Alligator Snapping Turtle

Chicago ~ April 22, 2005

Shedd Aquarium

The alligator snapping turtle waits underwater looking like anything but a real animal. It's mouth is wide open, and its specialized tongue tries to make an unwary fish think there is something good to eat inside the jaws. I don't think so! But apparently the trick works. These turtles have been around for a very long time (about 40 million years). This is a small one. They get quite large.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

I Love Eels

Chicago ~ April 22, 2005

Fire eels (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia) at the

Shedd Aquarium

As the title says, I love eels, and fire eels are among my favorite. I think of this species as small, because most of my experience with them has been in smaller home or pet store fish tanks. These two were probably between 12 and 18 inches long when I saw them at the Shedd Aquarium (maybe longer, it's hard to remember), but I've just learned that 3 feet is not an unusual size for a fire eel if your tank is big enough. The Aquatic Community web site says fire eels can be found in "floods and streams in India, Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). The Fire eel has an elongated body that can reach a length of 100 centimeters (40 inches) in the wild." The ones in fish tanks tend to be shy and they don't bite. I wonder about the big ones. . . .

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Shedd Doors

Chicago ~ April 22, 2005

John G. Shedd Aquarium

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Door to the Shedd

Chicago ~ April 22, 2005

Shedd Aquarium, Main Entrance

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.