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Kelp Forest

Be mesmerized by the hypnotic kelp forest, where almost 420,000 litres of water ebb and flow as a wave maker simulates the surge conditions of British Columbia’s shoreline.

What Will You Discover?

Growing tall from the ocean floor, kelp forests are found along the cold and clear Pacific coast. They provide food and shelter for a wide variety of ocean dwellers, which can be spotted in this beautiful two-story exhibit.

White-spotted Rose Anemone White-spotted Rose Anemone

White-spotted Rose Anemone

The white spotted rose anemone is often found on rocks and pilings, favoring exposed habitats with fast moving water. Anemones use stinging cells in their tentacles, called nematocysts, to capture prey which will then be engulfed by the central mouth.

Size

Up to 6 inches

Diet

Crustaceans, mollusks, fish

Range

North Atlantic Ocean, possibly northeast Pacific Ocean but may be distinct species

Did You Know?

A growing number of anemone larvae in this region are chimeric. This is where two embryos have fused to form one individual larvae. Scientists think that these fused offspring might be better able to defend themselves or grow faster. The extra genes may help them cope with changing environments.

Purple Sea Urchin Purple Sea Urchin

Purple Sea Urchin

Purple sea urchins can sometimes be found in large groups, especially around the bases of giant kelp. They eat through the stems of the kelp, which can be devastating to both the forest and the species that rely it as a home.

Diet

Algae

Size

Up to 4 inches

Range

Eastern Pacific Ocean

Did You Know?

Located on the underside of their body, or test, an urchin's mouth consists of a strong jaw apparatus called Aristotle's lantern, consisting of five bony teeth that are instrumental in scraping algae off the substrate.

Bat Star Bat Star

Bat Star

Typically found on rocks, sand bottoms, and among surf grass, bat stars come in a wide variety of colors, either mottled or solid. They can also be found with five to nine arms, with the center disk of the animal being much wider than the stubby arms are in length.

Size

Up to 8 inches

Range

Eastern Pacific

Diet

Scavenger, eats a variety or either slow moving or dead plants and animals

Did You Know?

Bat stars have eyespots at the end of each arm that can detect light and use sensors on its tube feet to sense prey.

Common Rock Barnacle Common Rock Barnacle

Common Rock Barnacle

Common rock barnacles live in the intertidal zone and, therefore, need to be able to survive long periods outside of the water. The shell can be closed tightly to prevent it from drying out. When the tide is up, barnacles filter feed plankton and other particles from the water by extending their modified legs into the water column like a net.

Diet

Plankton, detritus

Size

Up to .6 inches in diameter

Range

Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Did You Know?

Barnacles are actually crustaceans, closely related to crabs and shrimp. After a short phase spent as planktonic larvae, barnacles settle, attach to a hard substrate, and never move again.

Swell Shark Swell Shark

Swell Shark

This sluggish, nocturnal shark prefers the rocky, algae-spotted shallows of the eastern Pacific Ocean, where it ambushes prey and grows to a maximum size of 43 inches long.

Conservation Status

Least concern

Diet

Fish, crustaceans

Range

Eastern Pacific Ocean

Did You Know?

This shark is not aggressive and, when threatened, can curve its body into a U-shape and gulp water into its stomach, swelling to almost twice its size and becoming difficult to bite.

Rockfish Rockfish

Rockfish

Rockfish (Sebastes) are deep-dwelling fish found in the Pacific Ocean. Their slow growth and long life make them vulnerable to overfishing, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.

Conservation Status

Threatened

Range

Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Diet

Plankton, small crustaceans, fish

Size

8 to 40 inches (20.32 to 0. 101.6 cm)

Habitat

Range from rocky reefs to deep seafloor

Did You Know?

Rockfish are among the longest-living fish, with some species living for more than 100 years.

Pacific Halibut Pacific Halibut

Pacific Halibut

Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) are known for their distinct diamond-shaped bodies and their ability to camouflage with the ocean floor. Their adaptability and longevity make them a resilient species.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Range

Native to the North Pacific

Size

Over 8 feet (over 2.44 meters)

Diet

From zooplankton and small crustaceans to eventually including fish

Did You Know?

Pacific halibut are one of the largest flatfish—they can weigh up to about 500 pounds.

Habitat

Migrate seasonally from shallow summer feeding grounds to deeper winter spawning grounds

Brown Rockfish Brown Rockfish

Brown Rockfish

Brown rockfish (Sebastes auriculatus) are hardy, bottom-dwelling fish. They are easily recognized by their brown coloring, which helps them blend into rocky reefs and kelp forests.

Range

Northeastern Pacific Ocean

Size

Up to 22 inches (Up to 56 cm) long

Habitat

Shallow subtidal areas and in bays

Diet

Small fish, shrimp, and other small invertebrates

Did You Know?

The brown rockfish has spines that are venomous.

Lingcod Lingcod

Lingcod

Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) is a predatory fish known for its impressive size and voracious appetite. Lingcod have distinctive mottled coloring and sharp teeth.

Habitat

Rocky reefs

Size

60 inches (1.5 meters)

Diet

Invertebrates and bottom dwelling fish

Range

Native to the North American west coast from Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico

Did You Know?

They have mottled skin patterns that help them blend in with their surroundings, making it easier for them to ambush their prey.

What's Inside

Exhibits Nearby

What's Inside

Exhibits Nearby

Canadian Waters

Embark on a coast-to-coast journey through freshwater wilds, local fisheries, and kelp forests, meeting more than 80 aquatic species, like sturgeon and the giant Pacific octopus, along the way!

Meet the Species
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Swirling Pinstripe backdrop

Woah! The Aquarium sounds like alotl fun! But what are you doing all the way down here with the axolotls – some of the most secretive salamanders in the world?!

Did you know out of more than 800 salamander species that exist, only about 22 can be found in Canada?