New Sea Grass Aquarium at Sharks/The Coral Reef

Our newest aquarium exhibit, at Sharks/The Coral Reef has recently been opened with some amazing creatures that inhabit sea grass environments. The aquarium features several unique species of fish and invertebrates.

Sea grass communities are home to small, delicate species and often serve as a haven for juvenile fish before they make the journey into the open sea. The sea grass itself can also be food to many larger species of marine animals.

Banggai Cardinalfish inhabit sea grass beds in Indonesia.

Our sea grass exhibit features Banggai Cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni, a beautiful black and white species that can only be found in a remote part of Indonesia. You'll see them hovering still in the water column in a small school. Also, don't miss the Shrimpfish, Aeoliscus strigatus. You may need to look hard for these, they don't much look like a fish at all at first glance. Shrimpfish avoid predators by camouflaging themselves around the tall sea grass. They actually swim in a vertical position with the head down.

Even though it doesn't look the part, this is a fish.

Don't miss some of the fascinating invertebrates (animals without a backbone) featured in the exhibit, such as shrimp, sea cucumbers, and hermit crabs. One of the really cool shrimp is the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis, which gets the skunk portion of its name from the white stripe on its back. They are called cleaner shrimp because of the service they provide to other animals.

Cleaner shrimp can occupy many different habitats and fish will recognize that they are not food and allow the shrimp to pick parasites and dead skin off the fish. The fish will even let the shrimp clean the fish's mouth out. This not only helps the fish remain clean and healthy, but also provides the shrimp with a snack. You may even be lucky enough to see this behavior in our exhibit.

Like a fish car wash, the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp runs a

So, next time you stop by the aquarium at SeaWorld San Antonio, don't miss out on the fascinating creatures that call the sea grass beds home.