Mote SEA Audio Tour | Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

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About the Tour

As you journey through the each gallery, click on each track to uncover fascinating facts about the species and their habitats. Listen to the introductory track below for detailed instructions.

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Welcome to Mote SEA, our Science Education Aquarium! To enhance your experience, we’ve made it easy to access additional information at our exhibits and laboratories. Each exhibit contains a tactile QR code. When the QR code is scanned with a mobile device, you’ll be taken to an audio version of the exhibit content. Each exhibit’s unique QR code will automatically play the audio guide for that exhibit. Since each exhibit has its own unique QR code, you can explore in any order that interests you. Take your time, follow your curiosity, and enjoy learning at your own pace.

If you have any questions about using our audio guide, or if you want more information about Mote’s history, animals, research, or special activities and events, our friendly volunteers (wearing bright, teal colored shirts) are stationed throughout the aquarium and would be happy to assist you.

We hope you enjoy your time exploring Mote SEA learning about incredible animals and ecosystems, the dedicated people who study them, and the important work being done to protect our oceans.

Explore all three floors at Mote SEA with the help of these engaging audio tracks.

Atrium

Mote History

As you first enter the aquarium, find the Mote History wall to your left.

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Welcome to Mote’s History Wall! Listen along to a timeline starting with our humble beginnings all the way up to the opening of Mote’s Science Education Aquarium!

In the 1930s, Eugenie “Genie” Clark fell in love with fishes as a child visiting her local aquarium.

In 1955, Anne and William H. Vanderbilt provided funding for Genie to open the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in Placida, Florida. She became its Founding Director.

Three years later, in 1958, Genie conducted behavioral and biological studies of sharks, demonstrating for the first time sharks’ ability to respond to training.

In 1960, the Lab moved from Placida to Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida, and only two years later Mote launched its first educational summer program offering high schoolers practical experience with marine biology.

In 1965, Charles M. Breder, Jr. served as interim Director, and a year later Dr. Sylvia Earle served as interim Director.

An important change took place in 1967 when the Lab was renamed Mote Marine Laboratory in honor of William R. Mote and his sister, Betty Mote Rose. Over time, new studies unfolded on estuarine ecology, red tide, toxicology, sharks, dolphins, biomedical research, and more. That same year, Dr. Perry Gilbert began serving as Director.

Another big move took place in 1978 when the Lab moved from Siesta Key to City Island, Sarasota. That same year, Dr. William H. Taft began serving as Director.

In 1980, Mote Marine Science Center opened to educate the public about the marine environment. It was later renamed Mote Aquarium.

Two years later, Mote began monitoring sea turtle nesting on Sarasota County beaches, an effort that continues today and supports conservation of these endangered reptiles.

As early as 1984, Mote was the first to characterize red tide toxins that affect human health. Also that year, Drs. Kumar Mahadevan and Richard Pierce began serving as interim co-Directors. In 1985, Dr. Robert F. Dunn served as Director, followed by Dr. Kumar Mahadevan in 1986.

In 1989, Mote surveys resulted in the inclusion and protection of Sarasota Bay in the National Estuary Program.

In 1991, the United States Congress established the Mote Center for Shark Research as a national focal point to conduct research and outreach on shark ecology, fisheries, and conservation. Two years later, in 1993, Mote established its first research facility in the Florida Keys on Pigeon Key.

In 1996, Mote carried out its first experimental release of common snook to evaluate survival patterns of hatchery-reared fish.

Mote’s Tropical Research Lab on Summerland Key opened in 2000.

In 2002, Mote Aquaculture Research Park (MAP) opened, hosting its first fish. Aquaculture research began with sturgeon and extended into other species over time, including closing the life cycle of common snook.

In 2004, Mote conducted the first detailed surveys of blue holes—previously unstudied environments that play an important role in the Gulf ecosystem.

2008 was a big year for Mote. Mote planted its first corals to restore coral reefs in the Florida Keys. Mote also began collecting data on three species of endangered rays: spotted eagle rays, manta rays, and devil rays.

In 2010, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil blowout in the Gulf demanded urgent research by Mote scientists.

That same year, Dr. Michael Crosby joined Mote as Senior Vice President for Research, and Mote launched its 2020 Vision & Strategic Plan.

In 2013, Mote’s Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Crosby as President & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

That same year, Mote scientists joined forces with the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge and youth divers from SCUBAnauts International to restore coral reefs.

In 2014, Dr. Crosby and Genie dove in the Gulf of Aqaba on her 92nd birthday as part of Mote’s International Marine Science Diplomacy Initiative in the Middle East.

Oceans of Opportunity: The Campaign for Mote Marine Laboratory launched on Mote’s 60th anniversary in 2015 and raised over $50 million to fulfill Mote’s 2020 Vision & Strategic Plan.

In 2017, Mote opened the new Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration (also known as IC2R3) on Summerland Key.

In 2018, generous philanthropic investment from The Andrew and Judith Economos Charitable Foundation established the Red Tide Institute at Mote.

To further Mote’s red tide research, a year later the State of Florida partnered with Mote to launch the Florida Red Tide Mitigation & Technology Development Initiative to fight the impacts of red tide with innovative science and technology.

In 2020, Mote launched its Beyond 2020 Vision & Strategic Plan.

That same year, Mote scientists were the first to document fragments of slow-growing, reef-building corals restored with Mote-pioneered technology reaching sexual maturity and spawning in their natural settings in just five years instead of decades. Also in 2020, the International Coral Gene Bank was established at Mote Aquaculture Research Park (or map, for short) in Sarasota County to serve as a “Noah’s Ark” for coral, housing the widest array of coral genetic diversity on the planet outside of Mother Nature herself.

2020 was also the year Mote broke ground for Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote sea).

In 2022, over 50 shark species were added to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (also called sighties) protected list — a decision informed by Mote research.

That same year, Mote celebrated 30 years of operations in the Florida Keys with expansion into the Upper Keys to extend Mote’s science-based coral reef restoration efforts throughout the entirety of Monroe County — from Key Largo to Key West.

In 2023, Mote and the State of Florida joined forces with other partners to launch the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative to develop and test sustainable, cost-effective methods for restoring coastal seagrass.

In 2025, Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) opens to welcome visitors and inspire the next generation of marine scientists!

Thank you for listening! The history you’ve learned is only the beginning. Keep exploring to uncover the science, innovation, and dedication driving ocean discovery today and shaping a healthier future for our seas.

Atrium

Trailblazers in STEM

As you first enter the aquarium, find the Trailblazers in STEM interactive on the wall to your right.

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Diversity powers innovation. Mote honors the resilience and contributions of past and present scientists from populations that are underrepresented in stem fields. Their determination and innovation have transformed many aspects of our lives. By embracing diverse backgrounds and perspectives, Mote enriches the field of marine science and works toward a brighter future for our oceans. We are deeply grateful to these and many other trailblazers for their remarkable achievements, often realized despite significant challenges.

Mote strives to educate tomorrow’s trailblazers. Expanding access and opportunities in marine science is a top priority at Mote Marine Laboratory. As part of this commitment, Mote leads initiatives designed to support and empower future innovators in the field. In 2019, the National Science Foundation awarded Mote Marine LAboratory the lead role in the Marine Science Laboratory Alliance Center of Excellence (mar-sci-lace ), a program dedicated to increasing participation in marine stem.

Through mar-sci-lace and other initiatives, Mote strives to break down barriers and create pathways for individuals who have historically had limited access for opportunities in marine science. Explore the interactive screen to meet some of our trailblazers, and visit mote.org/education to discover how you can join the next wave of innovators shaping the future of marine science!

Atrium

STEM Teaching Labs

Mote SEA’s three STEM Teaching Labs immerse learners of all ages in hands-on marine science—from ecosystems and animal health to cutting-edge technology—bringing real Mote research to life through exploration and discovery.

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Welcome to Mote SEA’s three stem teaching laboratories. Designed to spark curiosity and imagination, these dynamic learning spaces bring decades of Mote research to life through exploration and discovery. Guests won’t just learn about science—they’ll live it. Each lab combines engaging activities with real research translated by Mote’s scientists and educators into experiments and investigations that people of all ages and scientific backgrounds can understand and undertake. Together, these opportunities invite learners to explore new ideas, test possibilities, and see themselves as the next generation of researchers, innovators, and conservationists.

In the Marine Ecology Lab, learners explore mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs, connecting to Mote’s work in restoration and aquaculture. The Biomedical and Immunology Lab highlights ocean animal health and its links to human medicine, from shark immunity to bioactive marine microbes. The Ocean Technology Lab showcases the innovative tools of marine science, including electronic tags, autonomous vehicles, A.I., and citizen science apps. From coastal ecosystems to animal health to cutting-edge technology, each lab opens a window into a different part of Mote’s research.

Thank you for learning about our three innovative stem teaching labs, where we provide immersive, hands-on experiences in a real-world marine context for learners of all ages! To explore programs offered in the Mote sea stem teaching laboratories, visit mote.org/education.

Classrooms

Resource Center

As you first enter the aquarium, find the Resource Center directly to your right.

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Welcome to the Marine Science and Technology Digital Hub! This is your portal to unique library and educational resources! These include: teaching curricula, scientific publications, Dr. Eugenie Clark Archival Collection, Susanna Dudley Macroalgae Herbarium, photos, videos, and more!

To learn more or to make an appointment, scan the QR code or visit Mote.org/digital hub!

Florida Waters

Explore this gallery to discover North American river otters, Florida manatees, gopher tortoises, alligator snapping turtles and indigo snakes. Learn why protecting Florida’s waters is essential to their survival.

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Welcome to the Florida Waters Gallery! Florida is known as the Sunshine State. Despite this nickname, most years Florida receives over 50 inches of rainfall.

As fresh water flows downhill to the ocean, it supports an incredible array of life- including our own!

At Mote Marine Laboratory, we’re curious about the water’s journey and how it influences the marine and coastal animals and ecosystems that we study.

Florida has more than 11 million acres of freshwater habitat, with thousands of lakes and rivers and hundreds of springs supporting our fisheries and iconic species. Come discover how Florida’s flowing water connects us all!

Florida Waters

Floodplain Swamp – Alligator Snapping Turtle

Find the floodplain swamp habitat on the 3rd floor, across from the manatees in the outdoor area.

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Welcome to the Floodplain Swamp!

Floodplain swamps are wetlands by streams or rivers. Tall cypress and tupelo trees grow in the damp, muddy ground, with their roots, called “knees,” sticking up from the water. The ground is wet and soft, and covered with shallow water that reflects the trees. Sunlight shines through the tree canopy, casting shadows on the water, creating the perfect habitat for a rugged reptile.

Meet the alligator snapping turtle (scientific name: Macrochelys temminckii)! The alligator snapping turtle, native to the swamps and rivers of the southeastern United States, is North America’s largest freshwater turtle. They spend most of their time in the water, only coming ashore to lay their eggs.

These turtles have big, rough shells with sharp, bumpy ridges that make them look prehistoric. Their skin is dark and wrinkled, with a tough, leathery feel. They have large heads with hooked beaks and small, dark eyes that sit under thick, scaly ridges. Their strong legs have sharp claws, and their tail is long and spikey.

The alligator snapping turtle uses a clever hunting tactic. They use camouflage to blend in. These turtles can sit on the bottom and hold their breath for up to 40 or 50 minutes as they lie in wait for their prey. To hunt, this tricky turtle rests on the bottom with its mouth open and moves a pink, worm-like structure on its tongue – a “lure” to attract a key prey item: fish.

Unfortunately, the alligator snapping turtle’s conservation status is vulnerable, meaning it is at risk of becoming endangered.

The alligator snapping turtle is an example of a freshwater turtle species. They have webbed feet with claws and ridged shells. Did you know they cannot pull their heads and limbs into their shells?

Saltwater species include the sea turtles. These turtles cannot pull their heads or limbs into their shells either, and they have flippers rather than feet.

Unlike the previous examples, gopher tortoises live on dry land and actually cannot swim! They have “elephant feet” with toenails for digging tunnels.

Thank you for exploring the Floodplain Swamp habitat and learning about the alligator snapping turtle and its tricky hunting style. Continue on to discover more about Florida’s native wildlife and the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve these species and their habitats!

Florida Waters

Wetlands – Otters

Find the otter habitat on the 3rd floor, just to the left of the outdoor area.

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Welcome to the Wetlands!
You can determine if an area is a wetland by the plants that grow there. Wetlands are home to plants that are specially adapted to living in or near water. These plants often have long, narrow leaves or soft, spongy stems that help them thrive in wet conditions. You might find tall grasses growing in the shallow water, with shrubs or small trees lining the edges. Wetlands only make up 5 percent of the contiguous U.S. states, but they host 31 percent of the nation’s plant species, up to half its bird species, and valuable fisheries and shellfish industries.

One playful resident of wetlands is the otter. North American river otters have sleek, streamlined bodies covered in dense, velvety fur that feels soft and plush when dry but turns slick and smooth when it’s wet. Their fur is rich brown with lighter, silvery tones on their bellies. They have small, rounded ears, long whiskers around their snout, and nostrils that can close completely underwater. Like all animals, our otters, Fynn and Stella, have individual characteristics that help us tell them apart. Stella has light fur right above her mouth and Fynn is smaller than Stella.

North American river otters use many types of freshwater habitats- rivers, springs, lakes, swamps, and more. They can even visit coastal and marine waters- but they are not sea otters! When swimming, they use their webbed paws to paddle, while their strong tails and smooth, wavy body movements—where their whole body moves up and down like a wave—help them glide quickly through the water.

At certain times, our otters may be sleeping in their den. River otters tend to be nocturnal (meaning most active at night) or crepuscular (meaning most active during dawn and dusk). Their den is Home Sweet Home: a safe and comfortable place to rest.

When they aren’t resting you may see our otters running or sliding around the habitat, hear our otters chirping to communicate with each other, or splashing as they swim and dive or play with each other or play with enrichment. Otters, like humans, often learn important behaviors through play. Here at Mote, our otters receive “enrichment” – healthy mental and physical stimulation for all their senses.

There’s always something enriching happening in the otter habitat! There may be a splash tub for playtime, a special feeder that requires them to solve a puzzle for their food, or icy scent balls that spark their sense of smell. These enrichment tools help keep our otters mentally and physically active.

Scent: Otters release musky odors from the scent glands near their tails to communicate and mark their territory. Mote encourages these behaviors by introducing “scent trails” of spices and musks in the otters’ habitat.

Sound: Otters rely on sound to understand their environment and communicate. They can chuckle, chirp, snort, growl, whoop, and more. Mote stimulates otters’ hearing by featuring running water and playing recordings of natural sounds.

Touch: Otters rely on their sense of touch to explore their environment, groom themselves and interact socially. At Mote, we provide food puzzles and toys that encourage them to use their sense of touch to access treats and meals.

Taste: River otters eat many kinds of prey- fishes, crustaceans, shellfish, amphibians, insects, and more. Here at Mote, our otters eat a healthy variety of foods with diverse flavors, including multiple types of protein and treats like carrots.

Sight: At Mote, otters are visually engaged with varied terrain, slides and pools in their habitat. Mote biologists train out otters using targets and other tools to keep their minds active and support their natural curiosity.

Otters are currently at a low risk for extinction. However, the U.S. lost 53 percent of its wetlands between the 1780s and 1980s. This habitat loss was due to several causes. By the 1980s, river otters were extirpated, or locally extinct, in 11 states and had declined severely in many more. Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there! Many wildlife agencies, zoos, aquariums, and local communities have implemented plans to help river otters. Mote’s otters are part of a Species Survival Plan (or SSP) to support a healthy, genetically diverse population.

Wetlands in many places are still declining—but you can help by researching your own local wetlands and how to protect them. The otters are counting on you!

Thank you for visiting the wetlands and meeting our North American river otters! Continue your journey to discover more about the amazing animals in other Florida habitats!

Florida Waters

Freshwater Springs – Manatees

Find the manatee habitat on the 3rd floor, in the center of the outdoor area.

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Welcome to the Freshwater Springs habitat!

Some of Florida’s water is filtered through underground systems of rocks and sediment called “aquifers,” later emerging from the earth as a freshwater spring.

One fascinating animal that inhabits the freshwater springs is the Florida manatee. Manatees are large, slow-moving mammals with round, barrel-shaped bodies covered in thick, wrinkled gray skin. They have wide, paddle-shaped tails that help them glide through the water. They are often called gentle giants because of their large size and calm nature. Their faces look soft, with thick whiskers around their snouts, small dark eyes, and fleshy, flexible lips that give them a gentle expression.

The Florida manatee (whose scientific name is Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee. Manatees don’t have a thick layer of fat to keep warm and they produce less body heat than many other marine mammals. When water temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, Florida manatees avoid cold stress by swimming to warm-water refuges—including freshwater springs or water pumped from power plants.

Mote Marine Laboratory scientists conduct aerial and boat surveys at these sites, helping to better understand their importance to manatees and the challenges manatees face when power plants close or natural habitats decline.

Mote’s Manatee Research Program biologists ride in small airplanes or fly drones to observe manatees from above. Mote’s data helps reveal where manatees live, how many there are, and how their population changes with habitat loss, cold weather, red tides, hurricanes and other challenges. Aerial surveyors must have a keen eye to spot manatees!

Mote’s Manatee Research Program team also observes manatees from boats. They learn many things from these observations, including: Photo ID (or taking photos to identify individual manatees by their various markings), behavioral observations, habitat studies, genetic sampling, and more! Photo-identification data in particular allows researchers to gather information on manatee habitat use, migration patterns, individual life histories, and overall health!

Mote scientists often observe the same individuals many times throughout the manatees’ lives, allowing us to learn their unique stories. From each story, our scientists learn something new.

Next, meet our resident manatees!

Buffett, a male manatee, was named after Jimmy Buffett, a popular singer-songwriter and one of the founders of the Save the Manatee Club. Buffett the manatee’s favorite activities are training and soaking up the sun!

Lou is our other male manatee, who was struck by a boat in December 2000 in Stuart, Florida and rehabilitated at SeaWorld. He lost part of his tail, so he swims with his front flippers instead. Lou’s favorite activity is eating. He loves sweet potatoes and many other foods!

Mote’s resident animals voluntarily participate in training. This husbandry training allows veterinarians to gather valuable information via blood and urine samples, weight and body measurements and basic body checks. Mote also uses training to learn about manatees’ senses, such as touch, sight, hearing, and their physiology. Our discoveries support manatee conservation. To encourage the desired behavior, we blow a high-pitched training whistle, say “good job”, or provide treats. These are all types of “positive reinforcement.”

Mote’s resident manatees are trained in the following voluntary behaviors for husbandry: identify and follow individual targets; offer pectoral flippers for a voluntary blood sample; rotate 360 degrees for body checks; swim into a sling to be weighed; lift head, flippers, and tail to check mobility; and open their mouth for oral exams.

Mote’s resident manatees voluntarily participate in research studies designed to aid manatee conservation. They have breathed in a vacuum-sealed dome on the water’s surface to determine lung capacity and metabolic rate; and wore crittercam prototypes to test and develop technology for monitoring wild manatees. Our researchers can assess vision by asking manatees to distinguish between patterns, assess touch sensitivity of manatee sensory hairs (or vibrissae) to water movement, and assess how manatees detect the direction of sounds and water movements.

Mote is part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership. This partnership is a group of more than 20 entities including zoos, aquariums, universities, state and federal agencies, and more. These organizations work together to rescue, rehabilitate, and release manatees. Every manatee rescue involves multiple partners and can cost a lot of money. For example, young manatees undergoing rehabilitation need to gain about 1 pound every day! That’s a lot of lettuce!

Manatees may need to be rescued if they are sick or injured due to cold stress, red tide, boat strikes, or harm caused by foreign material like fishing line. Orphaned calves (or babies) that are unable to survive on their own may also require rescue. If you encounter a manatee that may be in distress in local waters, please call (888) 345-2335. Do not attempt to rescue the manatee yourself.

Rescued manatees often require specialized care. Once received at a facility equipped to care for manatees, the manatee is assessed for critical care needs and given initial treatments.

Once manatees are stable, they’re often transferred to a second stage facility to continue recovering and prepare for release. On average, these manatees stay for a year. Mote is proud to serve as one of the few U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service certified second stage manatee care facilities in Florida!

Adult manatees are usually released close to where they were rescued. Manatees are familiar with a specific range within their migration patterns, so release at a familiar location helps them settle back in. Orphaned calves with little experience living in the wild are often released during the winter at a warm water site near other manatees. This gives them an opportunity to learn how to find food and migrate by watching other manatees. If a manatee has a condition that threatens its ability to survive in the wild, it may be classified as conditionally non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our resident manatees, Lou and Buffett, are both conditionally non-releasable. We’re happy to have the honor of giving them a long term home at Mote!

Some rescued manatees are tagged at their release. This lets researchers see how they are doing and help them out if they are not adapting well. Post release data allows us to learn what works and improve our methods for rescuing manatees in the future. The tag is attached with a foam belt around the base of their tail and floats in the water behind them. It’s designed to break away easily if it gets caught on something.

Thank you for learning about manatees and their home in the freshwater springs! Continue your journey to explore more about the incredible creatures of Florida’s waters and the science dedicated to their conservation.

Florida Waters

Pine Flatwoods – Gopher Tortoise

Find the pine flatwoods habitat on the 3rd floor, just to the right of the outdoor area, next to the coastal fish.

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Welcome to the Pine Flatwoods!

Pine flatwoods are open, grassy areas with tall, thin pine trees, and the ground is covered with shrubs and grasses. Pine flatwoods habitats have flat topography and sandy acidic soil without many nutrients. They can be found throughout Southwest Florida and are home to many kinds of wildlife.

One amazing animal that calls this habitat home is the gopher tortoise (scientific name: Gopherus polyphemus). This reptile has a round, domed shell that is usually brown or gray, with a rough, leathery texture-similar to the feel of a hiking boot-with bumps along the surface. Its tough, scaly skin helps it blend into its dry, sandy environment. The tortoise’s strong front legs, shaped like shovels with thick claws, are perfect for digging burrows. And its wide, sturdy back legs help it stay balanced.

The gopher tortoise is one of five North American tortoise species and the only one naturally found east of the Mississippi River. They are most commonly found in Florida, where they live throughout much of the state, and they also live in parts of Georgia, Alabama, and other southeastern states. Unlike Florida’s water-dwelling turtles, gopher tortoises live in higher, drier areas, often with well-drained, sandy soil. These are sometimes the same areas where people like to live, bringing gopher tortoises and humans into frequent contact with one another.

These tortoises feed on a variety of plants, flowers, and fruits, including butterfly pea, coreopsis, saw palmetto, sparkleberry, goldenaster, and cocoplum. Sadly, they are listed as vulnerable, meaning they are at moderate risk of becoming extinct.

Gopher tortoises play an important role in pine flatwood habitat. They dig burrows, which provide refuge for more than 350 species of animal ‘roommates’— including the shy indigo snake, burrowing owl, armadillo, Florida mouse, rabbit, and gopher frog. Burrows have a relatively constant temperature and humidity, providing protection from the elements, fire and predators. Because they provide homes for other animals, gopher tortoises are a “keystone species.” They have a big influence on other species in their ecosystem.

Now let’s meet another resident of the pine flatwoods- the Eastern Indigo Snake (scientific name: Drymarchon couperi). These non-venomous snakes have slender, long bodies covered in smooth, iridescent, blackish-blue scales, giving them their ‘indigo’ name. Eastern Indigo Snakes thrive in warm, sunny environments like pine flatwoods, hardwood forests, and the areas around cypress swamps. In the cooler, northern parts of their range, they seek shelter in gopher tortoise burrows to stay warm.

Unfortunately, the Eastern Indigo Snake is also considered vulnerable, facing the risk of extinction due to habitat loss. Like the gopher tortoise, indigo snakes often live in the same areas as humans, putting these secretive snakes at risk.

If you’ve encountered an Eastern Indigo Snake in the wild, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would like to learn more about this federally threatened species. Check out the Florida Rare Snake Registry on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Website to learn more!

Thank you for exploring the Florida Pine Flatwoods habitat and learning about its incredible species, like the gopher tortoise and Eastern Indigo Snake. Continue on to discover more about Florida’s native wildlife and the ongoing efforts to protect and conserve these species and their ecosystems!

Florida Waters

Coastal Fish

Find the coastal fish habitat on the 3rd floor, just to the right of the outdoor area, next to the gopher tortoise.

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In estuaries, fresh water from land mixes with seawater. Often you will find mangrove trees in these areas. Their specialized roots trap sediments and stabilize coastal land while providing nursery habitat for young fishes and shellfish. Estuaries and their natural communities support more than 95% of Florida’s economically important fishes, shellfish and crustaceans for at least part of their lives. In the estuary you can find a variety of unique species including the southern crayfish, banded sunfish, lesser siren, sheepshead minnow, diamondback terrapin, sailfin molly, gulf killifish, and swamp darter.

Billions of gallons of fresh water are used by Florida residents, visitors, and businesses each day. Our coastal marine waters are just as critical; well over half of Florida’s residents live near the coast. More than 200 fish species use Florida’s freshwater and 500 use its saltwater habitats. Some popular sportfish species— like common snook—use both.

Florida freshwater and saltwater are connected and preservation of Florida freshwater aids the saltwater.

Mote scientists have been focused on water quality and environmental health since the mid 20th Century. Informed by Mote science, U.S. Congress designated Sarasota Bay as an estuary of national significance in the 1980s. Today, Mote continues to expand its research to support healthier waterways for people and wildlife.

Thank you for visiting the estuary! These calm, shallow waters are just one of the many unique habitats found in Florida. Continue your journey to discover more about the incredible wildlife in other local habitats!

STEM Workforce Development Labs

Conservation Lab

On the 3rd floor, find the Conservation STEM lab on to your left after re-entering the outdoor exhibit area.

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Welcome to Mote SEA’s Conservation STEM Workforce Development Lab!

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is continuously investigating new and innovative methods to sustainably reproduce aquatic animals for educational purposes within our aquarium and at other AZA accredited aquariums.

At Mote, scientists are pioneering alternatives. This lab showcases live culture systems that grow jellyfish, brine shrimp at different life stages, and many other aquatic animals. By raising these species in-house, Mote provides a model for sustainable aquarium practices, and supports the care of resident animals.

In this lab, students gain hands-on experience in culturing delicate species like jellyfish and raising live food sources such as brine shrimp. They also learn essential skills in husbandry, applied research, and regulatory compliance. These experiences prepare students to contribute to marine conservation, advance sustainable aquarium care, and build professional connections in the field.

Thank you for visiting our Conservation lab, continue on to learn more about Mote’s conservation work!

Atrium

Ocean Technology wall

Find the Ocean Technology wall on the 3rd floor, just to the left as you enter from the outdoor habitats.

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Welcome to our Ocean Technology Wall, showcasing the technology Mote scientists use to take the pulse of our oceans and solve problems for people and wildlife!

In the sky, Mote scientists fly airborne drones over the oceans and bays—for example, to survey seagrasses that manatees and turtles eat. Drones can cover large areas quickly.

Mote scientists use autonomous surface vehicles, like the one named “Gloria”, and other tools to collect data on red tide algae and test new products to fight red tide impacts. Mote even developed a Programmable Hyperspectral Seawater Scanner (also called a fizz) to detect tiny algae in seawater, including the toxin-producing red tide algae in the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Similar to autonomous surface vehicles, gliders, or autonomous underwater vehicles, collect data on a programmed path. Mote’s gliders can reach 656 feet depth, but when monitoring conditions related to red tide, they usually stay within 131 feet. Mote gliders can also carry hydrophones to record ambient sound such as animal noises. Mote’s remotely operated vehicle “Wendy” can be operated down to 984 feet depth!

Some of our technology is accompanied by scientists when in use! Mote divers swim along shallow coral reefs with a high-resolution digital single-lens reflex camera to obtain images that overlap about 80%. Using these photos and special software, Mote creates 3D models that help reveal if our coral restoration is successful.

Sometimes, Mote’s technical divers can outperform machines in some deep ocean missions—for example, deploying sensors carefully without stirring up the sediment. Mote’s technical divers have pioneered research on underwater caves, springs and sinkholes called “blue holes” off west Florida. Divers breathe underwater using dive tanks full of oxygen and other gases. Other important pieces of equipment help our technical divers with research. Closed-circuit rebreathers circulate the gases divers breathe, including oxygen and a mixed gas called the diluent. Dive computers provide important information about the gases divers breathe in to keep you from staying underwater for too long or coming up too fast. Dive suits help keep divers warm. The deep ocean is cold!

But what about research conducted even deeper? Mote scientists sometimes use a multicore tool from a ship to sample mud or other sediments from the deep sea. In these samples, Mote scientists have found microscopic life that can give us new sources of medicine.

Mote scientists will also deploy deep-sea vehicles for explorations 12,000 feet and deeper! Mote’s founding director, Dr. Eugenie Clark, rode in a submersible vehicle 12,000 feet deep to study animals in California’s Monterey Canyon. More recently, deep-sea vehicles have gone deeper than 35,000 feet!

Thank you for exploring the technology that makes ocean research possible! Continue on to learn more about the equipment and tools that advance Mote science!

Florida Waters

Virtual Reality

As you continue walking past the Ocean Technology wall, our Virtual Reality experience will be on the left.

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Welcome to our Ocean Technology Wall, showcasing the technology Mote scientists use to take the pulse of our oceans and solve problems for people and wildlife!

In the sky, Mote scientists fly airborne drones over the oceans and bays—for example, to survey seagrasses that manatees and turtles eat. Drones can cover large areas quickly.

Thank you for exploring the technology that makes ocean research possible! Continue on to learn more about the equipment and tools that advance Mote science!

Indo-Pacific

In this gallery, discover fascinating species from the Indian and Pacific oceans, including penguins, giant Pacific octopuses, sea nettles, sharks and more.

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Welcome to the Indo-Pacific Gallery!

Here, you’ll journey through one of the most diverse regions of the ocean. Explore incredible species—from tiny garden eels swaying in the sand to massive displays of towering kelp forests. Get hands-on with coldwater invertebrates and even touch small shark species in our interactive areas.

Enjoy your exploration of the Indo-Pacific!

Don’t forget! If you have any questions about using our audio guide, or if you want more information about Mote’s history, animals, research, or special activities and events, our friendly volunteers are stationed throughout the aquarium and would be happy to assist you.

Indo-Pacific

Shallow Indo-Pacific Reef

On the 2nd floor, as you pass the 4 Workforce Development Labs, the shallow Indo-Pacific habitat will be on your right next to the large Indo-Pacific habitat.

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Welcome to the Shallow Indo-Pacific reef! This habitat is filled with vibrant colors, from the living corals to the many species of fish that call them home. Gracefully moving among them are butterflyfish, with bright patterns and bold stripes that look as if they’ve been painted on. Blue chromis bring flashes of brilliant turquoise as they swim together in schools, creating shifting waves of color that ripple across the reef.

Fish in this exhibit occupy different parts of the habitat. Some remain near the surface, others weave among the coral branches, and a few prefer the sandy bottom. Together, they create layers of activity that make the reef feel alive and ever-changing.

This habitat is always dynamic. Corals provide structure and shelter, while fish contribute constant energy and motion. The result is a living display that captures both the beauty and the complexity of reef ecosystems — a place where many species coexist and rely on one another.

Thank you for spending time at the Shallow Indo-Pacific reef! Keep exploring to learn more about other corals and the animals that inhabit them on reefs around the world!

Indo-Pacific

Indo-Pacific Reef

On the 2nd floor as you walk past the Shallow Indo-Pacific habitat, the Large Indo-Pacific exhibit will be on your right.

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Welcome to the Indo-Pacific Reef! This habitat bursts with color, from corals in shades of orange, yellow, and pink to fish that are just as vibrant. The corals form branching towers, rounded boulders, and delicate fans, creating a living structure that shelters countless animals.

Among the fish, our largest resident is the Napoleon wrasse. This massive fish can grow over six feet long and is easy to recognize by its thick, oval-shaped body, large lips, and a distinct hump on its forehead. Its colors shift from deep green to blue with lighter patterns along its scales. Nearby, the red emperor snapper adds bold splashes of crimson with pale stripes along its sides.

Eels poke their heads in and out of holes in the coral, twisting back into hiding when they retreat. Rays also move through this exhibit: the black-spotted whipray, with a wide, rounded body covered in dark spots and a long slender tail trailing behind it, glides gracefully across the sandy bottom.

Swimming above are the blacktip reef sharks. These sleek, torpedo-shaped predators have pale bodies with dark tips on their fins, most clearly on the dorsal fin, and they circle steadily around the reef.

Together, the animals of this Indo-Pacific reef show us that even though these ecosystems are found far from our local waters, coral reefs around the world share the same beauty, complexity, and importance for ocean life.

Thank you for exploring the Indo-Pacific Reef. Continue on to discover more about the beauty of species and habitats in other parts of the ocean around the world.

Indo-Pacific

Living on the Edge

On the second floor, across from the Shallow Indo-Pacific reef habitat and in front of the exit stairs, you can find the Living on the Edge exhibit.

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Welcome to Living on the Edge! This habitat highlights species that thrive in unique and surprising ways. Here you’ll find garden eels swaying like blades of grass as they peek from their burrows in the sand. They live in colonies, and each eel rarely leaves its hole, instead bending with the current while waiting to catch tiny plankton drifting by.

Nearby, shrimpfish glide vertically, moving head-down in tight groups that resemble drifting leaves in the current. Their unusual shape and behavior helps them blend into seagrass and other vertical structures for protection.

Along the bottom, starfish stretch their arms slowly across the habitat, using tiny tube feet hidden underneath to move and explore.

Each of these animals shows a different strategy for survival in places where one environment blends into another, creating a fascinating display of movement, behavior, and adaptation.

Thank you for exploring Living on the Edge. Continue your journey to discover even more remarkable species!

Indo-Pacific

Jellyfish

On the 2nd floor, to the right of the Living on the Edge habitat, you can find the Jellyfish habitat.

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Meet the Australian Spotted Jellyfish! Their round bells are covered in soft white spots, giving them a unique and almost decorative look. While some Australian spotted jellies can grow more than a foot wide, the ones here have bells only a few inches across. Flowing beneath are frilly oral arms and thin tentacles that trail behind them as they drift, creating a gentle, flowing effect in the water.

Each soft pulse of the bell moves them forward, but most of the time they simply float, letting the currents carry them. They rise and fall in the water, drifting in all directions as if moving weightlessly through space. Unlike some of the more active species in other habitats, these jellies don’t need a busy or changing environment. They do well in calm water, where their steady, rhythmic movements are all they need.

Watching them glide is almost like watching living art, showing how beauty in the ocean can come from even the simplest movements.

Thank you for visiting the Australian Spotted Jellyfish. Continue your journey to learn more about the unique species of the sea!

Indo-Pacific

Shark Encounter

On the 2nd floor, to the left of the Large Indo-Pacific reef habitat, you can find the Shark Encounter exhibit.

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Welcome to the Shark Encounter! Here you’ll meet smaller species of sharks that live in shallow tropical waters.

One of them is the epaulette shark, a slender shark with tan skin covered in small dark spots. On each side of its body, just behind the fins, is a large black spot outlined in white — like a false eye. Epaulette sharks are also famous for being able to “walk” across the sand or even out of water for short distances by wriggling their fins.

Here you can also meet brownbanded bamboo sharks. These sharks have long, narrow bodies with dark brown bands when they are young, which fade as they grow. They spend much of their time resting on the bottom, curling into tight shapes, and waiting until it’s time to swim again.

If you’d like to feel these sharks, gently reach in with two fingers and wait for one to swim past. Notice the smooth, firm texture of their skin. Sharks here do not bite people, but remember they are still independent animals — so always be careful and respectful.

Enjoy your time interacting with some of our small sharks! When you’re ready, continue on to meet more incredible marine life here at Mote!

Indo-Pacific

Pacific Invertebrate Encounter

On the 2nd floor, to the left of the Shark Encounter, you can find the Pacific Invertebrate Encounter exhibit.

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Welcome to the Pacific Invertebrate Encounter! Here you’ll find three small tide pools filled with species that live along rocky shores. Some are bright and colorful, while others blend in with the rocks and sand.

Among them are rainbow and vermilion sea stars, with firm arms and rough, bumpy skin in bright shades of red and orange. Spot prawns scuttle across the bottom, their bodies banded with red and white. Sea cucumbers stretch along the sand, soft and squishy when you touch them. White-spotted and painted anemones attach firmly to rocks, with tentacles that feel sticky as they gently cling to your fingers.

Here, you may also meet a giant keyhole limpet with its flat, oval shell and muscular foot beneath. Blue-ringed top shell snails and Norris snails move slowly with their coiled, ridged shells that feel hard and smooth to the touch.

If you’d like to interact with these species and some others like them, gently reach in with two fingers and wait for your encounter. None of the species here will hurt you, but remember they are living animals — always handle them with care and respect.

Enjoy your time at the Pacific Invertebrate Encounter — and when you’re ready, keep exploring, because there are many more incredible animals to meet here at Mote!

Indo-Pacific

Live Indo-Pacific Reef

On the 2nd floor, across from both the Shark and Pacific Invertebrate Encounters, you will find the Live Indo-Pacific reef habitat.

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Welcome to the Live Indo-Pacific Coral Reef! This vibrant habitat brings together corals and reef fish that showcase the richness and variety of life found across the Pacific.

Here you’ll encounter branching frogspawn coral with long, flowing polyps that sway like underwater gardens. Nearby, acan lord coral forms rounded clusters in bold reds and greens, while candy cane coral grows in neat, tubular stalks that resemble striped canes. Green star polyp coral spreads out like a soft carpet, with tiny, bright green tentacles that ripple in the current.

Among the corals swim an array of striking fish. Bicolor anthias add splashes of orange and purple, while azure damselfish shine in brilliant blue. Pajama cardinalfish, pale with red-spotted tails and a bold black band across their middle, move together in groups. Goldspotted rabbitfish shimmer in silver with golden flecks, and marine bettas drift in darker colors with striking white spots, almost like a starry night. You’ll also find clownfish tucked among coral branches, with bright orange bodies marked by bold white stripes.

Together, the corals and fish in this exhibit show how reef communities are built from a mix of colors, shapes, and behaviors. Each species plays its own part, but it’s the combination that creates the living tapestry of the reef.

Thank you for exploring the Live Pacific Coral Reef. Keep going to discover more habitats at Mote and the diverse species that make each one unique.

Indo-Pacific

Sea Nettles

The sea nettles can be found on the second floor, to the left of the Pacific Invertebrate Encounter.

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Meet the Sea Nettles! These jellyfish move with long, trailing tentacles that can stretch several feet behind them. Their bells, often golden to reddish-brown in color, can grow more than a foot across. With each rhythmic pulse, they rise and fall through the water, though most of the time they simply travel with the currents, going wherever the ocean carries them.

Sea Nettles have two kinds of appendages — long, skinny tentacles that hang in straight lines, and frilly, ribbon-like arms that ripple as they drift. This drifting lifestyle is part of what makes them so graceful — their movement seems effortless, with tentacles streaming behind them in delicate, flowing patterns. Each gentle contraction of the bell is enough to keep them suspended, while the sea itself does most of the work of carrying them along. It’s a way of life that shows how some animals thrive not through speed or power, but by moving with the rhythm of their environment.

Thank you for visiting the Sea Nettles. Continue your journey to explore more of the remarkable species you can learn about here at Mote!

Indo-Pacific

Giant Crabs

The giant crabs can be found on the second floor, to the left of the sea nettles.

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Meet our giant crabs! This exhibit recreates the underside of a dock, with pilings and rock walls that provide shelter and structure. Here you’ll find Dungeness crabs and Red King crabs, both perfectly adapted to life on the seafloor.

Dungeness crabs, which can reach about 10 inches across, use their wide, flat shells to press into rocky crevices, blending into their surroundings. They move with steady, deliberate steps, using their strong claws to explore and defend themselves. Red King crabs, on the other hand, can span more than 5 feet from leg to leg. They stand tall on long, spindly limbs that allow them to stretch, climb, and crawl over pilings or across uneven surfaces. Their sheer size and reach make them look almost like underwater giants patrolling the habitat.

Together, these crabs show how different body shapes and behaviors help animals make the most of their environment — turning dock pilings and rocky walls into places to climb, rest, and find protection.

Thank you for meeting our giant crabs. Keep exploring to learn more about remarkable species and interesting habitats around the world!

Indo-Pacific

Giant Pacific Octopus

The giant Pacific octopus can be found on the second floor, to the left of the giant crabs.

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Meet the Giant Pacific Octopus! These incredible animals are the largest species of octopus, with long, flexible arms covered in hundreds of powerful suckers. Their skin is usually a reddish-brown, but it can quickly shift in both color and texture to help them camouflage against rocks and corals. With their soft, boneless bodies, they can squeeze through openings no bigger than their beak — the only hard part of their body.

Giant Pacific octopuses are known for their problem-solving skills and remarkable intelligence. They can unscrew jars, open latches, and even recognize individual keepers. They are also strong hunters, using their arms to explore crevices and capture crabs, fish, and other prey.

Here at Mote, the habitat has two large circular spaces connected by a tunnel. This design allows our octopus to move between areas, showing off their natural ability to squeeze and stretch through tight spaces. It also gives the animal plenty of room to explore, rest, and remain active throughout the day. Thank you for meeting our Giant Pacific Octopus. Keep exploring to learn more about fascinating animals here at Mote!

Indo-Pacific

Kelp Forest

The Kelp Forest exhibit can be found on the second floor, to the right of the penguin exhibit.

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Welcome to the kelp forest! Here, tall strands of kelp rise from the seafloor and stretch all the way to the surface. Giant kelp can grow over 100 feet high, forming an underwater forest that sways gently with the waves.

Near the bottom are swell sharks- small and stocky with a patterned brown body that helps them blend in against the rocks. When threatened, they can gulp water or air to puff themselves up like a balloon, making it harder for predators to swallow them. Among the kelp also swim kelp rockfish, medium-sized fish with broad, oval-shaped bodies and large fins. Their mottled patterns of browns, reds, and yellows look almost like patches of lichen or seaweed, making them difficult to spot against the swaying kelp fronds and rocky seafloor. Adding a flash of brightness, rainbow seaperch shimmer with bands of orange, pink, and silver as they move through the forest.

Every animal here has its own way of fitting into this habitat. Some rely on camouflage, some on speed and maneuverability, and others on unique defenses. Together, the sharks, fish, and kelp create a living forest where plants and animals move and survive in rhythm with one another.

Thank you for exploring the kelp forest. Keep going to discover more dynamic habitats and the fascinating animals that live within them.

Indo-Pacific

Penguins

The penguins can be found on the second floor, to the right as you exit the ascending stairs.

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Meet the penguins! Here at the penguin habitat you’ll find a flock of Humboldt penguins- medium-sized birds that stand a little over two feet tall. They have black backs, white bellies, and a distinct black stripe that runs across their chest, almost like they’re wearing a tuxedo. Their strong beaks are tipped with pink, and their webbed feet help them steer swiftly through the water.

Unlike the image many people have of penguins living on ice and snow, these penguins thrive in warmer climates. Here they have plenty of water for swimming and land for resting and nesting, because they spend time both in the water hunting for food and on land caring for their young.

Within this habitat, you’ll also find a pop-up viewing dome that lets you step right into the middle of the colony for a closer experience, surrounded by the sounds and activity of the flock.

Thank you for meeting our Humboldt penguins. Keep exploring to discover more fascinating animals from all parts of the world, each with their own unique way of life.

STEM Workforce Development Labs

Coral Reef STEM Workforce Development Lab

The Coral Reef STEM Workforce Development Lab can be found to the left of the Florida Keys Reef exhibit on the 2nd floor.

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Welcome to the Coral Reef Workforce Development Lab!

Coral reefs are important for ocean health, biodiversity and shoreline protection. They benefit the economy through tourism and fishing and give us new sources of medicines and products. But they are threatened by rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, coral diseases, and more.

Mote Marine Laboratory studies how corals differ in response to challenges like increasing ocean temperatures and infectious diseases. We are discovering which corals can resist or bounce back from stress and identifying how they do it. We use that information to grow and breed more resilient corals to restore reefs.

In this lab, future coral researchers help Mote scientists study and promote coral health. Students learn to monitor corals, analyze data and develop other skills to protect and restore reefs.

Thank you for visiting our Coral Lab and learning how Mote scientists and students are working together to protect coral reefs and restore these vital ecosystems for the future!

STEM Workforce Development Labs

Veterinary Clinic STEM Workforce Development Lab

The Veterinary Clinic STEM Workforce Development Lab can be found to the left of the Coral Reef STEM Workforce Development Lab on the 2nd floor.

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Welcome to Mote sea’s Veterinary Clinic Workforce Development Lab!

Marine animals are important for ocean ecosystems and human communities, but they face many threats, such as injuries, illness, and damage to their habitats.

Mote Marine Laboratory rescues sick, injured, and stranded animals, provides care for aquarium residents, and makes sure new animals adjust to life at Mote. We also lead the way in developing advanced treatments and solutions to address the unique health challenges of marine animals.

This lab serves as a training hub for learners from undergraduates to early-career professionals. They gain hands-on experience in animal care, preparing to advance the health and well-being of marine animals and contribute to marine conservation.

Thank you for exploring the vet clinic and learning how Mote is impacting the next generation of marine animal care and conservation

STEM Workforce Development Labs

Innovation Powered by AI STEM Workforce Development Lab

The Innovation Powered by AI STEM Workforce Development Lab can be found to the left of the Veterinary Clinic STEM Workforce Development Lab on the 2nd floor.

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Welcome to Mote sea’s Innovation Powered by AI Workforce Development Lab!

Artificial Intelligence (or AI) is a fast-growing technology that is changing how we solve problems and do research. At Mote, we’re home to one of the first AI centers in the world dedicated to marine research and science education: the Mote AI Marine Science Center, or AIMS Center. AI helps our scientists work more efficiently, protect data, and discover new ways to understand the ocean.

Mote Marine Laboratory scientists use AI to study large sets of data, find patterns, and predict future trends. With support from the aims Center, they use AI to boost productivity, speed discoveries, protect data, and follow strong ethical standards. The aims Center also supports education and outreach, helping students learn core stem concepts and see how AI is used in real marine science research.

In this lab, students gain hands-on experience with AI and learn how it is used in real-world science and other industries. The aims Center helps them build important skills in automation, data analysis, and cybersecurity. These experiences prepare students for future careers in an increasingly tech-driven world.

Thank you for visiting Mote sea’s AI lab and learning about our scientists’ innovative uses of AI in research!

STEM Workforce Development Labs

Fisheries and Aquaculture STEM Workforce Development Lab

The Fisheries and Aquaculture STEM Workforce Development Lab can be found in front of the descending stairs on the second floor.

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Welcome to Mote SEA’s Fisheries and Aquaculture STEM Workforce Development Lab!

Fish and shellfish support healthy oceans and provide people with food, fun and income. But they struggle with problems like habitat loss, harmful algae, overfishing, and pollution.

Mote Marine Laboratory studies how to restore fisheries and farm aquatic animals and plants using eco-friendly aquaculture on land. We are learning new ways to produce sustainable seafood, improve habitats, help fisheries recover from challenges like harmful algae blooms, and more.

In this lab, Mote scientists and students advance aquaculture and fisheries research. We give students hands-on training in experimental design, monitoring tools, data collection and analysis, problem solving, and other skills they need to shape the future of sustainable seafood and fisheries.

Thank you for visiting our Fisheries and Aquaculture Lab and learning how Mote scientists and students are advancing sustainable seafood and restoring our local ecosystems!

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Discover Florida’s Gulf Coast ecosystems and the species that call them home—while learning how Mote scientists study and protect these vibrant waters.

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Welcome to Florida’s Gulf Coast Gallery!

Dive into the unique ecosystems of our own backyard. Here, you’ll learn about important local species—like snook, seagrass, and sharks—and discover how Mote scientists study and protect these species and their ecosystems.

Enjoy your journey through the vibrant waters of Florida’s Gulf Coast!

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Coastal Fish

The coastal fish habitat can be found on the 1st floor, to the left of the staircase.

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Meet the common snook! The snook is a sleek, silvery fish with a dark stripe down its side. They can be less than 10 inches when young and grow to over three feet as adults.

Snook are a “sportfish” people like to catch. Mote has worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (or FWC) for more than 20 years to study snook populations. Mote helps snook by raising and releasing them into local creeks. This allows us to learn more about the kind of nursery habitat snook need. It also helps their populations recover following red tide and cold stuns.Our research has taught us how to release snook at the right sizes, times of year, and locations to give them the best odds of survival.

Do you have snook as neighbors? The gulf receives water from many rivers and creeks. If you live, work or play near these waterways, then some of your neighbors are fish! Many fish grow up in our local tidal creeks. These are areas where freshwater mixes with salt water from Sarasota Bay.

Did you know, if you live on a creek or the coast, you can help native fish by letting your shoreline plants grow? Plants in or over the water give fish shelter. Even if you don’t live on the water, you can still help local fish. Rain water flows over your property and eventually reaches the creek or the ocean. How can you help keep the water clean? Use less herbicide and insecticide, keep waste out of local waters by fixing sewer and septic systems and picking up after pets, skip the fertilizer during our rainy summers, pick up trash, keep trash cans closed and don’t let litter reach waterways.

Thank you for exploring our coastal fish, like snook. Continue your journey to discover more about the unique species living in Florida’s waters and the important conservation efforts Mote scientists are making to protect them.

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Moon Jellies

As you enter the Florida’s Gulf Coast gallery on the 1st floor, the moon jelly habitat is on the right.

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Meet the Moon Jellies! Sea jellies, also called jellyfish, are ancient ocean animals that have been around for at least 500 million years. They have no brain, spine, or bones, yet they thrive in oceans all over the world. Today, there are more than 4,000 different species of sea jellies.

The type of sea jelly on display here is the Moon Jelly whose scientific name is Aurelia aurita. Moon jellies have a soft, gelatinous, and delicate feel—almost like touching a firm yet slippery piece of jelly. They move by pulsing their soft, translucent, bell-shaped bodies, which often show a faint four-leaf pattern on top, and they also drift with the ocean’s currents. Thin tentacles line the edge of their body, and frilly oral arms that look like larger tentacles hang from the center.

All sea jellies live in a delicate balance with their environment. Sea jelly populations change based on their surroundings. Their numbers can bloom—meaning they increase rapidly—depending on ocean temperature, salinity, food availability, and storms. Warm waters with high salinity and plentiful plankton allow for jelly populations to multiply rapidly, sometimes throwing off the ecosystem’s delicate balance. Too many jellies can cause problems for local fishers, beach visitors and other marine life competing for the same resources.

Sea jellies are unexpectedly linked to one of the biggest challenges facing marine life—plastic pollution. Sea jellies are a critical part of the ocean’s food web, providing a dining option to other animals when resources are scarce. Leatherback turtles, ocean sunfish, penguins, and many other species have long been known to gorge on jellies, gobbling hundreds of them every day. To a hungry sea turtle, a plastic bag looks strikingly similar to a sea jelly. Swallowing plastic can be fatal to sea turtles, causing internal blockages, buoyancy issues, and starvation.

Looking to give a meaningful gift that gives back? Or just want a fun, easy way to support Mote? Then Mote’s Adopt-an-Animal program is perfect for you! Our dedicated team ensures our jellyfish receive the care they need, including feeding anywhere from 150 to 1,000 mouths daily! By adopting one of our jellyfish, you’re not only supporting their well-being but also enabling us to continue vital research that helps protect and preserve our precious marine environments.

Thank you for exploring the Moon Jellies! Continue your journey to discover more about the fascinating animals that shape our oceans and the work of Mote scientists around the world!

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Common Octopus

As you round the 1st corner of the Florida’s Gulf Coast gallery on the 1st floor, the common octopus habitat is on the right, across from the stingray encounter.

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Meet our octopus!

An octopus feels like a wet, slippery water balloon. Its body has several main sections. The mantle is the rounded top part of the octopus. Just below that is the head where the eyes and brain are located. From the base of the head extend eight long, flexible arms, arranged in a circle like spokes on a wheel. The arms are lined with rows of suckers—like tiny suction cups. And hidden underneath, where the arms meet, is a sharp, strong beak. Octopuses have not one, but three hearts to pump blood to their gills and body.

Octopuses are masters of disguise, blending seamlessly into their environment. Camouflage is the ability for an organism to change their appearance to blend into their environment. But how does it work? Their skin is covered in special cells called chromatophores that contain pigment sacs. These cells expand to display color and contract to hide the color. Beneath them are other cells that reflect, absorb, and diffuse light.

Why do they do it? To camouflage themselves and hide from predators, trick their prey and communicate with other octopuses—for example, to attract a mate or give a warning.

Mote Marine Laboratory scientists have studied how cephalopods, like octopuses, camouflage, using math and technology to better understand and even predict their color changes.

But camouflage isn’t their only trick. Octopuses are also sneaky snackers. Many people love to eat stone crab claws—and so do octopuses! Octopuses can sneak through small spaces, right into stone crab traps. Mote scientists have investigated how to help fishers keep octopuses out of stone crab traps.

Looking to give a meaningful gift that gives back? Or just want a fun, easy way to support Mote? Then Mote’s Adopt-an-Animal program is perfect for you! Did you know an octopus can solve puzzles and even open jars to access tasty treats inside? By adopting one of our resident octopuses, you’ll support their enrichment and care, providing them with engaging items like jars, legos, wiffle balls, PVC puzzles, and more! Your adoption not only ensures their well-being but also fuels ongoing research and education about these extraordinary cephalopods!

Thank you for visiting our Octopus. Continue on to discover more fascinating ocean animals.

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Seagrass

The seagrass exhibit can be found on the 1st floor to the left of the common octopus and across from the stingray encounter.

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Welcome to the seagrass habitat! These shallow meadows are some of the most important ecosystems along our coasts, providing food, shelter, and nursery grounds for countless species.

Seahorses cling to the green and brown blades with their curled tails, while colorful purple and gold damselfish dart between the grasses. Neon gobies add flashes of brilliant blue, and shrimp busily crawl along the sandy bottom. Together, they show how seagrass meadows support an incredible variety of life.

Protecting seagrass means protecting the animals that depend on it — from the smallest shrimp to larger species like manatees and sea turtles. That’s why Mote is dedicated to studying these ecosystems and learning what makes them resilient, so they can continue to thrive into the future.

Thank you for visiting the seagrass habitat. Journey on to explore more of the conservation work happening here at Mote!

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Stingray Encounter

As you enter the Florida’s Gulf Coast gallery on the 1st floor, the stingray encounter exhibit can be found straight ahead.

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Welcome to our ray encounter! This shallow-water habitat is home to several species, including an Atlantic guitarfish, cownose rays, and yellow stingrays. You might hear the cownose rays swimming at the surface, while the yellow stingrays often rest quietly, buried in the sand below.

Curious what they feel like? Gently reach in with two fingers and wait for a ray to glide by. You’ll notice their bodies feel both soft and firm, with a smooth, slippery texture.

And don’t worry — our rays won’t sting you. The barbs on their tails are clipped regularly, just like keeping fingernails trimmed.

Want to interact even more? Stop by “Mr. Mote’s World Famous Ray Food” cart, just to the left of this habitat, to purchase food and hand-feed the rays.

Enjoy your time with the rays, and when you’re ready, continue on to meet more marine life around Mote.

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Invertebrate Encounter

On the 1st floor, you can find the Invertebrate Encounter next to the Stingray Encounter, across from the Lionfish.

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Welcome to the Florida gulf coast invertebrate encounter! Here you’ll meet some of the fascinating creatures that live along our coasts. You will encounter horseshoe crabs, with their hard, rounded shells shaped almost like helmets and a long, stiff tail they use for steering and flipping themselves over. Their many legs and small pincers are tucked underneath, hidden from view until they move. You’ll also find slipper lobsters — with their flat, shovel-like antennae, they look like they’re wearing helmets. Sea urchins rest along the bottom with their spines waving gently, and whelks move slowly across the sand with their ornate shells.

If you’d like to feel these animals, gently reach in with two fingers and wait for your encounter. Nothing here will hurt or harm you, but remember that they are living animals, so always be careful and respectful.

Enjoy spending time with these unique invertebrates, and when you’re ready, continue on to discover even more marine life here at Mote!

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Lionfish

Towards the end of Florida’s Gulf Coast gallery on the 1st floor, the Lionfish can be spotted across from the Invertebrate encounter and to the right of the Deep Water Benthic habitat.

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Meet the invasive lionfish (scientific name: pterois volitans)!

Lionfish are colorful fish species with venomous spines. They have bold reddish and white stripes, with big, flowy fins and sharp spines that fan out like a lion’s mane around its body.

Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific and live in various habitats, including artificial and natural reefs, estuaries, mangroves, and seagrass beds. Lionfish can inhabit waters as deep as 1,000 feet, tolerate salinity as low as 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lionfish are a hardy, generalist predator. Originally from the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, lionfish were introduced to the Atlantic Ocean in the 1980s. Mote research suggests that lionfish eat a wide variety of fish and invertebrates (over 90 species)! These big appetites can hurt the reef by reducing the population of small native fish and invertebrates. With no natural predators in their invaded ranges, and lots of food, lionfish populations can quickly rise. When lionfish take over a reef, coral suffers as well. The small fish and invertebrates that keep the coral reef clean and balanced can disappear, leaving the coral helpless against overgrowing algae and other pests.

For these reasons, Lionfish are considered an invasive species. Invasive species are animals or plants that are introduced into an area they are not native to. When this happens, they can negatively impact native wildlife, cause damage that is costly to repair, and pose a threat to human health and safety.

Did you know that you can catch and eat lionfish? It’s one tasty way to remove these invasive fish from the reef!

Thank you for learning about the invasive lionfish. Keep exploring to meet more unique marine animals!

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Deep Water Benthic

Towards the end of Florida’s Gulf Coast gallery on the 1st floor, the Deep Water Benthic habitat can be spotted across from the Invertebrate encounter and to the left of the Lionfish.

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Welcome to the depths, where smaller animals scurry while invasive intruders drift over reefs looking for their next meal.

One of these benthic animals is the Giant Isopod (scientific name: bathynomus giganteus). Related to small pillbugs, or roly-polys, that you can find on land, the giant isopod has a body covered in tough, overlapping plates, like pieces of armor. Long antennae sweep through the dark water, while dozens of small legs crawl slowly across the seafloor. Its large, reflective eyes help it sense movement in the darkness. But unlike those tiny roly-polys, the giant isopod can reach up to 16 and a half inches long, preying on smaller animals and scavenging the organic material that drifts down from above.

Other deep-ocean animals have many superpowers. They are great under pressure. At sea level, the atmosphere pressure is 14.6 pounds per square inch. Deep-sea marine life survive pressures more than 100 times greater.

Another “superpower” is that some can glow! Many deep-ocean animals create their own light or carry glowing bacteria. This is called “bioluminescence.” Predators like anglerfish use light to attract and see their prey. Prey animals sometimes use it to distract predators.

A third unique attribute of deep-ocean animals is that they use their sense of touch and smell to get around in the dark! Deep-sea isopods can use long antennae to feel their way, and they can follow scents to find food.

Not all species in the depths are “giants” though. Mote Marine Laboratory scientists are studying microscopic organisms, or microbes, from the deep sea, hoping to discover new sources of medicines, such as antibiotics. When microbes compete for resources in the deep sea, they evolve the ability to make many different natural chemicals. By studying their deep-sea superpowers, we might improve lives on land!

Thank you for exploring the depths! Keep going to learn more about the local species of the Florida Gulf and hear how Mote scientists are making new discoveries every day.

Florida’s Gulf Coast

Portal to the Gulf

At the end of Florida’s Gulf Coast gallery on the 1st floor, the Portal to the Gulf can be found in the tunnel located to the left of the Deep Water Benthic habitat.

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Explore Florida’s coastal waters in the Portal to the Gulf! In this gallery, learn about elasmobranchs, a group of cartilaginous fishes including: sharks, rays, and skates.

Why do they matter? There are a number of reasons. First, sharks, skates, and rays play important roles in their ocean homes, which scientists are only beginning to understand. By eating prey in open water and swimming onto reefs, they can bring nutrients that help support reef life.

Second, sharks, skates, and rays have natural superpowers, including disease resistance. Their biology is giving scientists clues to improve human medical care.

Third, many people around the world catch sharks, rays, and skates for food and income. Opportunities to view these animals also attract tourists, boosting local economies. To keep these benefits, countries must protect their shark, skate, and ray populations by managing fishing and tourism carefully.

And fourth, sharks are important symbols in some cultures. For people around the world, they inspire wonder and a desire to protect the oceans.

Let’s learn more about shark anatomy. Sharks are fishes with skeletons made of flexible material called “cartilage.” They don’t have bones like most fishes. Neither do their close relatives, rays and skates. Did you know that you have cartilage AND bones? Tap on your jaw and you’ll feel the hard bone. Bend your ear and you’ll feel the flexible cartilage!

At this exhibit, we have an enlarged image of a shark, shown from the side with some of its main features labeled. A shark’s shape, size, fins and other features can tell you what species it is.

Starting at the front of the shark is a snout—that’s the pointed part of the head. Just underneath are the nostrils, two small openings close to the front. Moving back a little, sharks have one eye on either side of their head, and below the eyes is the mouth.

Sharks and related fish species can sense electric fields—like those from their prey—using tiny sensors on their bodies called “ampullae of Lorenzini”, which look like tiny freckles on their skin!

Just behind the head are several narrow slits on each side—these are the gill openings, used for breathing. Sharks, rays and skates have five to seven openings depending on the species. Water comes in through the mouth, brings oxygen to the gills and leaves through the gill slits.

The lateral line system is made of many tiny organs that sense water movement. These organs, called “neuromasts,” are found inside small pits in the shark’s skin and canals along its sides The lateral line system may help sharks sense and avoid obstacles, track prey, detect currents and more.

A bit farther back, along the sides of the body, are the pectoral fins. These wide fins stick out to the left and right.

Along the top of the shark is the first dorsal fin—the tall one that rises from the back. If you keep moving toward the tail along the back, you’ll also find a smaller second dorsal fin.

On the underside of the body, there are a few more fins. Just behind the pectoral fins are the pelvic fins, and farther toward the tail is the anal fin.

At the very end is the caudal fin, or tail, which is oriented vertically.

Even these perfectly-designed predators face challenges in the ocean. People catch sharks for food and fun. Sometimes, people fish for other species but catch sharks by accident. Catching too many sharks can harm our oceans. To prevent overfishing, Mote scientists have monitored sharks around Florida for decades and advised government decision makers to help sharks recover. Now, Mote continues to track sharks and share information to help people and sharks coexist. If you fish for sharks, follow all state and federal requirements. Ensure you have the right permits, gear and training.

There are some important things to know to be safe near sharks. Do sharks bite humans on purpose? No, not normally. It is most often a case of mistaken identity for their natural prey: fish, rays, crustaceans and other marine life. It may also be their response to being threatened or provoked. Should you be cautious around sharks? Yes. They’re wild animals. Avoid swimming when sharks are most active— between dusk and dawn—or where people are fishing. Sharks might be drawn to the smell of bait.

Thank you for learning about these exciting elasmobranchs and the scientists who study them. Keep going to explore more of Mote’s research here in the Florida Gulf and beyond.

Florida’s Gulf Coast Observation Deck

Genie’s Magic Book

On the 2nd floor, Genie’s Magic book can be found to the right of the Florida’s Gulf Coast Observation Deck, straight ahead after ascending the stairs.

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Welcome to the Magic Book, where you can learn about Dr. Eugenie Clark, Mote’s founding director and a pioneering marine scientist. Nicknamed the “Shark Lady” for her research on shark biology and behavior, she showed the world that sharks are not monsters, despite how they are sometimes portrayed in popular culture. Today, Mote scientists continue her mission by studying sharks and many other marine animals around the world to help people understand and protect them.

Genie kept a notebook filled with her discoveries, sketches, and stories from the field. This exhibit brings her desk to life with a giant interactive notebook that shares her story out loud. Flip through the oversized pages, and with each gentle wave sound, a new part of Genie’s journey begins.

Behind the desk, you’ll also find a collage of photos and maps showing Genie and her colleagues on research trips around the world, along with copies of her handwritten notes where she recorded the excitement of her findings.

Turn the page to begin the interactive experience — or continue listening to this track to hear more highlights from Dr. Eugenie Clark’s trailblazing career.

Meet the Shark Lady:

Genie became known as the “Shark Lady” because she loved to learn about sharks and she helped people to recognize that sharks are not monsters—they are fishes that play important roles in healthy oceans. As with any wild animal, do not approach sharks unless you are a trained professional, like our shark scientists at Mote.

A culture of science and teamwork:

Genie was a half-Japanese woman, so she didn’t look like most of the people working in science in the United States at that time. Because of that, she sometimes faced unfair treatment.

Genie succeeded because she was strong, curious and happy to work with people from all around the world. These qualities help Mote scientists study and protect our oceans today!

Kon’nichiwa from Japan!:

Kon’nichiwa means “hello” in Japanese. Genie’s mother was Japanese and her father was American. She traveled to Japan in 1965 to give the Crown Prince a trained shark, demonstrating her research on sharks’ ability to learn.

Hitting the books:

Genie in the library at the laboratory. Scientists read lots of research papers and books to see what other scientists have learned and prepare for their own new research.

Deeply curious:

Genie conducted 72 deep dives in special vehicles that can handle extreme ocean depths—submersibles. Her deepest trip: 12,000 feet down to the bottom of Monterey Canyon!

Sharks from the depths:

Genie was curious about deep-sea sharks such as these kitefin (Dalatias) sharks. Did you know that another deep-sea shark species was named in Genie’s honor? It’s called Genie’s dogfish (the scientific name is Squalus clarkae).

Dr. Clark inspires women in science:

In 1950, Dr. Eugenie Clark earned her Ph.D., also called a doctorate. That year, fewer than 10% of the U.S. doctorates for science and engineering were awarded to women. Inspired by Genie and other trailblazers, women lead many groundbreaking research programs at Mote today.

She’s not here for the Pyramids:

Genie rides a camel in 1969 in Egypt. What brought her to Egypt? The Red Sea, of course! In this diverse underwater ecosystem, she discovered multiple new fish species.

Hitchin’ a ride:

While diving, Genie and her team encountered a friendly blue sea star (Linckia laevigata), which swam on top of one person’s head and wrapped itself around Genie’s arm.

Lady with a Spear:

Genie learned to spearfish from local residents of Palau in Micronesia, where she traveled to study poisonous fishes in 1949. She shared her adventures in her popular book “Lady with a Spear,” and she later wrote the book “The Lady & the Sharks” about her ongoing research and the founding of Mote Marine Laboratory.

Same fish, different name:

Genie learned the Latin names of fishes during her education in the United States. But when she traveled to Micronesia, she met local people who called these fishes by completely different names. She was excited to write them all down! This was something she would do for many of the places that she traveled around the world.

It’s important to know the different names that people use for marine life worldwide so we can communicate and work together to understand and protect the oceans.

Fish faces from far-flung places:

Genie’s journals describe fishes from the places she studied all around the world. She documented fish underwater in their habitat, which few scientists were doing when she began her career.

Diving 267 feet at age 73:

Genie’s deepest scuba dive was 267 feet (81 meters), accompanying diver John Pohle to view tilefish nests off Papua New Guinea in 1995 when she was 73 years old. She completed her last dive at age 92!

Seen this shell before?:

Do you recognize this animal in Genie’s journal entry from Papua New Guinea?

It’s a chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius), related to squid and octopuses. Today, these animals are threatened by overfishing because of their beautiful shells.

Some notable photos featured in this exhibit include: Genie with three others in front of the Pisces submersible from a dive in Bermuda in August 1986. Dr. Eugenie Clark & Captain Alfred McLaren on a submersible from a dive in Lake Tahoe in May 2009. Eugenie Clark in the Alvin submersible in Monterey Canyon in October 1988. Genie with a kitefin shark. Genie at the water’s edge with four others. She taught Prince Akihito how to use a mask and snorkel as they looked for frillfin gobies. Genie Clark diving with a whale shark. Drs. Eugenie Clark & Michael Crosby before scuba diving in Eilat, Israel.

Thank you for exploring the Magic Book and learning about the inspiring life and work of Dr. Eugenie Clark- the Shark Lady. Continue your journey to discover more of Mote’s stories—where science, curiosity, and a love for the ocean come together to shape the future of marine conservation!

Florida’s Gulf Coast Observation Deck

Animal Tracking

On the 2nd floor, the Animal Tracking exhibit can be found in the Florida’s Gulf Coast Observation Deck, straight ahead after ascending the stairs.

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Coming soon!

Florida’s Gulf Coast Observation Deck

Florida Keys Reef

On the 2nd floor, the Florida Keys Reef exhibit can be found to the left of the Florida’s Gulf Coast Observation Deck, straight ahead after ascending the stairs.

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Welcome to the Florida Keys Reef! This habitat is teeming with life — from brightly colored reef fish and vibrant corals to sea urchins and other invertebrates that make their homes among the reef’s structures.

Here you’ll find Atlantic blue tangs, with deep blue, disc-shaped bodies that flash as they glide through the water. Small damselfish add bursts of yellow and electric blue as they dart quickly in and out of the coral branches. Along the rocks, a sea urchin settles with long spines waving gently in the current. The corals themselves form a maze of shapes and textures — from branching structures like antlers to rounded, boulder-like mounds — each providing shelter and protection for the reef community.

Coral reefs like this one provide food, shelter, and nursery grounds for countless marine species, and they also help protect our shorelines from waves and storms. But reefs are fragile and face many threats, including climate change, pollution, and disease. Studying them helps scientists understand how to restore coral populations, protect biodiversity, and ensure these vital ecosystems can continue supporting both marine life and people.

Thank you for visiting the Florida Keys Reef! If you haven’t already, check out the Coral Reef stem Workforce Development lab connected to this exhibit to learn more about the important work our scientists are doing to study and restore these ecosystems.

Classrooms

Biomedical and Immunology Teaching Lab

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Classrooms

Marine Ecology Teaching Lab

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Classrooms

Ocean Technology Teaching Lab

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Atrium

Honua Uliuli: Globe Interactive

Explore where Mote scientists work around the world on this interactive globe located in the first floor atrium of Mote SEA.

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Welcome to the Honua Uliuli interactive exhibit, showcasing Mote’s global research! As Mote’s President and CEO explains, “Because our shared oceans know no political boundaries, Mote’s International Marine Science Diplomacy Initiative is vital for us to partner and collaborate with researchers all around the world in developing and deploying innovative science and technology to help solve the many challenges our oceans face today and into the future.”

Collaboration and innovative science are at the heart of Mote’s mission. To expand global partnerships, Mote works with scientists around the world to share ideas and advance marine research. Our international work includes restoring coral reefs and studying their health, analyzing water chemistry, addressing harmful algal blooms, understanding how climate change affects marine ecosystems and species, surveying animal populations, and rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing sick and injured marine life.

Working together not only deepens scientific knowledge but also strengthens international cooperation in the quest to protect our oceans.

This exhibit features a large, interactive globe with actively circulating currents and modeled topography. Zoom in and out to explore Mote’s research across regions. From shark tracking in the Bahamas, to coral heat-resiliency studies in Taiwan, to developing stranding networks and necropsy techniques in Senegal, discover the work Mote scientists are leading worldwide to better understand our oceans, the challenges they face, and how we can protect them for the future.

Atrium

Data Dashboard

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A sea star with a bright pink underside in the Indo-Pacific Gallery at Mote Science Education Aquarium

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