NEWS & ANOUNCEMENTS

AUG

12

Bat Rays and Shovel Nose Sharks!

Check Out the Newest Arrivals to the Shark and Stingray Touch tank

At the Atlantic City Aquarium

The tank is open all day from 10 until 5pm and feedings are at noon and three pm daily.

The Shovelnose Guitarfish is a guitar-shaped ray with a broad disc that is greater in length than width; a relatively smooth dorsal surface except for a single row of thorns around the eyes and extending along the back and tail; a long, pointed snout with a rounded tip; small, rounded, pebble-like teeth; a first dorsal fin that originates closer to the pelvic fin base than to the caudal fin origin; a thick tail; and a moderately large caudal fin without a distinct lower lobe. The color ranges from an olive to sandy brown above, but without prominent dark bars across the back, and white below.

HABITAT AND RANGE: Shovelnose Guitarfishes are a shallow-water species commonly found at a depth of 1 to 13 m, although they may be found at depths down to 91 m. They usually lie partially buried on sandy or mud bottoms but occasionally are observed in sea grass beds. These rays will at times congregate in large numbers in shallow bays and estuaries. The Shovelnose Guitarfish is endemic to the eastern Pacific, ranging from San Francisco southward at least to the Gulf of California, and possibly to Mazatlan, Mexico.

Bat rays swim gracefully by flapping their batlike wings (pectoral fins) bird style—a feature that gives these rays their common name and their family name, “eagle rays.” They are found in muddy and sandy bottom bays, kelp forests and close to coral reefs.

Those batlike wings also serve in the hunt for food. Bat rays flap their pectoral fins in the sand to expose buried prey, like clams. Rays also use their lobelike snouts to dig prey from sandy bottoms. The resulting pit can be up to 13 feet (4 m) long and eight inches (20 cm) deep—an important source of “leftover” small prey for fishes that can’t dig. Bat rays have one to three venomous barbed spines at the base of their long tails, but these docile animals sting only to defend themselves.

Bat ray teeth are fused into plates that can crush the strongest clam shells. The rays crush the entire clam, or other mollusks, inside their mouths, spit out the shells, and then eat the soft, fleshy parts. If a tooth breaks or wears out, a new one replaces it. Rays grow new teeth continuously, like their shark kin.

JUL

01

Super Summer Days

11:00 am - Live Dive Show

12:00 and 3:00 pm – Feeding of shark and rays at touch tank

2:00 pm – Live exotic animals show

JUL

01

All New Tropical Rainforest Exhibit

Tropical Rainforest Exhibit

Opening May 10, 2008

Opening day festivities will include a visit from Cha Cha, the Rainforest Café mascot and ‘goody bags’ for the children compliments of the Rainforest Café and complimentary popcorn. Super Saturday’s activities will also be incorporated into the celebration with:
* 11 a.m. – The Live Diver Feeding Show – Interact with the diver as he feeds the sharks and rays in the main tank on the first floor.
* 12 noon and 3 p.m. – Baby Stingray and Shark Feeding – Purchase a small cup of food and hand feed the baby stingrays and bamboo sharks.
* 2 p.m. – Live Exotic Animal Show – Meet exotic animals from around the globe, from the largest species of scorpion to the softest furred mammal in the world. Not only will visitors learn interesting facts but they’ll get to touch many of the animals in this 30 minute show.

The New Rainforest Exhibit has three habitats and two touch tanks with a variety of rainforest animals including: salmon pink birdeater tarantula Cook’s tree boa Giant day gecko Veiled chameleon Crested gecko Water dragon Armored skink Leaf tail gecko Motoro stingray Matamata turtle Red iguana black/gold tegu red footed tortoise green amevia Cuban knight anole red eye tree frog leaf frog clown tree frog tiger leg tree frog poison dart frog

APR

01

2 for Tuesdays

Visit the Atlantic City Aquarium and IMAX on Tuesdays (Children visit two attractions for less than the price of one)

Purchase a discounted ticket to IMAX “Dolphin & Whales 3D” $7.95 (value $11.95) and receive discounted admission to the Atlantic City Aquarium on Tuesdays.

Present discount ticket stub (from IMAX ticket) to aquarium cashier and receive $3.50 admission for children and $6.50 admission for adults on Tuesdays only.

Limit 6 tickets. Offer valid on Tuesdays only 4/1 thru 7/1/08. Not valid on previously purchased IMAX or aquarium tickets.

Tickets purchase subject to availability. Movie schedules are subject to change or cancel without prior notice.

Must present discount stub from IMAX or mention 2 for Tuesday promotion prior to purchasing aquarium tickets to receive discount.

For more information on Dolphin & Whales 3D visit www.tropicana.net