S.E.A. Aquarium Singapore

One of the newest residents at S.E.A. Aquarium Singapore, the Fried Egg Jellyfish takes its name from the fact that it, quite literally, resembles a fried egg from the top. These jellies swim in swarms during the summer months, and can stretch up to 4 kilometers when grouped.

Having been around for about a 100 million years, the Alligator Gar is commonly called the ‘living fossils’. Although their razor-like teeth impart a look of fierceness, they’re actually harmless to humans. They’re clever hunters, and lie in wait for their prey before lunging at them. Alligator gars have few natural predators but coincidentally, alligators are one of them.

Black Sea Cucumbers have a long, black body, and stay near the seabed. The cucumbers feed on decaying matters, and often remain covered in sand and other decaying particles. Although not an active predator, the sea cucumber ejects poisonous toxins when threatened.

The Black Botched Ray gets its name from its appearance, with its body splotched with black spots, and its tail quite literally spreading into a fan as it swims. The Fantail Ray maintains a symbiotic relationship with other ocean dwellers: while the ray protects small fish in danger, these fish in turn, help clean bacteria off its back.

A common inhabitant of the waters around Singapore, these Blacktip reef sharks live near the reef surface. They’re often confused for the ocean blacktips, although this species is generally found in freshwater habitats and mangroves.

The much-adored ‘Dory’ from Finding Nemo, the Blue Tang is startling in its royal blue body and bright yellow fins. The Tang defends itself with the scalpel-like spines at the base of their bodies, although their flesh is poisonous as well. The Blue Tangs live in coral reefs, and can be abundantly found across the Indian and the Pacific Ocean.

Although a ray fish, the Bowmouth is often mistaken as a shark, owing to their fearsome appearance. Frequently poached for their fins, Bowmouth Guitarfish is critically endangered, and is struggling to recover in number owing to its reduced reproduction rate. The Guitarfish have strong jaws, and feed primarily on crabs and other crustaceans.

One of the most marvelous creatures at the S.E.A. Aquarium Singapore, the Brain Coral quite literally and amusingly resembles the eponymous organ. The Brain Coral is regarded as the most important species in the coral family. Like other corals, the Brain Coral has stinging tentacles all over its body. They can grow to enormous sizes, and live for hundreds of years.

The Bubble Corals are hard corals that are found in shallow waters. These bubbles resemble grapes, but are actually extended tentacles. During daytime, these bubbles expand to absorb more sunlight. At night, the tentacles use this sunlight to produce food for the coral body.

One of the largest inhabitants of the coral reef, the Bumphead Parrotfish can grow up to 1.3 meters in length. The Parrotfish has fused teeth which look like a parrot’s beak. Interestingly, these fish feed on corals and sponges, and excrete undigested carbonate as white sand! In fact, a single Parrotfish can produce up to 450 kgs of sand per year.

The clownfish are small, orange fish with sharp white bands on their body. They have a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones, and live amidst their tentacles. Their bodies are covered in a layer of protective mucus which protects them from the poisonous tentacles. The clownfish communicate with each other by making clicking and popping sounds.

Decorator Crabs tend to ‘decorate’ themselves to camouflage into its environment. The corals and sponges they camouflage as are generally deterrent to predators, thus acting as a protective measure.

Shipwrecked! is one of the major displays at S.E.A. Aquarium Sentosa, and demonstrates how ships degrade over time to build artificial reefs in a very realistic way. These shipwrecks, which are strewn with aquatic life, attract the same creatures that live on coral reefs. The Bowmouth GuitarFish, Zebra Shark, and Snubnose Pompano are among the animals included in the show. From time to time, the exhibit also hosts dive feeding sessions.

The School of Fish, as its name suggests, aims to teach tourists about the island's unique aquatic life. The exhibit is home to some of the most spectacular fish and fauna, totalling close to 5,000, and is one of the most popular destinations at S.E.A. Aquarium Singapore. The Bubble Coral, Clownfish, and Napoleon Wrasse are among the most popular sightings. From time to time, the display also hosts diving sessions.

The ocean is much more than the gorgeous creatures we can see with our eyes. The Ocean Diversity exhibit at the Singapore Aquarium pays respect to the ocean's unseen residents, such as jellyfish, stars, and huge crabs. Fried Egg Jellies, Sea Nettle, Sea Urchin, and Tasmanian Giant Crab are just a few of the species that may be found here.

If you're a fan of the deep sea. The Open Ocean Habitat's floor-to-ceiling glass windows are sure to captivate you. The massive aquarium is home to around 40,000 creatures from 120 different species, including the Javanese Cownose Ray, the Giant Grouper, and the Picklehead Barracuda, among others. Daily Manta feeding sessions are also held in the Open Ocean Habitat.

One of the most interesting corners at the S.E.A. Aquarium Singapore, Quirky Adaptations is home to the reef's oddest and rarest inhabitants. Here, strange-looking organisms live, some of which have adapted to the carnivorous environment of the deep water. The wolf eel, weedy sea dragon, and queen's head angelfish are among the exhibit's strangest residents.

Coral reefs are huge structures that strewn across seabeds, like underwater towns. As a result, the Underwater City display is a fitting tribute to these magnificent works of art. The City, one of the most aesthetically spectacular exhibits at S.E.A. Aquarium Sentosa, is home to a diverse range of corals, including the brain coral, which is shaped like the organs, the sun coral, which mimics sunflowers, and the gorgeous parchment-like scroll coral.

The Apex Predator zone takes one through the most dangerous depths of the sea. The walk through Aquarium hosts some of the biggest sharks from around the world, right from the endangered scalloped hammerheads to the blacktip reef sharks. The exhibit hosts feeding sessions, where trained and chained divers wade through the pond. It also conducts a special meet and greet session with Sam, the shark mascot, for children.

The Aquatic Ecosystem, part of the S.E.A. Aquarium's Discovery Pool, gives visitors a detailed look at how underwater life works. The Knobbly Sea Star, the Poison Dart Frog, and the Black Sea Cucumber are among the wildlife that visitors may not only observe but also engage with.