Hello ZooChat: As part of my birthday week celebration, I figured it was time for me to revisit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. While I primarily record birds kept in aquariums and zoos, I did manage to take pictures and notate the species the aquarium holds. PLEASE BE ADVISED: I am not a follower of marine biology and ichthyology so forgive my ignorance on the taxonomy of the species I record. If you're interested in marine life and are verse in any of the species mentioned, please comment and correct me.
The Ocean's Edge: Coastal Habitats of Monterey Bay Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) Blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) Giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) Gopher rockfish (Sebastes carnatus) Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) Opaleye {Rudderfish} (Girella nigricans) [!!!] Rainbow seaperch (Hypsurus caryi) Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) Red sea urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) Señorita (Oxyjulis californica) [!!!] Striped seaperch (Embiotoca lateralis) [!!!] Treefish (Sebastes serriceps) Warty sea cucumber (Apostichopus parvimensis) Zebra perch (?) (Kyphosus azureus) [!!!] Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) Winged kelp (Alaria esculenta) Coralline algae (Order Corallinales)
Deep Reef California sea cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) Chilipepper (Sebastes goodei) Fish-eating anemone (Urticina piscivora) Giant keyhole limpet (Megathura crenulata) Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) Halfbanded rockfish (Sebastes semicinctus) Purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) Red king crab (?) (Paralithodes camtschaticus) [!!!] Vermillion rockfish (Sebastes miniatus) [!!!] Vermillion sea star (Mediaster aequalis) Aquarium #2 Masking crab (called a "Decorator crab" by the signage; Loxorhynchus crispatus) Spot prawn (Pandalus platyceros) Lingcod and Wolf Eel Aquarium Giant white-plumed anemone (Metridium farcimen) Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) Strawberry anemone (Corynactis californica) Wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) Large Aquarium Bat ray (Myliobatis californica) Bocaccio rockfish (Sebastes paucispinis) Broadness sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) California sea cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) Cowcod (Sebastes levis) Fish-eating anemone (Urticina piscivora) Giant white-plumed anemone (Metridium farcimen) Giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) Pacific angelshark (Squatina californica) {Pacific} jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) Red gorgonian (Lophogorgia chilensis) Rock scallop (Crassadoma gigantea) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) Tiger rockfish (Sebastes nigrocinctus) White seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) Yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) Yellowtail rockfish (Sebastes flavidus) Bottom Dwellers Tank Blackeye goby (Rhinogobiops nicholsii) Longfin sculpin (Jordania zonope) Painted greenling (Oxylebius pictus) Sailfin sculpin (Nautichthys oculofasciatus) Rockfish Aquarium Canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) China rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus) Flag rockfish (Sebastes rubrivinctus) Giant white-plumed anemone (Metridium farcimen) Greenspotted rockfish (Sebastes chlorostictus) Rosy rockfish (Sebastes rosaceus) Starry rockfish (Sebastes constellatus) Tiger rockfish (Sebastes nigrocinctus) Vermillion rockfish (Sebastes miniatus) Yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) Unidentified sea snail
Sandy Seafloor Aquarium #1 Case of a California skate (listed as Raja inornata; Beringraja inornata) "Sea pen" (Ptilosarcus spp.) Aquarium #2 Unidentified young guitarfish (?) Sandy Seafloor Fish / Flatfishes Curlfin turbot {Curlfin sole} (Pleuronichthys decurrens) Fantail flounder (Xystreurys liolepis) Lewis's moon snail (listed as Euspira lewisii; Neverita lewisii) Pacific "pompano" (Peprilus simillimus) Sand sole (Pegusa lascaris) White croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) Sand Dollar Tank Pacific sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus) Aquarium #3 Spiny sea brittle (Ophiothrix spiculata) Aquarium #4 Spotted cusk eel (Chilara taylori) Aquarium #5 Bat star (Patiria miniata) [!!!] "Tube anemone" (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus)
Shale Reef Aquarium #1 Scale-sided piddock (Parapholas californica) Wart-necked piddock (Chaceia ovoidea) Aquarium #2 Fringehead (Neoclinus spp.) Aquarium #3 Blackeye goby (Rhinogobiops nicholsii) California sea cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) Chestnut cowry (Neobernaya spadicea) Ida's miter (Atrimitra idae) Lined chiton (Tonicella lineata) Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) Orange puffball sponge (Tethya aurantium) Purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) Rock scallop (Crassadoma gigantea) Strawberry anemone (Corynactis californica) White-spotted rose anemone (Urticina eques) Aquarium #4 Carnivorous chiton (Placiphorella velata) "Snapping shrimp" (Alpheus clamator) Aquarium #5 Purple-ringed top snail (Calliostoma annulatum) [!!!] "Skeleton shrimp" (Caprella spp.)
Wharf Blackeye goby (Rhinogobiops nicholsii) California mussel (Mytilus californianus) {Giant} acorn barnacle (Balanus nubilus) Onespot fringehead (Neoclinus uninotatus) Rainbow seaperch (Hypsurus caryi) Rock scallop (Crassadoma gigantea) Speckled sanddab (Citharichthys stigmaeus) Strawberry anemone (Corynactis californica) Striped seaperch (Embiotoca lateralis) Vermillion rockfish (Sebastes miniatus) Walleye surfperch (Hyperprosopon argenteum) White seaperch (Phanerodon furcatus)
Rocky Shore Tank #1 Hermit crab (Pagurus spp.) Moonglow anemone (Anthopleura artemisia) "Sea grapes" (Botryocladia pseudodichotoma) Tank #2 Bay pipefish (Syngnathus leptorhynchus) Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Tank #3 Dwarf perch (Micrometrus minimus) Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) Tube-snout (Aulorhynchus flavidus) Rocky Shores Free-Flight Aviary Marine Life Bat ray (Myliobatis californica) Jacksmelt (Atherinopsis californiensis) Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) Round stingray (Urobatis halleri) Shovelnose guitarfish (Rhinobatos productus) Thornback guitarfish (Platyrhinoidis triseriata) Birds (In Phylogenetic Order) Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus) American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) Black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) Black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola) Snowy plover (Western) (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) Killdeer (American) (Charadrius vociferus vociferus) Marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa ssp.) Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres ssp.) Dunlin (Pacific) (Calidris alpina pacifica) Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) Red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) Touch Tank (Outside of the Aviary) Bat ray (Myliobatis californica) Shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata) Starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) Topsmelt (Atherinops affinis) Touch Tank (Opposite Side of the Aviary) Barnacle (Balanus spp.) Black turban snail (Tegula funebralis) California mussel (Mytilus californianus) California sea cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) {Graceful} decorator crab (Oregonia gracilis) Gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri) Purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) Top snail (Callistoma spp.) Warty sea cucumber (Apostichopus parvimensis) Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) Feather boa kelp (Egregia menziesii) Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) Golden rocked (Silvetia compressa) Surfgrass (Phyllospadix spp.) "Turkish towel" (Chondracanthus corymbiferus) Aquarium #1 Aggregating anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima) California mussel (Mytilus californianus) Crevice kelpfish (Gibbonsia montereyensis) Hermit crab (Pagurus spp.) Lined chiton (Tonicella lineata) Monkeyface prickleback (Cebidichthys violaceus) Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) Feather boa kelp (Egregia menziesii) Coralline algae (Order Corallinales) Aquarium #2 Bat star (Patiria miniata) Giant green anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) Purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) Reef surfperch (Micrometrus aurora) Surfgrass (Phyllospadix spp.) Aquarium #3 Giant green anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) Owl limpet (Lottia gigantea) Purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) Striped shore crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes) Aquarium #4 Bat star (Patiria miniata) Scaled wormsnail (Thylacodes squamigerus) Aquarium #5 Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ssp.) Tank #4 California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) California toad (Anaxyrus boreas halophilus) Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Coral Reef Kingdom Aquarium #1 Azure damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea) [!!!] Bicolored foxface (Siganus uspi) [!!!] Brown tang (Zebrasoma scopas) [!!!] Bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) Copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus) [!!!] "Devil damselfish" (Blue damselfish) (Chrysiptera cyanea) Japanese swallow (Genicanthus semifasciatus) [!!!] Longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) Pajama cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera) [!!!] Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) Regal blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) Springer's demoiselle (Chrysiptera springeri) [!!!] Squarespot anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) Threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus) [!!!] Tomini tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis) [!!!] Yellow longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) [!!!] Yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) Tank #1 Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) Aquarium #2 Blue and gold fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) [!!!] Blue-green chromis (Chromis viridis) [!!!] Hammer coral (Fimbriaphyllia ancora) Indian orange-spine unicornfish (Naso elegans) [!!!] Jeweled blenny (Salarias fasciatus) [!!!] Leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon meleagris) [!!!] Ochre-striped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus compressus) [!!!] Ornate wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) [!!!] Purple tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) [!!!] Pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) [!!!] Red-eyed wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) [!!!] Sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) [!!!] Squarespot anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) [!!!] Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) Threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus) [!!!] Whitetail dascyllus (Dascyllus aruanus) [!!!] Yellowstriped fairy basslet (Pseudanthias tuka) Brain coral Elephant skin coral Eel Aquarium Pacific cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) Snowflake moray (Echidna nebulosa) Yellow-spotted moray (Echidna xanthospilos) Zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra) Tank #2 Razorfish (Aeoliscus strigatus) [!!!] Aquarium #3 Black-bar chromis (Pycnochromis retrofasciatus) [!!!] Flame angelfish (Centropyge loricula) Golden damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon aureus) [!!!] Fluted giant clam (Tridacna squamosa) Pajama cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera) [!!!] Purple tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) [!!!] Smooth giant clam (Tridacna derasa) Springer's demoiselle (Chrysiptera springeri) [!!!] Finger leather (genus Cladiella) "Mushroom polyp" Aquarium #4 Bat star (Patiria miniata) Crevice kelpfish (Gibbonsia montereyensis) Giant green anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) Hermit crab (Pagurus spp.) Monkeyface prickleback (Cebidichthys violaceus) Reef surfperch (Micrometrus aurora) White-spotted rose anemone (Urticina eques) Rockweed (genus Silvetia) Tank #4 Leaping blenny (Alticus saliens) Striped engina {Bumble bee snail} (Engina mendicaria) [!!!] Penguin Tank African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) Sea Slug Tank Orange puffball sponge (Tethya aurantium) San Diego dorid (Diaulula sandiegensis) Sea lemon (Peltodoris nobilis) Yellow-edged sea slug (Cadlina luteomarginata) Aquarium #5 California moray (Gymnothorax mordax) California spiny lobster (?) (Panulirus interruptus?) Tank #5 Northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) Aquarium #6 Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) Giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) Halfmoon (Medialuna californiensis) Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) Kelp rockfish (Sebastes atrovirens) Kelp perch (Brachyistius frenatus) Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) Opaleye {Rudderfish} (Girella nigricans) Señorita (Oxyjulis californica) Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) Southern sea palm (Eisenia arborea)
Enchanted Kelp Forest Tank #1 Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) Opaleye {Rudderfish} (Girella nigricans) Señorita (Oxyjulis californica) Sea lettuce (genus Ulva) Surfgrass (genus Phyllospadix) "Turkish towel" (Chondracanthus corymbiferus) Aquarium #1 Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) Blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) Giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) Kelp perch (Brachyistius frenatus) Northern kelp crab (?) (Pugettia producta?) Opaleye {Rudderfish} (Girella nigricans) Señorita (Oxyjulis californica) Tank #2 Lion's mane sea slug {Hooded nudibranch} (Melibe leonina) Aquarium #3 Blue-banded goby (Lythrypnus dalli) Orange puffball sponge (Tethya aurantium) Red gorgonian (Lophogorgia chilensis) Red lava sponge (Acarnus erithacus) Rock scallop (Crassadoma gigantea) Strawberry anemone (Corynactis californica) Coralline algae (Order Corallinales) Aquarium #4 Black and yellow rockfish (Sebastes chrysomelas) Blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) California moray (Gymnothorax mordax) California sea cucumber (Apostichopus californicus) China rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus) Copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus) [!!!] Fish-eating anemone (Urticina piscivora) Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) Kelp rockfish (Sebastes atrovirens) Orange puffball sponge (Tethya aurantium) Painted greenling (Oxylebius pictus) Sargo (Diplodus sargus) Swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) Wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) [!!!] Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) Southern sea palm (Eisenia arborea)
The Open Ocean Entrance Tank Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax caeruleus) (In the ceiling tank) Pacific mackerel (Scomber australasicus) (immediately to the front and right) "Hall of Jellies" (My unofficial nickname for the multiple jellyfish species are kept in this corridor) "American" crystal jelly (Aequorea vitrina) "California" sea gooseberry (Hormiphora californensis) "California" spotted comb jelly (Leucothea pulchra) (Pacific) moon jelly (Aurelia labiata) (Pacific) sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) Purple-striped jelly (Chrysaora colorata) Main Open Ocean Exhibit Aquarium Common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) Pacific bonito (Sarda lineolata) Pacific mackerel (Scomber australasicus) Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax caeruleus) Pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) Tank #1 Northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) Tank #2 Pelagic red crab (Pleuroncodes planipes) Seabird Enclosure Black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) Common murre (Uria aalge ssp.) Tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) Into the Deep {Separate Tanks} Abyssal comb jelly (Beroe abyssicola) Bloody-belly comb jelly (Lampocteis cruentiventer) Deep-sea giant isopod (Bathynomus giganteus) *** Japanese porcupine crab (Paralomis histrix) Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) North Pacific bigeye octopus (Octopus californicus) Pom-pom anemone (Liponema brevicorne) Purple-lipped jelly (Earleria purpurea) Salmon snailfish (Careproctus rastrinus) Unidentified bone-eating worm (Osedax spp.) Unidentified comb jelly (Order Lobata) Unidentified fire star (Family Brisingidae) Unidentified tower jelly (Neoturris spp.) *** - This is part of a touch tank experience. Into the Deep {Tank #1} Armored sea cucumber (Psolus squamatus) Deep-sea carnation coral (Gersemia juliepackardae) Glowing sea cucumber (Pannychia moseleyi) Predatory tunicate {Ghostfish} (Megalodicopia hians) Mushroom soft coral (Heteropolypus ritteri) Unidentified droopy sea pen (Umbrellula spp.) Into the Deep {Tank #2 - "The Coral Tank"} Branched tree coral (Parastenella ramosa) Bubblegum coral (Paragorgia arborea) Deep-sea cauliflower coral (Sibogagorgia cauliflora) Feather star (Florometra serratissima) Mushroom soft coral (Heteropolypus ritteri) (Northern) basket star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis) Red sea fan (Swiftia kofoidi) Into the Deep {Large Tank - The Whale Fall} Australian ghost shark (Callorhinchus milii) *** Big roughy (Gephyroberyx japonicus) Fragile pink sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus fragilis) Japanese armorhead (Pentaceros japonicus) Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) Longspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus altivelis) Red sea star (Hippasteria spp.) Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) Shortspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus alascanus) *** - Labeled as just an "elephant fish".
Sea Otter Tank Black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) Black and yellow rockfish (Sebastes chrysomelas) Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) Kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)
This completes my species roster from my visit on December 7th, 2022. I'm aware that I use (Genus ---) and (--- spp.) interchangeably; they essentially mean the same thing. If you see something bold with [!!!], that means there wasn't any signage present on the species and I had to cross-reference the species in question. I hope this will help get an idea of the species you'll encounter during your visit.
It was! And don't get me started on trying to take pictures of some of the smaller, tropical fish. Most fish are as tricky to photography as small birds. The catch is, in parts of certain exhibits, you can't use flash photography, and my Canon doesn't do the trick most of the time. I used my cellphone and had it connected to a battery charger to take pictures of the animals and signage. There's a reason I was reluctant to do this list but I wanted to update this list.
Thank you again, I am heading there in March and it was tough to find a list of the current occupants.
Great that you are attempting this! Unknown if still present but in past visits a species that resembles an elbow crab and giant nudibranchs were seen in theMonterey habitats section. Into the deep has immense amounts of unsigned species.
Here is my list of unsigned species but it may be a bit outdated. Bold means probably only ones kept in the world question mark means not sure Into the deep Tank 1 Deep sea predatory chiton? deep sea mussel? Neptunea sp.? Brachiopod sp. Squat lobster sp. Isosicyonis anemone (atrached to neptunea)? Apple anemones Fly trap anemones Actinoscyphiidae ? Deep sea corallimorphid sp.? Unknown polyp species? Unidentified orange anemone? Deep sea brittle star? Halipteris sea pens funiculina sea pens Snake head eelpout Brisingid tank Un identified invert sp. Pom pom anemone tank sea spider ( colossendeis megalonyx?) Crab tank Puget sound box crab california king crab Hitch hikers on their shells Basket star tank Feather stars fly trap anemones Sea mount tank Deep sea brittle stars glowing sea cucumber Psolus sea cucumber Black coral sp. Alternatipathes Arbiter snailfish Thorny head sp. Bamboo coral? Club tipped anemone Of note, the osedax tank has multiple species and the jelly tanks are frequently fed other jellies (such as bloody belly comb jellies fed to the beroe)
There are at least 9 species that are unsigned and haven't been kept at any other aquarium and probably more.
Thank you for adding additional species that I missed. Marine life is not my forte (so many plants and creatures down there to keep up) so I appreciate yours and anyone else's input on the matter. An exhibit I wished they kept was the cephalopod-focused exhibit. By far my favorite (and part of my first trip there; I also remembered a Baja California-themed exhibit at the time too).
