Nearshore

Nearshore portrays life at the shoreline, where sand dunes and mangroves meet shallow saltwater habitats.

Barrier islands lining the Texas coast allow river and Gulf water to mingle, creating a unique marine habitat where the majority of marine life spends at least part of its life. In these environments, many fish are born and grow before moving into the open ocean, while shorebirds set up a permanent base to forage for crustaceans, shellfish, and insects among the murky waters.  In a swampy marsh, look for the tiny shapes of juvenile American alligators floating at the water’s surface or basking on shore. A clear acrylic display reveals even the diverse life swimming below the water, from freshwater species like largemouth bass and catfish to sea life such as southern stingrays and spotted seatrout.

With two-thirds of all marine animals spending their lives in marshes and estuaries, these nearshore environments are critical to local wildlife. These marsh plants also trap and filter pollutants that would otherwise damage the ocean. Learn here how important these ecosystems are, and how we can work can work together to preserve the Texas coast’s wetland habitat and the wildlife that depend on them.

Animals in this Exhibit

  • Southern Stingray


    This stingray is common to the Atlantic ocean. Its flat body allows it to conceal itself on the seabed, and a serrated barb containing a mild toxin in its tail can be used for defense.

  • American Alligator (juvenile)


    These alligators hatched about 6 inches long and weighing a few ounces, but can grow to be as much as 16 feet long and over 1000 pounds

  • Sheepshead


    The sheepshead, recognizable by its broad vertical stripes, gets its name from their mouth shape, which resembles that of a sheep.

  • Rio Grande Cichlid


    Also known as the Texas cichlid, this freshwater species is the only cichlid native to the United States. It can grow over 33 centimeters in length, and males can develop a protrusion known as a nuchal hump on their head.

  • Redhead


    Redheads are medium-sized diving ducks with a smoothly rounded head and a moderately large bill.

  • Blue-winged Teal


    A small dabbling duck, a Blue-winged Teal, is dwarfed by a Mallard and only a touch larger than a Green-winged Teal.

  • White Ibis


    Native to the Gulf Coast, the White Ibis uses its long bill to forage in shallow water.