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Savage Seas

Explore life on the high seas — and below the surface! — and have a salty good time discovering pirate life, sea monsters, shipwrecks, and Mother Nature's power to control the fate of those who brave her waters!

Brave the Watery Depths

Dip into this hidden world and use a 16th century map to navigate around sea monsters past and present, quiz yourself on the most famous creatures, and snap a selfie with our resident sea monster!

Blackbar Soldierfish Blackbar Soldierfish

Blackbar Soldierfish

During the day, blackbar soldierfish are often found in caves and under rock ledges of the reef, but at night, these fish leave their homes to feed.

Habitat

Coral reefs

Size

Up to 10 inches

Diet

Zooplankton, crustaceans

Range

Western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Did You Know?

Blackbar soldierfish can occasionally be found swimming upside down!

Panther Chameleon Panther Chameleon

Panther Chameleon

Panther chameleons are arboreal creatures, spending most of their time in trees and shrubs, utilizing specialized feet and sharp claws on each toe to hold on tightly to narrow branches.

Diet

Insects

Habitat

Forests

Range

Madagascar

Size

Up to 20 inches

Did You Know?

Panther chameleons have very long tongues, sometimes longer than their body length!

French Angelfish French Angelfish

French Angelfish

French angelfish adults are typically found in pairs; it is even thought that once bonded, they mate for life. Working together, the pair will aggressively defend their territory from other French angelfish.

Habitat

Coral reefs

Size

Up to 16 inches

Diet

Sponge, algae, corals

Range

Western Atlantic Ocean, Carribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico

Did You Know?

Young French angelfish form symbiotic relationships with bigger fish. They remove parasites from other fish species and, in return, receive protection.

Regal Tang Regal Tang

Regal Tang

The regal tang is a striking species often seen utilizing their hydrodynamic oval shape and compressed body to slice through water flows in areas of strong current.

Habitat

Coral reefs

Size

Up to 12 inches

Range

Indo-Pacific region

Diet

Algae and zooplankton

Did You Know?

All tangs have a razor-sharp caudal spine at the base of their caudal fin, or tail. This spine is as thin and sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, which is why they are sometimes called surgeonfish.

Naso Tang Naso Tang

Naso Tang

Juvenile naso tang tend to prefer the shallow reef environment, while larger adults often cruise the deeper reef slope, foraging for zooplankton in the strong currents.

Habitat

Coral reefs

Size

Up to 18 inches

Diet

Algae and zooplankton

Range

Western Pacific and east Indian Oceans

Did You Know?

This fish is sometimes called the lipstick tang due to their striking orange lips!

Blue Tang Blue Tang

Blue Tang

The beautiful blue tang may be found alone, protecting and tending a small reef territory, or in peaceful groups, foraging the reef for algae.

Habitat

Coral reefs

Diet

Algae, plankton

Size

Up to 15 inches

Range

Western Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea

Did You Know?

Juvenile blue tang are actually yellow, slowly changing to blue as they grow. When viewed under ultraviolet light, they actually appear neon green due to a process called biofluorescence, which may be used to signal members of their own species.

What's Inside

Exhibits Nearby

What's Inside

Exhibits Nearby

Rio Amazon

Step into one of the oldest living ecosystems on the planet to discover arapaima, piranhas, caimans, and more!

Meet the Species
  • Rio Amazon

    Rio Amazon

    Step into one of the oldest living ecosystems on the planet to discover arapaima, piranhas, caimans, and more!

    Meet the Species
  • Ocean Wonders

    Ocean Wonders

    Be mesmerized by fish, camouflaged creatures, rare orange lobsters, and much more!

    Meet the Species
  • Tropical Rainforest

    Tropical Rainforest

    Come face-to-face with amphibians like axolotl, iguanas, and other reptiles of the rainforest!

    Meet the Species
  • Friendship Flats

    Friendship Flats

    Make a new friend and reach out to a ray as they glide through this tropical lagoon.

    Meet the Species
  • Planet Jellies

    Planet Jellies

    Immerse yourself among hundreds of otherworldly jellies and experience their underwater planet like never before.

    Meet the Species
  • Penguin Playhouse

    Penguin Playhouse

    Embrace your silly side and discover the playful personalities of endangered African penguins in this unique habitat.

    Meet the Species
  • Savage Seas

    Savage Seas

    Tales of adventure, myth, and ruin await! Find out what it takes to survive on the open waters amidst pirates, sea monsters, Mother Nature, and more!

    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 the spotted salamander is the state amphibian of South Carolina? It earned the title in 1999 thanks to a campaign led by a class of Spartanburg third graders.