June 7, 2022

Five “Must-Sea” Creatures Inside Unseen Oceans

Experience an ocean you never imagined as Discovery Place Science presents Unseen Oceans, an exhibition which moves from the oceans’ sunlit surfaces to dark depths below, revealing a world previously hidden to humans.

Our world is truly an ocean planet. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans, yet surprisingly little of these vast realms has been explored—until now!
Experience an ocean you never imagined as Discovery Place Science presents Unseen Oceans, an exhibition produced by the American Museum of Natural History, which moves from the oceans’ sunlit surfaces to dark depths below, revealing a world previously hidden to humans.

Explore the latest advances in ocean exploration, the researchers and technologies behind them and the mysteries that remain. Plus, pilot a submersible, explore secret landscapes and get up close and personal with some of the coolest creatures on Earth—both past and present.
Book your visit today and don’t miss these five creatures inside Unseen Oceans, included with admission to Discovery Place Science.

Atlantic Lined Seahorse

  • Depth: 3-65 feet
  • Range: Central Western Pacific Ocean and Indo-Pacific

Growing to a maximum size of six inches, this seahorse’s small size allows it to find food in seagrass beds and anchor for rest and protection on blades of grass. Lined seahorses vary in color and can easily blend into their reef habitats. Because of this ability to camouflage and their bony bodies, these seahorses have very few known predators. Seahorses primarily eat larval shrimp, amphipods, copepods, worms and small snails.

Blue Green Chromis

  • Depth: 3-65 feet
  • Range: Central Western Pacific Ocean and Indo-Pacific

A species of damselfish, blue green chromis are found in coral reefs and lagoons in tropical and subtropical waters. These iridescent apple-green and light blue fish grow up to 3.9 inches. Blue green chromis are peaceful fish that move in large, loosely congregated shoals. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, amphipods and copepods typically make up the diet of blue green chromis.

Moon Jellyfish

  • Depth: 0-1,000 feet
  • Range: Areas of upwelling and coastal waters

Named for its translucent, moonlike bell, the moon jellyfish is made up of 95% water and has no brain, eyes or heart. Moon jellyfish grow up to 24 inches in diameter and have short tentacles that sweep food toward the mucous layer on the edge of the bell. Their diet includes zooplankton, mollusk larvae, crustaceans and small fish. Moon jellyfish can sting people, but generally a person stung will just feel a mild stinging sensation.

Spider Crab

  • Depth: 50-400 feet
  • Range: Nova Scotia to Florida to Brazil

Also known as the portly spider crab, this long-legged crustacean has a shell with a median row of nine low spines. Spider crabs have tasting and sensing organs on the tips of their walking legs for identifying food like dead or decaying fish, invertebrates and algae. These slow-moving crabs often walk in a forward motion but are capable of side-stepping like other crabs. Spider crabs can measure up to one foot when their legs are outstretched.

Zebra Bullhead Shark

  • Depth: 0-656 feet
  • Range: Western Pacific: Japan to northwestern Australia

Known for its distinctive black/brown zebra-like stripes, blunt snout and square head, the zebra bullhead shark is one of nine known living species of bullhead sharks in the world. These sharks get their name from the brow bone over each eye that gives them a bull-like appearance. Zebra bullhead sharks grow up to 50 inches long and can weigh 55-88 pounds. These sharks are gentle, nocturnal animals that feed on shellfish, mollusks and small fish.