Trainers, the time is now to pick your starter animals. Will you look for speed, agility or power in your pick? Read on, weigh your options and finalize your selection by visiting them on your next trip to Shedd!
1- Warty frogfish
This tiny ambush predator measures just a few inches at most, but don’t let its size fool you! Warty frogfish are strong competition, blending into their environment with bumpy skin that mimics rocks. You may spy a small, lure-like tool attached to their heads, which these intelligent creatures use to capture prey just like fishermen. Using the moving lure that mimics food, warty frogfish will snatch up a tasty treat once their prey gets close enough. Between camouflage and stealthy skills, the warty frogfish is one species with many talents!
You can visit the warty frogfish in Wild Reef.
2- Giant Pacific octopus
If their eight arms don’t allure you, the ink superpower of giant Pacific octopuses might! Octopuses are able to escape danger by releasing a squirt of ink as they zoom away on a jet of water. Octopuses produce melanin within their ink sacs, the same dark pigment that’s in our hair and skin. The ink also contains tyrosinase, a compound that burns predators’ eyes and temporarily paralyzes their senses of smell and taste. Altogether, octopus ink is a triple whammy of defense!
Stop by the giant Pacific octopus in the Oceans gallery.
3- Electric eels
Level up your voltage with electric eels who are capable of producing over 800 volts — that’s the same amount of voltage in a wall outlet! Electric eels, who are more closely related to knifefish, use electricity to stun their prey. When hunting, an electric eel will emit a quick, double electric pulse that causes potential prey to twitch, revealing their position. Electric eels also use electric pulses to navigate and communicate, making them a hard predator to beat in the Amazon River Basin where they dwell.
Say hello to the shocking eels in Amazon Rising.
4- Mantis shrimp
The mantis shrimp is another small but mighty animal with many superpower-like adaptations. Mantis shrimp have complex eyes and with the ability to see more colors than humans can. They also have a lightning-fast punch; some say quicker than a bullet, that they use to stun and catch prey.
See if you can spot the mantis shrimp in Wild Reef.
5- Southern sea otter
These adorable creatures may leave you guessing why they should join your squad, but they pack quite a bit of power! Despite their fluffy exterior, a sea otter possesses jaw force comparable to the bite of a black bear, which helps them crack tough shellfish, clams and mussels! They’re also no stranger to chilly waters, and over 1 million hairs per square inch keep these otters warm as they swim their days away. These skills make sea otters a strong contender — will they join your pack?
Watch the sea otters flip and turn in the Abbot Oceanarium.
6- Alligator snapping turtle
Alligator snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtle in North America! With jaws agape, the alligator snapping turtle flexes a secret weapon: a wriggling pink filament on their tongue that looks like a juicy worm. When a fish, frog, aquatic bird, rodent or smaller turtle is lured in, the turtle snaps its trap shut. This skill makes them strong hunters and predators!
Visit the powerful alligator snapping turtle in the At Home on the Great Lakes gallery.
These animals have incredible skills that help them adapt and thrive in their habitats — discover them and other fascinating animals on your next visit to Shedd.