Featured Creatures

COTS can have up to twenty-one arms! These arms are flexible and can curl allowing them to move quickly over rocks and reefs. Learn more about their gnarly defenses.

The Ediacaran Period (635 million years ago) was a precursor to the Cambrian Period 538.8 million years ago and it did have animal life. What these animals looked like is becoming clearer as more fossils from that time period are unearthed.

For some people, hearing the word leech sends shudders through their bodies. That’s because of the leech’s reputation as blood suckers. But not all leeches feed that way. And there’s a lot more to them than their fearsome reputation

Boring sponges are anything but. These sponges drill into strong calcium carbonate structures and their process is incredible.

These beautiful, lightweight creatures (less than half a gram!) fly long distances over several generations. It’s an unbelievable migratory phenomenon.

Unlike other jellies that trail their tentacles to capture prey as it passes by, Solmissus is an active hunter, swimming with its tentacles held out in front. This way it can sneak up on its prey.

Leatherback sea turtles are the largest of the sea turtles and have been around since the time of dinosaurs.

Their spring-loaded powerful claws can spear prey at an accelerated rate of 60 miles an hour. 50 times faster than the blink of an eye. Think, Superman!

The sunflower star is one of approximately 2000 sea star species worldwide. It’s the largest sea star with the most arms. Those arms have given it the common name: sunflower

A marine model for stem cell research, evolution of the immune system and nerve degeneration.