This captivating exhibit showcases the unique wildlife and geography of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve’s lowland rainforest.
Swamp Tales
Swamp Tales replicates the forested wetlands where turtles and alligators make their home among stagnant waters.
Visitors to Swamp Tales not only enjoy an up-close look at young alligators and several turtles but learn about other wetland species that are currently threatened and what they can do to protect them.
Did you know that American alligators now thrive throughout the U.S.? In the 1960s, the alligator has almost gone extinct. Thanks to endangered species protections, its numbers have rebounded.
animals in this exhibit
Continue Reading
This common jellyfish species is translucent, revealing anatomy inside its bell. With limited swimming ability, moon jellies often drift with the current.
Bamboo sharks are oviparous (they lay eggs). Their egg casings are nicknamed “mermaid’s purses.”
Commonly called a pufferfish, this species can inflate its body by swallowing air or water to deter predators. Sharp spines offer another line of defense.
The parrotfish’s large beak is used to scrape algae and other organisms from rocks and hard coral.
Found throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean, they can grow up to 45 inches in width and weigh 50 pounds or more. When threatened, they can use a barbed tail with toxin for defense.
