North Sea
Here you can experience fascinating North Sea creatures up close. Do you dare to take a peek into the mysterious world of rays and other North Sea animals? Discover just how diverse life is among the waves, mudflats, and rocks!
Brown Grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
Did you know?
- Due to overfishing and poaching, the brown grouper is severely threatened. However, thanks to strict conservation measures implemented over the past 30 years in parts of the French and Monegasque Mediterranean, the population there is recovering.
- Like many other fish, groupers are “proterogynous hermaphrodites.” They start out as females and become males at 10 to 14 years of age (which corresponds to a size of 60–70 cm). Generally, these fish are solitary and come together only during the spawning season.
- Brown groupers are among the largest bony fish in the Mediterranean and thus sit at the top of the food chain. Their presence indicates a healthy ecosystem, which is why the brown grouper can be used as an indicator of environmental quality.
- The name “grouper” comes from its gill cover, which has a serrated edge.
- Brown groupers can live up to 50 years.
Ray
Raja brachyura & Raya clavata
Did you know?
- Because rays usually lie face down, they have what are called spiracles. These allow them to draw in water to breathe.
- Together with sharks, rays form the superclass of cartilaginous fish. Unlike bony fish, their skeleton consists entirely of cartilage.
- Although the thornback ray is the most common ray species in European seas, its population has been severely reduced by overfishing and bycatch.
- The thornback ray gets its name from the nail-like spines on its back and tail.
- In the case of blonde rays, both juveniles and some adult females have spines on their backs and tails. Blonde rays differ from thornback rays in their size and striking light coloration.
- Both ray species are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. These eggs develop over several months until the young hatch.
- Using electrosensors (called Lorenzini ampullae), rays can detect prey hidden in the seabed.
Turbot
Scophthalmus maximus
Did you know?
- The turbot’s eyes are located on the left side of its body. This side can adapt to its surroundings, allowing the fish to blend in.
- Turbots do not have scales but rather “bony bumps” that look like small stones and give the fish its name.
- With an average length of up to 70 cm, a turbot can reach a body weight of 20 kg.
- Female turbot can lay up to 15 million eggs at a time. However, it takes 5 years for a turbot to reach reproductive maturity.
- As larvae, turbot are symmetrical and swim like “normal” fish. As they develop, they “tilt” more and more until the right eye migrates to the left side and the fish becomes asymmetrical.
Large-spotted Cat Shark
Scyliorhinus stellaris
Did you know?
- Large-spotted cat sharks are nocturnal and spend most of their days hidden in caves or on the ocean floor. They have no problem sharing caves with others. On the contrary, cat sharks like to snuggle up close to one another in groups. Sometimes our cat sharks even snuggle up to the large Mediterranean moray eel that shares the tank with them.
- In parts of Europe, cat sharks are commercially fished for food. As a result, their populations are declining, and they are classified as endangered.
- Large-spotted cat sharks in the Atlantic are significantly larger than those in the Mediterranean (130 cm versus 75 cm).
- The skin of cat sharks is very rough due to particularly large placoid scales and has sometimes been used as a substitute for sandpaper. Consequently, the most common injuries caused by cat sharks are not bite wounds but abrasions of the skin.
- Although the net-shell snail feeds mainly on carrion, it also does not turn down the eggs of the large-spotted cat shark. It pierces them and then sucks out the yolk.
- The Latin name Scyliorhinus stellaris is derived from the word stellaris (star-shaped).
Common Snipefish
Macroramphosus scolopax
Did you know?
- The common snipefish is found along the coasts of Western Europe and the Mediterranean.
- Snipefish have no teeth in their mouths and no scales on their bodies. Instead, they have bony plates between their pectoral and dorsal fins and along the edge of their belly, as well as a fin spine on their back.
- The snout of a snipefish can make up as much as 40% of its total body length.
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Explore the other areas
Tropical Reef
A colorful underwater world teeming with life awaits you here. Clownfish hide among the anemones. The vibrant colors and constant activity in the reef make this habitat a real highlight—discover for yourself just how lively and fascinating the tropical sea can be!
Ocean Tunnel
In the Ocean Tunnel, you’re right in the middle of the action instead of just a spectator: The glass ceiling offers a fascinating view into the world beneath the waves. Here, Leo—the impressive zebra shark—welcomes you along with his fascinating tank mates. As he glides elegantly through the water, other sharks and colorful sea creatures swim silently past and alongside you. An unforgettable spectacle right above your head.
Rainforest
Hidden in the heart of the rainforest lies a mysterious habitat teeming with biodiversity. Among the roots, submerged tree trunks, and dense tangle of vegetation, piranhas, bonefish, and other fascinating inhabitants glide through the warm, murky water.
Antarctica
Extreme conditions prevail in the icy world of Antarctica, yet amazing animals call this place home. Among shimmering ice floes and cold, crystal-clear water, you’ll encounter curious gentoo penguins and other inhabitants that are perfectly adapted to the freezing waters.
