Big Changes Are Coming – Stay Connected with a Mote Membership! Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) is anticipated to open Summer 2025! As we prepare for this exciting transition, we want to ...

Fun Facts Florida manatees are native to the United States, as seen in both the fossil records and in Native American sites. Depending on the time of year they can be frequently found in Florida, ...

Details: Hawksbill sea turtles have long, flat limbs perfect for gliding through the water with ease. Different from most other turtle species, hawksbill sea turtles have a pointed, sharp “beak”.

Bonnethead sharks are the smallest member of the hammerhead shark family. Bonnethead sharks live in the warm coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and off the Pacific ...

Details: These sea jellies can range from pink and orange to white and yellow. Their bell has darker radial lines and 24 long, thin tentacles with stinging cells (nematocysts) to help immobilize prey.

Details: This sea cucumber has its mouth in front and tube feet at the back that help it move through the sandy seafloor. It feeds on detritus and organic material in the sand, recycling nutrients and ...

Details: Like other urchins, the red sea urchin has a dome-shaped shell covered in spines. Its also covered with tube feet that it uses to move and bring food to its mouth, at the bottom of the urchin ...

Details: Caribbean spiny sea stars are brown-red with small spines giving them a rough texture. They have five arms and a mouth on their underside. In some cases, a whole new sea star can develop from ...

As adults, dusky squirrelfish reach a max length of 7 inches (18 centimeters). Dusky squirrelfish are found in coastal rocky and reef communities in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and western ...

Hermit crabs are always looking for a larger shell to inhabit. Found in grass flats, sandy and rocky bottom habitats, flat claw hermit crabs are common in the Gulf of Mexico. Hermit crabs rely on ...

These fish migrate offshore to spawn in large groups before returning to more shallow, coastal environments. Striped mullet sift through the top layer of sand for debris, algae and small crustaceans.

Range & Habitat: The lesser devil ray is a pelagic species that can be found swimming near the surface of the water over the continental shelf, and are sometimes seen closer to shore in bays. They are ...