Skinny, long, and live in water are all phrases that can be used to describe both eels and sea snakes, but one’s a reptile and one’s a fish, so what is the difference?

What is a sea snake?

A sea snake, as the name would suggest is the name for a plethora of snakes, that spend significant time in the water, usually to hunt for food. Sea snakes, despite spending a lot of time in water, are still reptiles.

Their bodies are specifically adapted to make them excellent swimmers compared to their solely land-dwelling cousins. An example of such an adaptation is their paddle-like tails that allow them to propel themselves through the water.

Sea snakes do not have gills so they cannot breathe underwater, but they are able to hold their breath for extended periods of time and are also able to absorb oxygen into their blood through their skin.

What is an eel?

Eels, on the other hand, are a type of slender fish that is visually similar to a snake. Unlike most other fish, eels lack pelvic fins and only have very small pectoral fins.

Much like sea snakes, an eel’s body is slender and adapted to glide through the water by generating waves up their body. Eels can also swim backwards by reversing the waves’ directions.

Key differences in appearance

Sea snakes and eels are both very similar-looking animals, but you’ll be interested to know that there are some key differences to set them apart.

The main difference in how an eel and a sea snake look is that a sea snake doesn’t have any fins or gills.

As well as this, when in water, eels are said to resemble a ribbon gliding through the water, whereas sea snakes resemble a thin piece of rope.

Habitat differences

Eels can be found in both seawater and freshwater, with most living in the sea. They may live in the shallower waters and burrow in the sand and mud, while other species live much deeper. On the other hand, sea snakes are mostly found in the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.

Sea snake vs eel diet

Due to their widely differing habitats, it is unsurprising that even though they look similar, sea snakes and eels have vastly different diets.

Sea snakes rely primarily on small fish and fish eggs for sustenance which are found in abundance in the oceans that they inhabit.

Eels on the other hand, must broaden their horizons, feeding on not only small fish but also invertebrates, crustaceans, shrimp, crabs and sea urchins. Some species of eel are even cannibalistic, meaning they eat other eels!

How long do sea snakes and eels typically live for?

As with most animals, the lifespan can vary wildly depending on what species it belongs to.

For example, the honeycomb moral eel (Gymnothorax favagineus) is known to live to approximately 30 years, with its European cousin (Aguilla anguilla) being known to live up to around 50 years, although an average lifespan of 20 years is much more common. While we know very little about the lifespan of a sea snake currently, scientists agree that most species live up to around 5-10 years on average.

Defence mechanisms

Despite their relatively small stature, eels and sea snakes are both formidable opponents that you wouldn’t want to swim into in a hurry! Let’s look at how these incredible animals defend themselves from predators.

Electric eels are known for their ability to produce electricity to shock any predators that get too close – however, they aren’t an eel at all! Electric eels are actually a group of knifefish, that are closer in relation to catfish than true eels.

Other eels defend themselves using incredibly strong jaws and sharp teeth that produce a seriously nasty bite if threatened or disturbed. Some species of eel are also nocturnal meaning that they are less likely to encounter fish that mean to cause them harm.

Like many species of terrestrial snake, most sea snakes have a venomous bite. They use this to capture their fast moving prey. The venom from certain species of sea snake can be potent but luckily sea snakes are generally very reluctant to bite humans unless handled without care.

There you have it! Despite their many similarities, there is an awful lot that separates eels and sea snakes, whether it be the small differences in their appearance, their diet or location. Come and see our eels for yourself at our Coral Seas exhibit!

Sharks are no different in this regard, but which senses do they rely on the most? In this blog, we’ll explore the senses that sharks use to catch their prey, what makes them unique and what similarities they share with other fish.

How far can sharks smell? 

Sharks have an incredible sense of smell, among the best in the animal kingdom. They use their sense of smell as their primary weapon to track and catch their prey. Sharks can detect smells at between one part per 25 million and one part per 10 billion, depending on the chemical, and the species of shark. This means some species such as Great white sharks can smell about one drop of blood in a small swimming pool.

Sharks use an organ called the olfactory bulb that is located in their noses to detect blood in the ocean.

Do sharks have good eyesight?

Because of their incredible sense of smell, people often assume that sharks have poor eyesight, but this is false.

Most sharks have sight that becomes more acute when 15 meters or closer to an object, this is when the sense of sight is their dominant sense. Some species of deep-water sharks even have larger eyes that detect very faint glimmers of light.

The reason that a shark’s eyesight isn’t better, is simply that they don’t need it to be any better! They’ve survived for at least 450 million years by relying primarily on their sense of smell.

How well can sharks hear?

Sharks have a very fine-tuned sense of hearing which is more sensitive to low frequencies (10-800Hz). This is because injured or dying fish let out sounds at this frequency, meaning that sharks can determine where an easy meal might be.

They can hear sounds from a fair distance away too, despite only being a tiny opening in their head. According to University College London, sharks can hear sounds from up to 800 feet away.

How sharks use their sense of touch

Much like humans, sharks have touch receptors all over their bodies that can detect whenever something is close enough to be touching them. For smaller sharks, such as the Port Jackson shark, this could be predators or prey, so potentially the difference between life or death.

What do sharks taste?

You might think that because a shark is having to work hard for every meal, they can’t afford to be picky but you couldn’t be further from the truth.

Sharks have taste receptors in their mouths that detect taste and are known to reject meals that are distasteful. Some scientists suspect this is why shark attacks on humans are incredibly rare.

Electro-sensory system & lateral line

Sharks possess a remarkable electro-sensory system, relying on specialised cells called electroreceptors concentrated in the ampullae of Lorenzini around their head. These receptors detect electric fields generated by living organisms, aiding sharks in hunting by sensing the bioelectric fields of potential prey, even in darkness.

Additionally, sharks use a lateral line, a network of sensory cells along their body, to detect water movements, pressure changes, and vibrations from nearby objects – this is how the Blind Cave Fish sees.

This dual sensory adaptation enhances sharks’ awareness, facilitating efficient navigation and contributing to their success as predators in diverse underwater ecosystems. The electro-sensory system and lateral line showcase the extraordinary capabilities that make sharks highly adapted to their aquatic environments.

It is clear to see that sharks, as apex predators, rely on a combination of finely tuned senses to navigate and hunt in their diverse underwater habitats.

While their incredible sense of smell serves as a primary tool for tracking prey, their eyesight is not to be underestimated, allowing them to see between 10 and 15 meters even in murky waters.

During your next visit to Bristol Aquarium, you can not only appreciate the beauty and danger of sharks but also their incredible adaptations that have allowed them to stay at the top of the food chain for almost half a billion years!

So, if you’re hoping to learn a little more about these fascinating, spiny creatures, let’s dive straight in and understand just what is a sea urchin.

What is a sea urchin?

Sea urchins belong to a family called Echinodermata; a term that means spiny-skinned. This Phylum is also home to the likes of starfish, brittle stars and sea cucumbers. As a group, these animals are all known as echinoderms.

As they are spherical in shape and often live on the ocean floor, it’s easy to see why they might be seen as a plant, but they are in fact invertebrates. Sea urchins have been around for 450 million years, making them older than dinosaurs!

Types of sea urchins

There are just under 1,000 different species of sea urchins, each with their own individual characteristics and behaviours. For example, the Diadema sea urchin is one of the most ecologically important species as it helps to keep Caribbean coral reefs healthy.

Here at Bristol Aquarium we have our very own Diadema setosum sea urchin, also known as the long-spine sea urchin. It gets its name from its extremely long, hollow spines that can grow up to 30-40cm. Typically found in the Indo-Pacific region, its spines are mildly venomous but not fatal to humans. Interestingly, this particular species has been observed to have some of the best vision amongst sea urchins and can also rapidly invert its body and “run” on the tips of its longest spines! You can come and see this fascinating species in our Learning Lab.

The red sea urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) is the largest species, which has a skeleton of around 18cm in diameter with spine lengths up to 8cm.

There are also a number of edible species of sea urchins. They are primarily used in Japanese uni sushi.

How to identify a sea urchin

Sea urchins are typically very bright in colour and are completely covered in sharp-looking spines. Fun fact: the word ‘urchin’ comes from an old word for hedgehog!

Older species have shorter, stubby spines while newer species have much spikier spines and are typically recognised as modern sea urchins.

Like other echinoderms, sea urchins have an internal skeleton that’s known as a test, which is usually a sphere shape. This is made from a type of calcium carbonate that holds the sea urchin together. These tests have five symmetrical parts around a central point, known as radial symmetry. This is also very similar to starfish.

Sea urchins can’t swim unlike other sea creatures amongst them. Instead, they have tube feet to move along the sea floor.

Habitat of a sea urchin

As they can’t swim, you’ll find sea urchins along the seabed where they typically favour corals and rocks to help them move around. They live in every ocean around the world, with some living in shallower or deeper waters depending on their species. The deepest a sea urchin has been found is 7,340 metres.

This means sea urchins live off the coast of the UK too, such as the green sea urchin (Psammechinus miliaris), which is primarily green with purple tips. The common sea urchin, which is usually pink in colour, can also be found off most coasts on the UK. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of one in a rockpool.

What do sea urchins eat?

While the main diet of a sea urchin consists of algae, they are actually omnivores. They will eat the likes of sea cucumbers, mussels and sea sponges. As sea urchins aren’t particularly agile, they have developed a method of eating that includes scraping algae into their mouth – which is on their underside.

Sea urchins have a unique chewing organ called the Aristotle’s lantern, which is made up of complex jaws and just 5 teeth that are able to sharpen themselves.

Lifespan of a sea urchin

The lifespan of a sea urchin can depend on its species, but they have been known to live anywhere between 20-200 years. For example, it used to be believed that red sea urchins lived only 7-10 years, but more recent findings show that they can actually live up to 100 years.

However, sea urchins can be very sensitive to any changes in their environment, such a change in the water’s pH and rising temperatures. In this sense, sea urchins can act as an early warning for problems in the wider ecosystem. Some species of sea urchins are considered to be in severe decline.

Are sea urchins dangerous?

Sea urchins may look a little bit scary with their spines, and it’s probably best that you steer clear of touching them! Some species have venom in their spines or in their pedicellariae, which is a defensive pincer. The flower sea urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus) is the most toxic. You’ll find this species across the Indo-West Pacific, from Okinawa in Japan to Tasmania in Australia, as well as the East African coast.

However, sea urchins are very passive and injuries usually only occur when a swimmer brushes against the spines or steps on one by accident.

So, if you’re hoping to come and catch a glimpse of some echinoderms at Bristol Aquarium, come on down to the learning lab to see our long-spined sea urchins and our Ocean Floor exhibit where you can see the common starfish! Don’t forget to book your tickets today. 

That’s right, as absurd as it may sound, not all fish are strong swimmers. In fact, some species can scarcely swim at all, and have instead evolved some pretty ingenious ways to stay afloat in our seas, oceans, rivers, and lakes.

So, of all the sub-par paddlers in the world’s waters, which stand out as the fish that flounder the most? Let’s take a look at some of the species that rank as the world’s worst swimmers, many of which are on display right here at Bristol Aquarium.

Seahorses

There are lots of attributes to seahorses (Hippocampus) that make them impressive and unique marine animals, but swimming isn’t one of them. Sure, they can propel themselves forward with their dorsal fins, but progress is slow and their body shape means they’re very unstable in the water.

Rather than relying on their abject swimming technique, then, seahorses use their powerful tails to anchor to nearby objects, including rocks, coral, and ship wrecks. This prevents them from being swept away in strong currents during feeding and breeding.

Clownfish

Marlin may have crossed the Pacific in search of Nemo, but did you know that the cute-as-a-button clownfish (Amphiprioninae) isn’t actually all that good at swimming?

It’s not that clownfish are unable to swim – they just choose not to. Once a clownfish has chosen an anemone in which to live, it will scarcely swim further than a few feet from its new home, meaning that the species hasn’t exactly evolved to have the strongest swimming technique of other tropical species out there.

Pufferfish

It’s safe to say that pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) aren’t the strongest swimmers in the big blue. Clumsy and ungainly in the water, these fish would stand little chance out-swimming predators. Lucky for them they have one of the most effective and ingenious defence mechanisms in the marine animal kingdom.

When threatened, pufferfish have evolved to literally “puff up”, tripling in size! So, what they lack in swim speed and agility, they make up for in sheer ferocity. Some pufferfish have sharp spines, like the Porcupine pufferfish, but they are only poisonous if eaten.

Batfish

Batfish aren’t winning any races against their fellow fish anytime soon. In fact, these unusual bottom-dwellers can barely swim at all.

Instead, they scamper across the seafloor on their pectoral, pelvic and anal fins, rather like a frog or crustacean. Lucky for them, they have no natural predators – good news when you move this slowly. They are, however, at risk from the effects of coral bleaching and habitat loss, like so many marine creatures.

Stonefish

Stonefish aren’t ones for swimming vast distances at high speeds in search of a meal. Indeed, it’s in their best interest to stay as still as possible and wait for prey to come to them.

Why? Not only are stonefish armed with some of the deadliest venom in the ocean, but they also rely on camouflage and cover to hunt their prey. That’s why these prehistoric-looking bottom-dwellers are most often found hunkered on the seafloor, with their unique, fossil-like appearance doing all the work while they wait for prey to take the bait.

So there you have it – five of the poorest and slowest swimmers in our oceans. There are plenty of other less-than-quick paddlers out there, so if you’d like to learn more, be sure to chat to one of our experienced aquarists during your visit to Bristol Aquarium.

How to swim better than a fish

Now that we’ve established that not all fish are strong swimmers, we thought it would be nice to offer a few tips and insights on how to improve your own swimming technique. After all, there’s nothing better than feeling confident in the water…

• Kick like you mean it: Most of a swimmer’s power comes from the legs, so building a solid swim kick will serve you well.

• Maintain a high elbow position: If you like to front crawl, be sure to maintain a high elbow position on your pull stroke. That way you’ll quickly gain momentum and cut through the water at a much snappier pace.

• Work on your breathing: If there’s one thing guaranteed to hold you back as a swimmer it’s breathing. Learning to breathe while swimming is one of the most difficult aspects of swim training, but is something you’ll need to master if you want to go from a good swimmer to a brilliant one.

Seahorses, pufferfish, and batfish may not be the most adept swimmers in the pond, but each has developed a unique way to cope with the demands of life beneath the ocean waves. If you’d like the opportunity to see some of the sea’s poorest paddlers in the flesh, book your tickets to Bristol Aquarium today.

They may not be the most attractive sea creatures, but eels are incredibly diverse and have some really interesting features. So, let’s learn a little bit more…

Is an eel a fish?

As eels have an appearance closer to a snake or a worm, you’d be mistaken for thinking that these animals aren’t a fish at all – but you’d be wrong! Eels (Anguilliformes) are fish, with gills and a singular fin. They are mostly freshwater fish, but some species are also found in saltwater.

Eels can range from just a few centimetres long, to up to over 3 metres long. The longest known eel is the Slender Giant Moray eel, measuring just under 4 metres, while the heaviest eel is the European conger coming in at around 72kg. Their elongated, wormlike bodies have no pelvic fin, but they do have a continuous dorsal, anal and caudal fin.

Eels differ from traditional fish in that eels have no scales – instead, their body is covered in a protective mucus layer than can also hold water. This allows eels to breathe on dry land for a few hours, which might happen in a dry spell.

Eels have rows of razor sharp teeth, and can vary in colour depending on species. Some are grey and black, while others can be much more colourful.

How many species of eel are there?

Eels are incredibly diverse, with over 800 species! This is broken down into 19 families, which includes general eels as well as moray eels and conger eels. Each of these types differ slightly – for example, moray eels have small, rounded gill openings and generally lack pectoral fins. Moray eels also have two sets of jaws! Conger eels have more vertebrae than the common eel, and their upper and lower jaws are the same length. In a common eel, the lower jaw projects from the upper.

Some of the families of eels include:

• Freshwater eels (Anguillidae) such as the European eel
• Conger eels (Congridae) such as the European and American congers
• Moray eels (Muraenidae) such as the Giant moray eel and Honeycomb moray eel

You can see the Honeycomb moray eel for yourself here at Bristol Aquarium, which get their name from their white-yellow body with black spots.

You’ll be surprised to know that the electric eel isn’t actually part of the eel family at all – it’s a species of knifefish!

Habits and lifecycle of an eel

Eels begin their life as leptocephalus (larva) which are flat and transparent. They enter an extended larval phase, which can last between 4-12 months, before undergoing a rapid metamorphosis to a juvenile stage. A juvenile eel is just a smaller version of the adult. Maturity is reaching after around 10 years in freshwater eels, but it might be earlier in tropical species. When a freshwater eel reaches sexual maturity, it will return to the ocean to spawn and then pass away.

With this in mind, eels are catadromous, which means they are born in the ocean but then spend most of their life in rivers and streams, only to return to the oceans to spawn and finish their life. Eels are also nocturnal, feeding at night but hiding under rocks, logs and mud at the bottom of the water during the daytime.

Eels are typically solitary during their juvenile and adult lives, but there are some instances where they might be seen in groups. For example, garden eels live in vast colonies of several hundred in tropical reef areas. Some will live alone but may hunt in packs.

Interestingly, eels can swim backwards! They move by generating waves that travel the length of their body, which is very similar to a snake. They then simply reverse this movement to swim backwards, which they might do in order to search for their prey.

What do eels eat?

Eels are predatory and follow a carnivorous diet. They typically eat smaller fish, invertebrates, crustaceans, shrimp, crab and sea urchins. Some will also eat insect larvae, and other species of eel are known to be cannibals!

Eels do have some predators, including larger fish and seabirds such as herons. Some mammals will also eat eels including racoons and humans. Eel is a popular item in many Japanese restaurants, although only some parts of the eel are safe to eat.

Why not plan your visit to Bristol Aquarium and come see our collection of Honeycomb moray eels for yourself? Check out our opening times and show off your new knowledge to your friends and family!

Whether you know very little about these sea animals or are a self-proclaimed octopus expert, we’re here to shed some light on how they move, what holds up their insides and their unique skeletal structures. We promise it’s nowhere near as gruesome as it sounds!

Do octopuses have bones?

Octopuses belong to the invertebrate family and don’t have any actual bones in their bodies. Now, this might leave you scratching your head and wondering how they survive without bones of any kind. But the answer to this question is actually much simpler than you might think.

These incredible sea creatures have adapted over the millions of years they’ve been around and have developed something called a hydrostatic skeleton, which we’ll explain in more detail below.

What is a hydrostatic skeleton & how does it work?

You might have heard of other skeleton types like endoskeletons and exoskeletons, but what about the less common hydrostatic skeleton?

A hydrostatic skeleton means that the creature has a fluid-filled muscle system instead of hard, dense bones. This fluid is what allows the creature to move and ensures its body remains well supported. Without this, their bodies risk collapsing under their own weight and their muscle movements would be severely impaired.

While it works similarly to a regular skeleton system by supporting the body, the main reason for their lack of bones is that they’re generally not needed for the creature to live a full and healthy life. In the case of the octopus, the water pressure is more than enough to support their body and the muscles (often referred to as hydrostats) still allow them to move as they need to.

Plus, the unusual skeleton means that they can squeeze into places and gaps that other creatures with bones wouldn’t be able to. Not only can this help protect them from predators and poachers, but it also means they’re able to hunt in unexpected places. The skeleton is an exciting evolutionary development, but it’s one that not many know about!

How do octopuses move?

As you’ll probably know, an octopus has eight arms. But you might not know that each of these is packed with incredibly strong muscles. Without carrying all the weight of hard bones around, they benefit from added buoyancy which helps allow them to easily float around the oceans and seas. Octopuses also have siphons which can shoot jets of water to help propel them through the water quicker.

Their movements are much more flexible and fluid because of their skeletal structures, which sets them apart from many other sea creatures – even those with exoskeletons on the outside of their bodies!

However, they haven’t always been this way. Like molluscs, the earliest known octopuses from around 140 million years ago were covered by a hard shell. They then evolved over time and the shell disappeared because it wasn’t a necessity. So clever!

Which other sea creatures have a hydrostatic skeleton?

Animals with hydrostatic skeletons admittedly aren’t the most common. But like the octopus, there are a few other boneless creatures in our waters and even on land. These include well-known animals like jellyfish, flatworms, nematodes and earthworms.

You can usually spot them from their more unusual appearances since many of these creatures are see-through in appearance. The clue is that if you can see through their body and there aren’t any visible bones, it’s more than likely that they’re propped up by a hydrostatic skeleton.

One of the most interesting things to note is that these creatures don’t usually have any teeth either, since these are classed as bones.

How does a hydrostatic skeleton benefit these marine creatures?

There are a variety of ways the creatures with this type of skeleton benefit from this development. Below we’ll glide through our list of the main advantages…

• They can squeeze into extremely small places thanks to a lack of rigid bone structures in their bodies
• Creatures without dense bones are much more lightweight which allows for more flexible, quicker movements
• Although they can’t use bones for leveraging strength, they can get into small spaces and expand their bodies to pry things open or even squash their prey to suffocate them
• Their healing time is significantly reduced because the fluid in their bodies can quickly regenerate, unlike bones which usually take longer to mend

Check out our website to book your tickets to meet the largest species of octopus and learn even more interesting facts about our sea creatures.

Whether you’re admiring the rays or the sharks, there’s a scientific name attached to each and every aquarium animal. Below, we’ll let you in on the secrets behind why they’re used and where they came from, along with giving you some fun examples.

Why do they have scientific names?

Scientific names aren’t there just for marine biologists to show off their knowledge about the animals. So, what’s the point of using them?

Well, the first and most important reason is that scientific names are universal. No matter what country you’re in or what language you speak, the scientific name always stays the same.

This helps keep confusion to a minimum when identifying and talking about marine life. After all, the scientists specialising in marine life live all over the world and they’ll need to talk to each other about the same things, so it only makes sense to create universal terms. So, while the animals do still have names we recognise, their scientific names serve a very important purpose in the science and marine biology worlds.

Another big reason they’re used is because it means we can’t judge an animal based on appearance. Some species might look very similar but have different characteristics. For example, our rays might all seem to look the same, but Cownose Rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) are very different to Blonde Rays (Raja brachyura). From their head shape to their size, there are a few defining features setting them apart, but the scientific names can really help with telling them apart. The scientific name makes it much easier to spot which is which, which can be super important for finding out which species are endangered or might need help.

Where did these scientific names come from?

The scientific words originate from Latin and Greek, which is probably why they’ll make very little sense to most people. These ancient languages have given us loads of modern-day words you’d be surprised about like video, circle and even dinosaur. So, when it comes to marine life, we can also thank these centuries-old languages for helping us to identify the marine life swimming in our oceans, seas, and aquariums today!

What do they look like?

The names themselves are nearly always split into two. The first part is referred to as the genus, which is the name classifying the animal. The second part then tells us which species the animal belongs to. These two parts combine to make up the full scientific name.

When they’re written down, the scientific names are often written in italics to help differentiate between the common name and the scientific one. We write ours in brackets to make it extra clear. The first word should also start with a capital letter, while the second should start with a lowercase letter.

No two sea animals will be given the same scientific name. Although they might share one part of their name, the other part will be different so that they end up with a completely unique name. For example, some sharks have the same genus, such as the Bull Huss Shark and the Lesser Spotted Cat Shark. Both sharks share the Scyliorhinus genus but have different species names. This means that the Lesser Spotted Cat Shark is left with Scyliorhinus Canicula as its scientific name, while the Bull Huss Shark is identified as Scyliorhinus stellaris.

Are some animals only known by their scientific name?

There are a few animals that are only known by their scientific name, including Anemones. This just means that the common name and the scientific name match up, making it quite easy to remember.

This is referred to as a tautonym, which just means that they have the same name for their genus and species. Sometimes this will still be written out twice, as it is with Bream fish which are referred to as Boops boops. This is one of our favourites because it’s so fun to say! Another example is the Smooth-Hound Shark, which has the scientific name Mustelus mustelus. Most of the time though, it’ll only be written out once, giving these creatures a one-word scientific name.

In some rare cases, there might be a three-word scientific name. For example, our Red-Eared Slider reptile has the scientific name Trachemys scripta elegans. This happens when there is a species and a sub-species that the creature belongs to. A handful of our freshwater marine animals have these longer names, so look out for them on your next visit!

Our aquatic animals and their scientific names

Ready to learn some more scientific names for the aquatic animals at Bristol Aquarium? Check out our quick list including the common names and scientific names of each one below!

Sharks

• Smooth-Hound Shark – Mustelus mustelus
• Lesser Spotted Cat Shark – Scyliorhinus canicular
• Bull Huss Shark – Scyliorhinus stellaris
• Port Jackson Shark – Heterodontus portusjacksoni
• Japanese Banded Hound Shark – Triakis scyllium
• Arabian Carpet Shark – Chiloscyllium arabicum

Rays and Skates

• Common Stingray – Dasyatis pastinaca
• Painted Ray – Raja microocellata
• Blonde Ray – Raja brachyura
• Cownose Ray – Rhinoptera bonasus

Native Species

• Sea Bass – Dicentrarchus labrax
• Gilthead Sea Bream – Sparus aurata
• Short Snouted Seahorses – Hippocampus hippocampus
• Cuckoo Wrasse – Labrus mixtus
• Common Starfish – Asterias rubens
• Atlantic Wreckfish – Polyprion americanus

Fresh Water Species

• Red Bellied Piranha – Pygocentrus nattereri
• Black Pacu – Colossoma macropomum
• Red Pacu – Piaractus brachypomus
• Red-Eared Slider – Trachemys scripta elegans
• Mississippi Map Turtle – Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni
• Blind Cave Fish – Astyanax mexicanus
• Malawi Cichlids – Cichlidae

Tropical Species

• Giant Grouper – Epinephelus lanceolatus
• Honeycomb Moray Eel – Gymnothorax favagineus
• Red Lionfish – Pterois volitans
• Cownose Ray – Rhinoptera bonasus
• Big-Bellied Seahorses – Hippocampus abdominalis

Invertebrates

• Anemones – Anemones

Think you know your scientific names? Try our fun quiz to find out just how good you are at identifying which names belong to which sea creatures here at Bristol Aquarium!

Discover all the aquatic animals that call Bristol Aquarium home, along with their scientific names here. And while you’re at it, why not book your tickets and visit us?

The focus of Alicia’s art is marine life. Untamed uses art to explore our oceans – wild, untamed, and unexplored ecosystems, which are increasingly under threat from us. 

The exhibition will showcase around 35 art pieces, primarily exploring marine artivism as well as pieces that showcase the wider natural world.

We caught up with Alicia to ask her a couple of questions about Untamed!

Why did you want to exhibit Untamed at Bristol Aquarium?

In October Chloe, [Chloe O’Dell, Operations Supervisor – Catering and Functions at Bristol Aquarium] and I were chatting about the importance of engaging people with marine life and conservation through art. I mentioned that I had several pieces exploring marine wildlife, and Chloe was excited about the prospect of putting together an exhibition together at the aquarium!

When putting together “Untamed”, I wanted to focus on marine life, but include some pieces from the wider natural world. As I was curating the exhibition off the back of my first solo wildlife art exhibition “Exploring Artivism”, it was important to me that “Untamed” felt like it was building on some of the areas explored previously – namely artivism – as well as introducing new concepts and artworks.

Do you have a favourite piece that is on display at Bristol Aquarium?

That’s such a difficult question! I think all of my pieces have been favourites at some point, and I think whenever I first finish a piece, that artwork automatically becomes my favourite for a while. Having said this, I think I have three pieces which I really love at the Bristol Aquarium:

“Losing their Spot” is one of my most recent pieces – I started drawing cheetahs regularly when producing animations for my short film “The Watchman”; since then I’ve enjoyed exploring cheetahs in my artwork too. I loved painting “Losing their Spot” as I found working on a round canvas really fun, and I enjoyed using bright colours to draw attention to the piece.

I also really love “The Slow Dance”. As it’s such a big piece, consisting of 8 A2 panels, I’d not seen it up before exhibiting it, so it’s been a really special experience finally seeing it come together.

And of course, “When the Whale Sang” has a really special place in my heart, as a pivotal piece which gave me the confidence to delve into artistic science communication and artivism.

‘When the Whale Sang.’ Won the ‘Human Impact’ category in David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the year 2021. Can you tell us what inspired this piece and the message exploring marine life you hope people will take away from it?

“When the Whale Sang” was created in June 2020 using biro – I was doing the British Ecological Society (BES)’s undergraduate summer school, and one of our assignments was to write a blog post communicating a scientific research paper. I decided to do mine on how noise pollution affects cetaceans, as it’s an issue which has always fascinated me; filmmaker Annie Moir create a beautiful short film “A Voice above Nature” which explored this area – she visualised noise pollution in her film, and I thought this was a really different approach!

I knew that I wanted to illustrate my blog post as part of the summer school, and I had recently been exploring the work of Martin Aveling, and was particularly struck by a beautiful artivism piece of his where a tiger turns into a barcode, reflecting the fur trade. So the piece was a combination of inspiration from the BES, Annie, and Mart!

The aim of the piece is to illustrate the effect noise pollution has on cetaceans such as humpback whales. Anthropogenic marine noise pollution affects their communication, meaning they struggle to navigate, find food, avoid predators, and locate potential mates. Noise pollution is caused by everything from fishing practises to military sonar, and it is an issue which is all too often overlooked due to its invisible nature – so I hope that by visualising the noise pollution in a dramatic but beautiful way, it will provoke people to think about this issue, and focus on what we can do to tackle it.

Why did you decide to study Biological Sciences at Oxford university?

I’ve wanted to work in the wildlife film industry since I was about 13, and so I wanted to study Biology, as I thought this would be the best foundation for me to do this. Additionally, I love Biology – specifically zoology, ecology, conservation, and ornithology – so I wanted to study it in-depth at degree level! Studying at Oxford has also always been an aspiration of mine. I liked the collegiate aspect of the university, and the fact the degree encourages and hones your writing skills through essays. I love writing and the arts – so the course at Oxford allowed me to incorporate these skills as much as possible within the science degree.

Studying a Master’s in Wildlife Filmmaking at UWE Bristol, have you been inspired by the nature at Bristol at all?

Absolutely! I used to live in Frenchay, so I was surrounded by wildlife – kingfishers, green woodpeckers, jays, foxes, buzzards, and lots of warblers and smaller bird species! Wildlife and nature can be very therapeutic and relaxing, as well as deeply inspiring. Often, I come back with art and writing ideas after walking in nature. Most notably, my illustrated poetry mini-collections are all inspired by the nature I’ve encountered on my doorstep – be that in Bristol or elsewhere. My most recent collection “Sing for me, your sweet, sweet song” was inspired by the birds I used to hear singing on Frenchay Moor.

Your exhibition ‘Untamed’ explores our ocean and marine life. What do you think the biggest challenge is for creatures of the deep?

There are lots of issues facing our marine and ocean life, and deep-sea species are no exception. Deep sea mining is one of the most prominent threats, causing habitat destruction, pollution, and noise pollution; as well as climate change causing warming waters around the globe. Chemical pollutants and oil spills are hugely damaging to marine life, suffocating reefs and mangroves, and dooming marine life to slow deaths. The biggest challenge faced for all marine life is humans – and our multi-pronged impact on their ecosystems.

Art is a powerful tool that gets important messages across in a creative way. What do you hope to achieve with ‘Untamed’?

I hope that “Untamed” makes people stop and think about our oceans. So often we forget about our seas – but they are our biggest form of carbon storage, home to over 240,000 known species, and over 80% unexplored. We have so much to learn from our wild, untameable ocean – and I hope that “Untamed” reflects this.

You can come to Bristol Aquarium to view ‘Untamed’ until the 10th of February. You do not need to buy a ticket to enter Bristol Aquarium to see Alicia’s artwork.

Bristol Aquarium will be transforming into a port terminal this Summer Holidays to take its visitors on a voyage across the world’s oceans.

Visitors will pick up their tickets and passport at the check-in desk, take part in a postcard trail around the aquarium to fill in their passport and get involved in all of our scheduled activities.

Pack your bags and head to Bristol Aquarium this Summer to see our underwater animals up close!

Bristol Aquarium will be open from 10am until 6pm (last entry at 5pm) from Thursday 21st July 2022 to Sunday 4th September 2022.

The event is included in the usual admission price and tickets can be purchase online in advance or at the ticket desk. Bristol Aquarium does not operate on a ticket booking system so you do not need to choose a date for a visit, simply turn up on a date of your choosing. Tickets are valid for redemption for 6 months from the purchase date.

1.     Angelfish

Let’s start with angelfish, one of the most recognisable species on our shortlist. These attractive fish are members of the cichlid family, and are ideal for tanks above 90 litres in volume.
Angelfish can grow to around 15cm in length and 20cm in height, making them a fairly substantial addition to your aquarium. And, because they come in a variety of colours and patterns, they’re sure to put on a vibrant display.

2.     Corydoras Catfish

No aquarium is complete without a sociable bottom-dweller, and we think the corydoras catfish is just about the perfect example of this. Calm and peaceful in nature, these small catfish are famously friendly, and will get on with just about any other species in your tank.
Many amateur aquarists see having a bottom-dweller like the corydoras as essential – and for good reason. These little critters are excellent tank cleaners, hoovering up any dirt and leftovers from the floor of your aquarium.

3.     Bettas

Take one look at the betta and you’ll understand why it needs a place in your aquarium. Growing up to about 8cm, these vibrantly-coloured freshwater fish are beloved for their feathery fins, whose surface will shimmer spectacularly in your tank.
One thing to know about betta, however, is that males can be aggressive with other males, so it’s best to stick to females where possible. Another interesting fact about the species is that they’re able to breathe outside water for limited periods, thanks to a ‘labyrinth’ lung organ that lets them breathe air. Cool, right?

4.     Plecostomus

If you’re looking for a head-turning fish that always puts on a show, consider the plecostomus. Part of the armoured catfish family, plecos, or suckermouth catfish, are covered in armoured scales that cover the upper parts of the head and body – making it a seriously eye-catching addition to your tank.
Plecos are a wonderful home aquarium fish for lots of reasons, mainly because they can live up to 20 years! Despite their size and tough, armoured exterior, they’re generally very placid, and can often be found suctioned on to the side of your tank with their unique mouths.

5.     Discus

Another cichlid species, discus are named for their circular body shape, which can grow to an impressive size. This means discus are better suited to larger aquariums, with a minimum volume of around 115 litres.
Discus are carnivores, so it’s recommended you feed them with a mix of both standard fish flakes (for vitamins and minerals) and blood worms or beef heart, to ensure they get all the sustenance they need.

6.     Swordtail

With their unique appearance, variety of colours, and hardy nature, swordtails are among the fish species that most pet shops would recommend for beginner aquarists. Peaceful yet energetic in nature, they thrive in tanks with lots of other fish, so they’re a safe bet if you’re concerned about cannibalism or aggression.
Swordtails are available in a variety of colours and patterns, but it isn’t this which makes them unique. Instead, it’s the long, swordlike tail fin extension which makes them such a standout aquarium species.

7.     Pearl Gourami

With its attractive scales and placid nature, the pearl gourami is an elegant addition to larger aquariums with a minimum water volume of 140 litres. Pearls are known to be among the easiest gourami species to keep as an aquarium fish, though you should note that these fish do get quite large, so bear that in mind before buying.
The great thing about pearl gourami is that they’re great tank cleaners, eating all sorts of debris and pests to help maintain water quality. They do, however, require some hiding places, as they often like to relax in a dark, quiet location.

8.     Zebra Danios

Danios are the number one aquarium fish in the UK after goldfish, and for good reason. Available in a huge assortment of different colours and patterns, danios are super easy to care for and don’t require that big of a tank; a 40-litre aquarium should be more than enough for this energetic and lovable species.
One of our favourites are zebra danios, which feature bold stripes down the length of their bodies. They tend to grow up to 7cm, and live on a diet of worms, insects and small crustaceans. Be careful, though, as they’re known to jump, so always keep a lid on your tank.

9.     Neon Tetras

 
Colourful, energetic and highly social, tetras are a popular freshwater fish that can add a touch of brilliance to your aquarium. Native to the streams and rivers of Africa and South America, this vibrant species is a member of the Characidae family – which are recognised for their adipose fin as well as their unique colouring.
One of the most popular subspecies of the tetra is the neon, whose amazing sparkling scales provide a real showcase of colour in well-planted and well-lit aquariums. These fish are peaceful and communal enough to live alongside other species, but they do prefer to live in small schools, so factor that into your buying decision.

10.  Guppies

Guppies, like danios, are a hugely popular aquarium fish thanks to their wide variety of colours and patterns, as well as their easy-going temperament. They also thrive well in different water conditions, making them very easy for beginners to care for.
When buying guppies, bear in mind that males are much more colourful than females, and will live together very peacefully, making them the best option. Uniquely, they also like to live in groups of three, so try to buy them in multiples of three where possible.
So there you have it, a look at 10 amazing fish you can keep as pets as a beginner aquarist. Prefer to let the experts handle the fishkeeping? Come on down to Bristol Aquarium, where you can discover our wonderful collection of marine creatures. For more information, visit the homepage.
*Always make sure you do thorough research before investing in any fish to ensure you have the time, resources and ability to care for the fish for the duration of their lifetime.