New Mote Exhibit “Oh Baby!” to Explore Ocean Animal Romance, Babies, Families
“Where do little fishies come from?” If you ask a fish, get ready for awkward silence. If you ask a marine scientist, get ready for amazing answers.
People of all ages can learn how ocean life renews itself during the limited-time, marine-science exhibit “Oh Baby! Life Cycles of the Seas,” starting on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2015 at Mote Aquarium in Sarasota.
This family-friendly, educational exhibit will invite visitors to discover ocean animal “romance” and reproduction, babies of many species and the survival challenges facing new generations of marine life. These topics are central to marine research around the globe, including the world-class science of Mote Marine Laboratory.
Mote raises and breeds many marine species — such as sport fish for ecosystem restoration and seahorses for conservation and education. Understanding marine animal life cycles — including how and where they mate and give birth — is vital for conserving populations of keystone marine species and their future generations.
“Guests of every age will be able to relate to this exhibit — its interactive games and activities are designed to get families and couples talking and get everyone thinking,” said Evan Barniskis, Assistant Vice President for Mote Aquarium. “Kids will be amazed by the unusual lives of baby animals, from dangerous sibling rivalries to incredible journeys. Meanwhile adults will enjoy learning about the quirks of undersea romance.”
Highlights of “Oh Baby!” will include:
- A baby shark touch pool with 9- to 12-inch sharks of the Pacific Ocean — species never before displayed at Mote. This display will help reveal the diversity of sharks and show a younger stage of their life cycle than many other aquarium exhibits.
- Baby marine animals of multiple other species.
- A family-friendly look at marine animal courtship behaviors. (Moms and dads, please don’t try these at home!)
- Species of seahorses, pipefish, garden eels and jellyfish that have never before been displayed at Mote.
- “Who Wants to Be a Sea Star?” — a multi-player, reality TV-style science quiz specially designed for this exhibit — along with many other hands-on elements.
Visitor Information
“Oh Baby!” will be open Feb. 14 through Sept. 27 during normal hours at Mote Aquarium: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. seven days a week. Mote Aquarium is located at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway on City Island, Sarasota. The exhibit will be within Mote’s Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center, 1703 Ken Thompson Parkway (a short walk down the street from the Aquarium admissions office and parking lot).
Visiting “Oh Baby!” will be included with normal admission to Mote Aquarium. Admission is $19.75 for adults (13 & older); $18.75 for seniors (age 65 and older); $14.75 for youths (ages 4-12); free for children (ages 0-3) and free for Mote Members.
Mote Aquarium is an informal science education center that displays more than 100 marine species and highlights the world-class marine science of Mote Marine Laboratory. For more information, visit: www.mote.org
Sponsorship opportunities are available for "Oh Baby! Life Cycles of the Seas." Contact Stacy Alexander at 941-388-4441, ext. 509 or stacyalexander@mote.org
Mote thanks: Exhibit Sponsor TDT, Presenting Sponsor BMO Harris Bank and Sponsor NextReef.
