Friday, 12:00pm
Newport, Kentucky is windy with overcast skies and drizzling rain. But we didn't let it dampened the beginning of our SPRING BREAK!!
We sought warmth in the Newport Aquarium. We saw sharks, sting rays, sea turtles, and the highlight of our day...the energetic Gentoo Penguins. They showed off for us with swimming tricks and funny antics playing their games just inches from our faces. With 34-degree temperatures, snow-capped rocky cliffs and icy water, these guys were happy in their wintry paradise. The Newport Aquarium was one of only two institutions in the US to breed Gentoo Penguins in 2007. Now, there are 10 King and 17 Gentoo Penguins residing in the exhibit. There is also a possibility that several additional Gentoo eggs may hatch in the weeks ahead.
The aquarium has many different species of sea anemones. These beautiful creatures have bodies shaped in an oral disc. The mouth is in the middle of the oral disc, surrounded by tentacles armed to defend and capture prey. Each small vesicle (hair) is filled with toxins and very sensitive. When the hair is touched, it mechanically triggers the cell explosion, a harpoon-like structure which attaches to organisms that trigger it, and injects a dose of poison in the flesh of the aggressor or prey. By far our family favorite was the Jellyfish Gallery. These phenomenal creatures of the deep were amazingly beautiful. There were many different species all floating in specially engineered exhibits that allow them to drift as if at sea. They appeared as graceful creatures floating in the water.
Photo's by Tessa
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