Penguin Palooza

Around Ohio

The final exhibit actually held birds--and rather comical ones. It housed five species of Antarctic penguins. Unlike other birds, penguins have solid, dense bones that help keep them from floating. They're also covered in a layer of blubber and warm feathers to protect them from icy water. A penguin's diet consists mainly of crustaceans, fish, and squid.

 

The penguins mostly occupied themselves with preening their feathers or basking in the sunlight.

Penguin Palooza

These two penguins almost seemed to be involved in a conversation.

How do you do?

One penguin was brave enough to take a dip in the cold water.

Brrrrr...

Surrounded by Sharks

Around Ohio

The largest display, not only in terms of amount of water, but also the size of the inhabitants, was home to one of the largest kinds of fish: sharks. Unlike other fish, sharks must be constantly swimming in order to send water over their gills and keep themselves afloat in the water.

Sandbar Shark

 

This next fish is actually called a shark ray. The Newport Aquarium has more shark rays on display than anywhere else in the world.

Shark Ray

 

This loggerhead sea turtle was also at home in the shark exhibit. These turtles are considered an endangered species, not only because of increasing danger to the turtles, but also due to loss of suitable nesting beaches.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

 

Here's another shark. I wouldn't want to get caught near those teeth! Sharks have multiple rows of teeth, so when one tooth is lost, another one moves forward to take its place.

 

 Sand Tiger Shark