Lani
04-22-2004, 05:52 PM
1. EXHIBIT NEWS: A PAIR OF SKATES, TORPEDO RAYS, SAND CRABS AND A SWIMMING NUDIBRANCH You'll find two different types of skates in our "Sharks: Myth and Mystery" touch pool. The ones with the most prominent "eyespots" on the wings are California skates (Raja inornata). The eyespots on the big skate (Raja binoculata) tend to fade to light brown or tan as the animal grows. Both are available for gentle touching.
Once again we have a Pacific electric ray (Torpedo californica) in the Monterey Bay Habitats exhibit. The ones in "Sharks: Myth and Mystery" are easier to find, in the Pacific Northwest gallery.
We've added sand crabs (Emerita analoga) to the Sand Dollar exhibit in our Sandy Seafloor gallery. These crabs are intertidal animals, found on sandy beaches. They reach their feeding appendages out of the sand to catch minute particles as waves retreat down the beach. You may feel them burrowing under your feet when you walk on the beach, or see the discarded exoskeletons they leave behind when they molt.
And there?s a new nudibranch in the Kelp Lab. It?s known as the pink nudibranch (Tritonia diomedea), lives on sandy bottoms as much as 2,500 feet deep, and feeds on sea pens. It?s a favorite snack of the sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides). When touched by a sunflower star, the nudibranch swims away!
Visit What?s New on our web site to learn about other new arrivals in our exhibits. http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_whatsnew.asp
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2. ON THE WEB: A SEA OF SHARKS If you haven't explored our new online shark activities, here?s one in particular you'll want to check out. Artist Ray Troll created some memorable pictures of living and extinct shark species for his "Sharkabet" book. You can print out and color one of the most fascinating: "A Sea of Sharks." The illustration depicts a snorkeler swimming with dozens of species.
Most scientists think sharks evolved about 420 million years ago --about 200 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared. The earliest known sharks were equipped much like modern sharks, with sharp, pointed teeth and cartilaginous skeletons. These early sharks eventually became extinct, replaced by other species. Scientists estimate that 2,000 to 3,000 different species of prehistoric sharks once roamed ancient seas. They aren't all included in the printable illustration, but you'll find quite a few of them.
Find "A Sea of Sharks" and other activities online: http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/sharks.asp
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3. PROMOTIONS & EVENTS: COOKING FOR SOLUTIONS, JAZZ AT THE AQUARIUM
Cooking for Solutions, May 21-22, Friday-Saturday You can still make reservations to join Jacques Pepin, Alice Waters and 13 other renowned chefs for two days of events celebrating sustainable seafood, gourmet organic cuisine and sustainable/organic wines. http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_events/vi_events_cooking.asp
Jazz at the Aquarium, June 19, Saturday Grammy Award-winning singer Diane Schuur will headline at our annual "Jazz at the Aquarium" event, along with a half-dozen other jazz performers who will entertain in our exhibit galleries. http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_events/vi_events_jazz.asp
Our online calendar has details and more events. http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_calendar.asp
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4. CONSERVATION IN ACTION: OCEAN POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, SHARK FINNING The second of two commissions evaluating U.S. policy toward the oceans released its preliminary findings this week. The United States Commission on Ocean Policy, like the independent Pew Oceans Commission, recommends comprehensive changes in the way the United States manages its ocean resources. Take a look at its recommendations, and consider offering comments so they'll be considered in the final report. More information: http://www.oceancommission.gov http://www.pewoceans.org
The practice of killing sharks just for their fins--used to make the Asian delicacy, shark-fin soup--contributes to the growing fishing pressure that has put many shark species in jeopardy worldwide. Fortunately, governments are stepping forward to ban shark finning, and to promote sustainable fishing practices for sharks and rays.
The conservation organization Wild Aid is leading a global petition campaign asking the United Nations to support a ban on shark finning in international waters. You can learn more about the Shark Conservation Campaign, and sign the petition to the U.N. at: http://www.wildaid.org/programs/shark.htm
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5. FREE OFFERS: GIFT STORE/PORTOLA DISCOUNT, ZEBRA SHARK This month's Sea Notes specials include an additional 20% off all sale items in the gift & bookstores, a special offer at our Portola Cafe and free wallpaper of a zebra shark, one of the animals you'll find in "Sharks: Myth and Mystery." http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_seanotes/vi_seanotes_specials.asp
Once again we have a Pacific electric ray (Torpedo californica) in the Monterey Bay Habitats exhibit. The ones in "Sharks: Myth and Mystery" are easier to find, in the Pacific Northwest gallery.
We've added sand crabs (Emerita analoga) to the Sand Dollar exhibit in our Sandy Seafloor gallery. These crabs are intertidal animals, found on sandy beaches. They reach their feeding appendages out of the sand to catch minute particles as waves retreat down the beach. You may feel them burrowing under your feet when you walk on the beach, or see the discarded exoskeletons they leave behind when they molt.
And there?s a new nudibranch in the Kelp Lab. It?s known as the pink nudibranch (Tritonia diomedea), lives on sandy bottoms as much as 2,500 feet deep, and feeds on sea pens. It?s a favorite snack of the sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides). When touched by a sunflower star, the nudibranch swims away!
Visit What?s New on our web site to learn about other new arrivals in our exhibits. http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_whatsnew.asp
#######################
2. ON THE WEB: A SEA OF SHARKS If you haven't explored our new online shark activities, here?s one in particular you'll want to check out. Artist Ray Troll created some memorable pictures of living and extinct shark species for his "Sharkabet" book. You can print out and color one of the most fascinating: "A Sea of Sharks." The illustration depicts a snorkeler swimming with dozens of species.
Most scientists think sharks evolved about 420 million years ago --about 200 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared. The earliest known sharks were equipped much like modern sharks, with sharp, pointed teeth and cartilaginous skeletons. These early sharks eventually became extinct, replaced by other species. Scientists estimate that 2,000 to 3,000 different species of prehistoric sharks once roamed ancient seas. They aren't all included in the printable illustration, but you'll find quite a few of them.
Find "A Sea of Sharks" and other activities online: http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/sharks.asp
#######################
3. PROMOTIONS & EVENTS: COOKING FOR SOLUTIONS, JAZZ AT THE AQUARIUM
Cooking for Solutions, May 21-22, Friday-Saturday You can still make reservations to join Jacques Pepin, Alice Waters and 13 other renowned chefs for two days of events celebrating sustainable seafood, gourmet organic cuisine and sustainable/organic wines. http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_events/vi_events_cooking.asp
Jazz at the Aquarium, June 19, Saturday Grammy Award-winning singer Diane Schuur will headline at our annual "Jazz at the Aquarium" event, along with a half-dozen other jazz performers who will entertain in our exhibit galleries. http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_events/vi_events_jazz.asp
Our online calendar has details and more events. http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_calendar.asp
#######################
4. CONSERVATION IN ACTION: OCEAN POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, SHARK FINNING The second of two commissions evaluating U.S. policy toward the oceans released its preliminary findings this week. The United States Commission on Ocean Policy, like the independent Pew Oceans Commission, recommends comprehensive changes in the way the United States manages its ocean resources. Take a look at its recommendations, and consider offering comments so they'll be considered in the final report. More information: http://www.oceancommission.gov http://www.pewoceans.org
The practice of killing sharks just for their fins--used to make the Asian delicacy, shark-fin soup--contributes to the growing fishing pressure that has put many shark species in jeopardy worldwide. Fortunately, governments are stepping forward to ban shark finning, and to promote sustainable fishing practices for sharks and rays.
The conservation organization Wild Aid is leading a global petition campaign asking the United Nations to support a ban on shark finning in international waters. You can learn more about the Shark Conservation Campaign, and sign the petition to the U.N. at: http://www.wildaid.org/programs/shark.htm
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5. FREE OFFERS: GIFT STORE/PORTOLA DISCOUNT, ZEBRA SHARK This month's Sea Notes specials include an additional 20% off all sale items in the gift & bookstores, a special offer at our Portola Cafe and free wallpaper of a zebra shark, one of the animals you'll find in "Sharks: Myth and Mystery." http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/vi_seanotes/vi_seanotes_specials.asp