Seattle Aquarium

Left: Ripples on the water surface distorts this view of an orange and red sea anemone at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Below: This bivalve displays blue stripes glowing under ultraviolet light, next to some white coral, at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Left: The Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) is a common sight on nearly every Indo-Pacific ocean reef. Although it looks like a shrimp, it is not a true shrimp. Also known as a Coral Banded Shrimp, Banded Boxer Shrimp, Banded Prawn, Barber-Pole Shrimp, or Cleaner Shrimp, it often feeds on the parasites that cooperative fish or eels allow it to pick off their bodies. Stenopus hispidus is a shrimp-like decapod crustacean, belonging to the infraorder Stenopodidea. It is a few centimetres long and has red bands around its body, and long, white antennae. The body is covered with short defensive spines. Like other decapods they can use the tail to escape backwards rapidly (the caridoid escape reaction). Stenopus hispidus is a common aquarium pet, because it removes dead tissue, algae and parasites from the tank and from larger fish.

Below: A public fountain makes a splash on Pier 59 at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Click here for the official Seattle Aquarium web site, including visiting hours and tips.

Left: Starfish come in red, orange, purple and magenta colors at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington. Starfish or sea stars are any echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The "star fish" usually hunt for shelled animals such as oysters and clams. They have two stomachs, one used for digestion, and the other stomach can be extended outward to engulf and digest prey much larger than its mouth. Most starfish have 5 arms, which can be regenerated if lost.

Below: The Giant Pacific Octopus (Octopus dofleini) can be found along the Pacific coast from Alaska to southern California. This closeup view of octopus leg suckers is at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Left: This bivalve displays blue stripes glowing under ultraviolet light, next to some coral, at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Below: The Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris), or False Percula Clownfish, is found in Pacific coral reefs, and is a popular aquarium fish, even more so after it rose to stardom in "Finding Nemo", the 2003 Academy Award-winning computer-animated film. Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Left: A sea fan coral dries in an interlocking pattern at the Seattle Aquarium.

Below: The Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) reflects on the surface water of its tank at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Left: The Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans), also known as the Turkey Fish or Dragon Fish, is found in Pacific coral reefs. The scorpionfish are a family (Scorpaenidae) of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. Lionfish have venomous spines that are deadly to their prey, but usually not to humans. A pricked human can still experience severe pain, headaches and vomiting. The best treatment is soaking the afflicted area in hot water. Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Below: Pink sea anemone and purple sea urchins at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Left: The Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) is venomous. Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Below right: The Pinecone fish (Monocentrus japonicus) has strong platelike scales called scutes which are fortified with prominent ridges to protect it from predators. The Pinecone fish is yellow to orange, with the scales dramatically outlined in black. Pinecone fishes are small and unusual beryciform marine fish of the family Monocentridae, distributed in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Left: Green Sea Anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Below: The Crescent Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) or Moon Wrasse is a bright blue and green fish with pink and yellow features, found in the Pacific Coral Reefs. Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Below: The Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loriculus) is a bright orange-red fish with black stripes found in the Pacific coral reefs. Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Left: A Sea Anemone waves purple tendrils to gather food particles at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.

Below: Pink, orange and red starfish entangle at the Seattle Aquarium. [Published in the Made in Washington Stores Catalog, Holiday 2006 (page 14), and Spring/Summer 2007.]

Left: This red striped tropical fish eats coral. Seattle Aquarium.

Below: An orange-striped sea anemone drapes its pink tendrils.

Left: Orange-striped sea anemone with white tendrils.

Below: Orange and purple starfish intertwine themselves at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington. Starfish or sea stars are any echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The "star fish" usually hunt for shelled animals such as oysters and clams. They have two stomachs, one used for digestion, and the other stomach can be extended outward to engulf and digest prey much larger than its mouth. Most starfish have 5 arms, which can be regenerated if lost.

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