Don't Miss
The New York Aquarium has thousands of animals in naturalistic habitats. While we don’t want you to miss any of our exhibits (see Suggested Aquarium Tour) some of our top “must sees” are listed below. Click here to see what other animals and exhibits we have at the Aquarium.
Alien Stingers: The New York Aquarium has opened to the public the bizarre, mysterious, and amazingly alien world of cnidarians (pronounced Ny-dare-ians). The cnidarian group is made up of sea jellies, corals, and sea anemones. Did you know there are approximately 9,000 different species of cnidarians? Did you know that corals and sea anemones are animals? Do you know what sea jellies, corals, and sea anemones have in common? Most people are afraid of jellies, but know them only as blobs on the beach. Come visit and find out how amazingly beautiful jellies are. The New York Aquarium is one of the only aquariums in North America to permanently feature sea jellies. For more info, click here.
Sharks: Sharks are always a crowd pleaser. In our 90,000 gallon shark tank you’ll find sand tiger, sandbar, nurse and white-tip sharks swimming along side stingrays, fishes, and sea turtles. You’ll learn a lot about these amazing animals. Sharks are fish, do you know what makes them so different from other fishes? Visit and find out.
Octopus: In nature, octopus spend much of their time during the day curled up in their den. When fully grown, our Giant Pacific octopus could weigh up to 100 lbs and stretch its arms up to 30 feet across, yet he can squeeze through openings as small as a soda can! Do you know how? We’ll give you a hint, they have no bones! At the Aquarium, we have an exciting behavioral enrichment program. Stop by and watch our Giant Pacific octopus open jars with fish treats inside.
Seahorses!: Everyone love seahorses. Come see “Seahorses!”, now a permanent exhibit at the Aquarium. Ever hear of the leafy sea dragon or the weedy sea dragon? They are unique seahorses with delicate camouflage shaped like seaweed – but words can’t really describe their bizarre yet beautiful appearance. These amazingly beautiful seahorses can be seen along with many others. Find out about the unique role reversal between the sexes when it comes to parental care.
Aquatheater: Aquatheater is a great place to see our California sea lions in action. Our fun sea lion informal presentations also show how all life is intertwined and how with our own actions, we can help make the world a better place for all life. Marine mammal trainsing sessions are performed several times daily.
