your knuckle, not your finger!
If you’ve ever stopped by our Water’s Edge touch tank, you know it’s a popular hands-on experience for guests of all ages. We encourage you to touch the animals gently using your knuckle like a pirate hook, not your fingertips. This is because using your fingertips can expose the animals to the oils on your skin. Additionally, using your knuckle applies less pressure on the animals and decreases the risk of scratching our animals. 

Written by: Carter Chen