Page 24 - Gateways_Summer_2022_Neat

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West Coast Wonders
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Travel to the rocky reefs and kelp forests of the Pacific coast
of North America. The largest tank in the building contains
some of the creatures that lurk there, including spotted
leopard sharks. Due to their distinctive markings—which
can be used to tell individuals apart—these docile sharks
are described as the “beauties” of the shark world.
California moray eels are not snakes, but fish without
fins and scales. They have a secret weapon: two sets of jaws.
After it grabs its prey, a second set of jaws in the throat
springs forward and pulls the prey down its throat.
The bright orange fish are Garibaldi, the State Fish
of California.
Spiny lobsters are a new addition to the exhibit.
They hide themselves well, but can sometimes be spotted
along the rightmost edge of the exhibit.
To learn more, view our “Bringing the Zoo to You”
video, “Pacific Coast Fish,” on Brookfield Zoo's
YouTube channel.

Top to bottom: Spotted leopard shark,
California moray eel, Garibaldi, bat star,
strawberry anemones

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Pot-Bellied Seahorses
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and Echinoderms
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This exhibit houses one of the largest seahorse species—the pot-bellied
seahorse, which can grow up to 14 inches long. Beautiful, pinkish-red
strawberry anemones decorate the tank. Like other anemone species,
they use stinging tentacles to grab any unlucky, tiny animal that comes by.
The five-armed animals, some climbing across the glass with their tube
feet, are bat stars. Their mouth is located in the center of their body.
Incredibly, the bat star has two stomachs. One of them is extruded outside
of its mouth and envelopes prey in digestive enzymes. The stomach is then
pulled back into the body to complete digestion. Bat stars, sea cucumbers,
and sea urchins are echinoderms—marine animals with hard, spiny skin.
To learn more, view our “Bringing the Zoo to You” video,
“Echinoderms,” on Brookfield Zoo's YouTube channel.
24 GATEWAYS | LIVING COAST