The aquatic animal world is effervescent. It’s vibrant, thrilling, varied and expansive, much like the human world. There is much more in common than we think between life above and below the surface: diversity makes both stronger.
As we encourage and embrace all identities, and hoist our Pride flags high especially as we celebrate Pride Month, take inspiration from these animals that represent the bright and beautiful colors of the Progress Pride flag.
Red: Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)
Giant Pacific octopuses are generally a reddish-brown color, but are very well-known for their expert ability to change colors and even textures to match the environment around them. This intelligent cephalopod can use its well-developed brain, eight arms and hundreds of suction cups — about 280 on each arm! — to solve puzzles and mazes, open jars and more.
There’s much to love and learn about giant Pacific octopuses! Visit Shedd’s resident giant Pacific octopus in the Oceans Gallery.
Orange: Orangespot Filefish (Oxymonacanthus longirostris)
The orangespot filefish is a fascinating animal found among coral reefs in the Indian and west-central Pacific Oceans. For protection, they absorb and use chemicals in the Acropora coral they eat to take on its smell, which natural predators like cod stay away from. Their brilliant orange spots and blue body resembles the coral that they eat, which serves as perfect camouflage.
See if you can spot the orangespot filefish in Wild Reef.
Yellow: Philippine Yellow Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus)
The Philippine yellow tang is known by several other common names, like the mimic lemon peel tang for its vibrant yellow color as a juvenile, or chocolate surgeonfish for the deep brown color that develops as the fish gets older.
This beautiful fish gets the “surgeon” part of its name from a sharp spine that looks like a scalpel near their tail fin that they use for protection. As for “mimic,” the yellow tang has an uncanny resemblance to pygmy angelfish, which is used to their benefit to blend in when other territorial animals would otherwise shoo them away.
You can see the gorgeous Philippine yellow tangs in Wild Reef.
Green: Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus batesii)
At birth, an emerald tree boa can be many colors, from yellow-orange to brick red. During its first year it develops its bright green color and zigzagging white bands. These bands provide natural camouflage as they appear like rays of sunlight or leaf patterns on the boa's scales. These snakes remain mostly in their leafy canopy in the Amazon River basin, only occasionally lunging down to grab its prey.
Can you spot the emerald tree boa camouflaged in Amazon Rising?
Blue: Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
Hyacinth macaws are a brilliant, bold blue, with bright yellow surrounding their eyes and beak. They can be found in South America, specifically in parts of Brazil, eastern Bolivia and northeastern Paraguay. Unlike most parrots that live in tropical rain forest habitats, hyacinth macaws prefer lightly forested areas such as palm swamps and flooded grasslands. Here, they can find nuts from native palms to eat, as well as fruits and vegetables. Their beaks are strong enough to crack coconuts!
Acuri, Shedd’s resident hyacinth macaw, is an engagement animal, which means he lives behind the scenes and will occasionally greet guests, participate in school field trips and visit other educational programs for people to learn about the importance of his species.
Violet: Geryi’s Violet Line Piranha (Serrasalmus geryi)
Geryi’s violet line piranhas are native to rivers in northeastern Brazil and get their name from the prominent purple stripe running from their lower jaw along the top of their body to the dorsal fin. They often live in groups near the river bottom and will prey on smaller fish and insects. Unlike how piranhas are often portrayed in media, these fish are fairly peaceful.
The shiny violet line piranhas can be seen dazzling guests in Amazon Rising.
White: Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
Pacific white-sided dolphins, distinguished by the white or light gray stripe along their side that gives them their name, are found in the northern Pacific Ocean. In the wild, Pacific white-sided dolphins travel in groups at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour! This species is known for being athletic and playful, jumping, somersaulting or even spinning up to 20 feet out of the water.
Visit Shedd’s resident Pacific white-sided dolphins in the Abbott Oceanarium, or see their incredible jumps during an Animal Spotlight.
Pink: Pink-speckled Shrimp Goby (Cryptocentrus leptocephalus)
The pink-speckled shrimp goby is a striking fish native to the western Pacific Ocean. As its name suggests, this fish is recognized by its pink speckles that are outlined in vibrant teal. Interestingly, this fish has a symbiotic relationship with alpheid shrimp. The shrimp provides a burrow while the goby stays on the lookout for predators using its impressive vision.
See if you can spot the small, pink-speckled shrimp goby in Wild Reef!
Light Blue: Blue-Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)
Large schools of this iridescent, light blue and apple green fish live among branching Acropora corals in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and the Indian and west-central Pacific Oceans. They largely graze on phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are tiny plants and animals, as well as algae, larval fishes and fish eggs. When breeding, the males will fiercely guard the nest to protect the eggs.
Find the beautiful blue-green chromis in Wild Reef, Plankton Revealed and Wonder of Water.
Brown: Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)
Sea otters are born with dark brown fur that lightens as they age. Luna, Shedd’s oldest resident sea otter, can be easily distinguished from the younger otters in the group by her graying face and head. No matter the color, sea otters’ fur keeps them insulated from cold water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, unlike other marine mammals like beluga whales that have blubber to keep them warm. Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal — up to 1 million hairs per square inch. They spend a lot of time grooming and cleaning to maintain that thick waterproof coat.
See Shedd’s resident sea otters swimming in the Abbott Oceanarium.
Black: Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
Blacktip reef sharks are named for the characteristic black tips on each of their fins. They are one of the most common reef sharks throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from Africa to Hawaii and Japan to northern Australia, although overfishing is threatening the species. These sharks inhabit shallow waters near reefs where they can find fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods and mollusks to munch on. They are obligate ram ventilators, which means that they have to keep swimming to push oxygen-carrying water over their gills to breathe.
Watch the blacktip reef sharks glide through the shark habitat in Wild Reef.