The Mote Aquarium opened in 1980 to showcase its marine research in Sarasota, FL. The Mote Marine Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit organization with its research funded through grants, foundations and public donations. It's vastly different from other aquariums we have visited in the past. There are many docents who have a wealth of information and explanations about the marine life.
The aquarium has many fish, seahorse, manatees, jellyfish, sharks, turtles, etc.as well as sensory areas to touch things like sea cucumbers, tiny sharks, starfish and stingrays. They currently don't have a dolphins exhibit as one died suddenly in 2015. However, they will soon be opening an otter exhibit.
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| Coral, the Rain Forest of the Ocean |
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| Nurse Sharks |
There is a 135,000 gallon shark tank where nurse sharks, sand sharks, tarpon, rays, two gigantic groupers, sardines, and a variety of fish all co-exist together.
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| Manatee Eating Romaine Lettuce |
Hugh and Buffet are the resident manatees.
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| Stingray |
You can be intimate with sting rays in a hands on touch pool.
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| Plenty to "Sea" |
The lionfish is a popular aquarium fish that was accidentally introduced to the Caribbean and eastern seaboard in the 1990s. This beautiful non-native fish has no known natural predators and ecologists are concerned the lionfish could have an impact on native reef fish and the natural balance of the reef ecosystem.
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| A Lionfish Invasion |
While there, I stepped into the Hurricane Simulator to experience the high winds of a hurricane. The wind only got up to 78 mph and my breath was not taken away and I was not swaying. Wow, imagine the winds sustained when professional weathermen do live broadcasts in a hurricane.
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| Need More Wind |
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| The Wind Machine |
There is also a 25' giant squid specimen named Molly Mollusk and
a sea turtle exhibit.
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| Enjoying Nilla Killas At Dry Dock Grill on Longboat Key |
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| Guess We'll Leave It Here |
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