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How a President Propagated a Piranha Myth

February 16, 2018
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Blockbuster thrillers like Jaws have given sharks an undeserved reputation as aggressive, man-eating killers. Similarly, stories about piranhas have portrayed this fairly calm species as bloodthirsty animals to be feared.

So where did this myth begin?

In 1913, Theodore Roosevelt made a trip to Brazil. To impress the adventurous former American President, locals took him deep into rainforest and allowed him to “discover” a river there but warned him not to venture in. What he did not know was that they had stocked the waters with unfed piranhas. To illustrate the dangers for the former President and accompanying journalists they threw a cow into water filled with starving piranhas. (Was it a dead cow? Bloody bits of diced meat? A sick cow? This detail seems to change from story to story.)  Within moments there was a massive feeding frenzy.

Roosevelt went on to record his amazement of these seemingly perfect killing machines in his travel memoirs, which the American population devoured and became weary of the species. In 1914’s “Through the Brazilian Wilderness”, Roosevelt noted the following:

“They are the most ferocious fish in the world. Even the most formidable fish, the sharks or the barracudas, usually attack things smaller than themselves. But the piranhas habitually attack things much larger than themselves . . . the piranha is a short, deep-bodied fish, with a blunt face and a heavily undershot or projecting lower jaw which gapes widely. The razor-edged teeth are wedge-shaped like a shark’s, and the jaw muscles possess great power. The rabid, furious snaps drive the teeth through flesh and bone. The head with its short muzzle, staring malignant eyes, and gaping, cruelly armed jaws, is the embodiment of evil ferocity; and the actions of the fish exactly match its looks.”

Although not based on real-world circumstances, Roosevelt’s vivid account the experience has only gained momentum over the years. Once Hollywood latched onto the myth and created the 1987 film “Piranha,” the unfortunate characteristic stuck.

In truth, piranhas are relatively calm until spooked. This animal can be skittish, especially if there are a larger number of them in one exhibit. The Red-Bellied Piranha, native to South America, feed on fish, snails, insects and aquatic plants, only occasionally eating larger mammals and birds.

We caught up with Connor while he was feeding our red-bellied piranha and asked him for the real story behind these beautiful fish.

Curious to learn more? Check out:

– Morgan Wright

5 Things I Learned about the Harlequin Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)

February 12, 2018
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Adult harlequin sweetlips inhabit edges and caves can be found in lagoons and reefs of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Although they live largely in solitude, sweetlips can benefit from symbiotic relationship with cleaner wrasse, a small, coral reef-dweller that dines on the parasites, food particles and dead tissue of other fish.

Here are 5 other interesting little tidbits about this fish with a romantic-sounding name:

See the harlequin sweetlips “sweet lips” for yourself at Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

– Sam Fryberger

JUVENILE PHOTO by Nhobgood/Wikimedia

MUSIC by Podington Bear, “Tropical Sunrise”

 

5 Things I Learned about the Ocellate River Stingray (Potamotrygon motoro)

February 5, 2018
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The ocellate river stingray’s upper body is grayish-brown with black-lined yellowish orange spots and its underside is white. Its graceful undulations regularly stop young guests in their tracks. Unlike the ones you’ll see in the Aquarium’s touch pool and shark gallery, this stingray lives in fresh water. Here are 5 facts about this beautiful creature native to the basins of the Paraná-Paraguay, Orinoco and Amazon Rivers.

Visit the Greater Cleveland Aquarium to see this and other amazing animals up close.

– Sam Fryberger

What Happens in Winter?

January 21, 2018
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People who live here know it can get pretty cold in Northeast Ohio. Luckily, we can wrap up in a cozy scarf, pull on some lined gloves and add another layer of clothing when temps start to drop. Those animals that live in cold weather year-round have adaptive features to help them through the cold winter months. But what about the animals that don’t have an extra layer of blubber or plans to fly south . . . how do they survive a deep freeze?

Some Ohio animals, like groundhogs, hibernate. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, groundhogs hole up much of the winter in a state where their body temperature lowers their heart rate slows significantly. When it gets really frigid other creatures such as skunks, raccoons and chipmunks will seek shelter to sleep a few days until things warm up.  Birds that don’t migrate might put on some weight and change their diets. But what happens to fish?

“Cold-blooded animals, such as fish, maintain body temperatures to that of their surroundings,” explains Greater Cleveland Aquarium curator Stephanie White. “Therefore fish move to the deepest, warmest spots within the water body during cold winter months.” Fish can enter torpor, which is shorter than a full hibernation. Torpor includes a body temperature reduction, slowed metabolism, slowed reaction times, a reduction in breathing rate and primary body functions. During the state of torpor, a fish will not actively seek prey, instead allowing food to come to them, saving their energy. With slowed activity and conserved energy, their dietary needs decrease in the winter.

And what about Fido in your backyard? How cold is too cold for our own domestic animals? While a specific answer cannot be determined across the board, consider your dog’s size, fur thickness and breed. Owners that have clothing for their animals are advised to not leave them unattended in case the sweater gets hooked on an object outdoors. PetMD suggests that once temperatures drop under 20°F, all owners should limit time outdoors and be aware that their animals could potentially develop cold-associated health problems like hypothermia.

Animals have their different adaptations to survive inclement weather, both warm and cold. Their bodies know what they can stand and will give signs of if they cannot. To learn more about our animals and their adaptations, don’t hesitate to ask any members of our curation team during your next visit!

– Morgan Wright, Marketing Assistant

 

5 Things I Learned about Candy Cane Coral

December 21, 2017
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What I don’t know about underwater creatures could fill, well, an aquarium. That’s why I am on quest to learn more about the fascinating aquatic animals I now see every single day at work. Here’s what I learned about the colony-forming candy cane coral that is also sometimes called trumpet, torch or bullseye coral. (Of course, those names don’t sound quite as festive).

Population growth, pollution, weather events and rising temperatures are damaging and destroying coral reefs globally. Learn more about the benefits coral reefs provide and see living coral up close at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, where curiosity is natural.

— Sam F. 

Passholder Appreciation Week

December 12, 2017
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We are always looking for different ways to say “thanks” to our passholder family.

This year we hosted our first Passholder Appreciation Week, filled with free activities for annual passholders of all ages.

The week began with opportunities such as Very Important Guest tours. This experience, available throughout the year, gives guests behind-the-scenes access and an insider’s perspective on how we care for marine and freshwater species, including stops at our water filtration system, food preparation area, water quality laboratory and dive zone.

Throughout the week, our dedicated Aquarists and Guest Experience Associates were on-hand to “Dish on Fish,” answering any questions about our animals as well as about our enrichment activities during The Seas’n on Play.

Throughout the week our “land shark” Finn dropped in for some high-fives, hugs and photo ops!

For that week, our passholders were given priority at the daily stingray feedings.

We took a step further, though. Heading into the second half of our Appreciation Week, passholder families who pre-registered had the opportunity to participate in a mini-Stingray Art session! Each participating family walked away with a one-of-a-kind ornament to hang on their tree.

No holiday celebration would be complete without a visit from our friendly Scuba Claus. To round out our first appreciation week, we debuted the jolly friend of our dive team. Children (and adults!) were given the chance to share their wishes for the holiday season with the jolly old elf.blog 6

This year’s Passholder Appreciation Week was such a success we’re already planning next year’s. But, one week is not enough. Passholders get a year’s worth of benefits including admission, free parking and discounts in both the Coral Cove Gift Shop and Nautica Café.

Still not convinced an annual pass is for you? Check out what some of our passholders have said!

  • “One of our favorite places to go as a family. So much to do and see. Worth the annual membership if you plan on going a few times per year.” – Danielle F.
  • “One of the best memberships we had as a family.” – Daniel K.
  • “We love the aquarium! It is a great size for us to get through with our kids. This is our second year with an annual pass and it’s the way to go! The staff is always friendly and informative…” – Amanda T.

5 Things I Learned about Emperor Angelfish

December 8, 2017
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As you walk through Aquarium, you might notice that there is a variety of angelfish represented. This one, understandably, caught my eye. I set out to learn more about the richly colored fish native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Naturally curious yourself? You can get a closer look at Emperor, Blue, Queen, French and Gray Angelfish 363 days a year at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

– Sam Fryberger

It’s Turbo Time!

December 5, 2017
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If you aren’t looking for them, sometimes it is easy to miss one of our fastest slow-moving gastropods. With a name like turbo snail there is an immediate fascination with the obvious contradiction. Are these snails really as fast as their moniker might imply?

Turbo snails can grow up to 2 inches. They do quickly eliminate large amounts of nuisance algae. They can consume mass quantities of it off of live rock and aquarium glass, which makes them a very popular addition to home aquariums. They thrive in crevices and holes in natural reefs and appreciate large spaces to graze.

But these snails do not get their name based off of their speed, but rather the SHAPE of their shells. They are also referred to as wavy turban or top crown snails because of their thick, turban-shaped shell which protects their soft, flexible body. Their scientific name Turbinidae is based on the genus name Turbo, which is Latin for spinning top (a children’s toy).

toupie   Turbo Snail

Look for them next time you are in our Coastal Gallery. There’s a good chance you will see one or two grazing right in the front of our Live Coral Exhibit. It’s an amazing view that illustrates how they move and how they use their mouths to suck up algae. Check out the video below to catch a glimpse of some in action.

5 Things I Learned about the Snowflake Eel

November 29, 2017
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As we approach winter in Northeast Ohio my thoughts inevitably turn to the powdery white stuff we’ll be dealing with any day now. Maybe that’s why the Aquarium’s snowflake eels caught my interest. Here are five things I learned about these aquatic creatures:

This winter, visit the six snowflake eels at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium . . . where curiosity is natural

— Samantha Fryberger