Fun With Fish At The Sydney Aquarium

Since it opened in October 1988, the Sydney Aquarium has been educating visitors on the wonders of the flora and fauna that make up the aquatic ecosystems inland and off the coast of Australia. With its unique architecture, the building appears to rise like a wave from Darling Harbour on its perch north of Pyrmont Bridge.

The aquarium is organized by the geographical location represented in the various habitat exhibits. You can freely explore the river habitats found in the northern and southern river territories as well as the surrounding oceans. A number of displays can be found in the main exhibit hall and there are more scattered about in floating oceanariums that offer views from above and below the water's surface.

The playful platypus is a favorite with visitors interested in seeing what lives in rivers to the south. This furry egg bearing mammal is completely unique to that geographical area and as such, is a must see when touring the aquarium. The Murray Darling River System houses unique species of fish that cannot be found anywhere else. Other regional species that can be seen among the Southern Rivers habitat are water dragons, side-necked turtles and many different kinds of freshwater crustaceans.

Northern Australia is home to rivers that exhibit fresh water characteristics when it is rainy but then fill with salt water from the coast when the season is dry. Adapting to this change in salinity is something that many species of fish and animals that live there are able to do. The Barramundi is a large sport and food fish that has this rare ability to reside in an ever changing environment.

With its massive system of underwater tunnels, the Southern Oceans exhibit is among the most popular of aquarium destinations. Visitors get the chance to come face to face with fascinating creatures of the deep. Housed here is the Open Ocean Oceanarium, the Sydney Harbour display, the Seal Sanctuary and a population of penguins.

The Seal Sanctuary floats on the ocean surface and offers viewing points from an open deck as well as the underwater tunnel system. Living here are several species including fur seals, subantarctic fur seals, New Zealand fur seals and sea lions.

 

The aquarium is especially proud of the Open Ocean Oceanarium, which represents the largest exhibit of its kind anywhere. Gigantic stingrays, large fish species and the world's largest collection of captive sharks can be found swimming through the waters here. At 3.5 metres long, some of the Grey Nurse Sharks are the largest species in this exhibit.

The Great Barrier Reef is perhaps the most famous Australian landmark and the aquarium has managed to reproduce this magnificent habitat in an area that contains two million litres of seawater. Brightly coloured fish live among the anemones and coral formations, both hard and soft. Sea stars and sea cucumbers stage a continuous slow motion race along the ocean bottom. The reef bears a greater diversity of species than any other ecosystem known to man and it can all be seen here. Massive ceiling high windows dominate the Reef Theatre and offer a panoramic view of this underwater paradise.

Two orphaned Dugongs make The Mermaid Lagoon their home. The great beasts are thought by some to be the inspiration for the mermaid legend. European sailors arriving to Australia for the first time may have mistaken them for these water maidens. The Dugong feeds on sea grass and is sometimes called a sea cow.

Anyone who would like to take a closer look at the marine life found in and around Australia should make it a point to visit the Sydney Aquarium.