Photos

Who says Halloween is just for kids? Our harbor seal seems pretty intrigued by the pictured pumpkin, but don’t let this photo fool you. The gourd isn’t a mere toy for our mighty mammal: the fleshy fruit serves as an enrichment tool, one of many used to exercise the muscles and minds of our animals. Join us this weekend for our annual Halloween extravaganza: Ascarium.

Look closely, and you’ll see that the Peters' elephantnose fish possesses an almost snout-like body part, which accounts for its name. The protrusion is actually an extension of the creature's mouth, used in a variety of situations, including self-defense. Have you spotted ours at Explore the Shore?

For more images by our staff photographer, visit www.julielarsenmaher.com.

On Saturday, October 6, we’re hosting the WCS Run for the Wild on Coney Island. This year’s 5k fun-run benefits walruses—marine mammals confronting challenges that range from climate change to habitat loss. If you can’t join us, support runners or donate here: http://bit.ly/Oe4cr4.

Why do four-eyed fish have double vision? To simultaneously see above and below the surface of the water, where they prefer to dwell. In actuality, their name is a bit of a misnomer: these Latin American creatures only possess two eyes, but each one is divided into separate parts to allow hyper-effective eyesight.