There are thousands of reasons to visit the South Carolina Aquarium. We are home to over 4,500 animals! Get to know a few of our favorite residents and learn some fun facts about each below.
American Alligator
Reason #74
American alligators have 74-80 teeth at one time – that’s one big, toothy grin!
American Kestrel | Phoenix
Reason #2009
Phoenix landed on a live electrical wire as a fledgling, losing a talon and a toe. She couldn’t be released back into the wild, so in 2009 she came to the Aquarium.
Atlantic Spadefish
Reason #46
Spadefish have 4-6 vertical black bands on their bodies that fade with age.
Atlantic Tripletail
Reason #84
Tripletail live at leisure, or so it seems. They’re often observed drifting in 84° waters, resembling clumps of leaves floating by.
Bald Eagle | Liberty
Reason #7
Surprising to many, Liberty only weighs 7 pounds.
Barn Owl | Pippen
Reason #33
Pippen was named after Scottie Pippen, #33 for the Chicago Bulls.
Barracuda
Reason #27
Barracuda can reach speeds of up to 27 mph attempting to catch prey with their razor-sharp teeth.
Brown Pelican
Reason #1789
Brown pelicans were first spotted in the Charleston Harbor in 1789. They are the only pelicans in the world that are not white!
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Reason #22
Spiny lobsters don’t have claws – they have 2 antennae for protection and 2 smaller antennules that sense changes in the water.
Chain Dogfish
Reason #47
Chain dogfish like the cold and are cozy in 47°F water temperatures!
Common Octopus
Reason #3
Octopus not only have eight arms, but they have 3 hearts. There’s a lot to love!
Cownose Ray
Reason #10,000
Cownose rays often travel in large schools. In some areas, up to 10,000 rays can be seen migrating together!
Diamondback Terrapin
Reason #78
Back in 2009, 78 terrapins crossed the runway at John F. Kennedy Airport in search of nesting grounds, causing nearly two-hour flight delays!
Eastern Indigo Snake
Reason #8
Eastern indigo snakes are the longest snake native to the U.S., reaching lengths of over 8 feet.
Goliath Grouper | Mel
Reason #800
Goliath grouper can weigh up to 800 lbs. That’s almost as much as a smart car!
Gopher Tortoise
Reason #360
Gopher tortoises are known for their digging abilities. The burrows they create help shelter at least 360 other species.
Green Moray Eel
Reason #31
See that long fin on their slimy green body? That’s actually 3 fins that fused into 1!
Green Sea Turtle
Reason #80
Green sea turtles are world travelers – they nest on the beaches of over 80 countries!
Green Tree Frog
Reason #2.5
Green tree frogs use their color as a camouflage against predators. They only grow to about 2.5 inches in length!
Grey Triggerfish
Reason #42
The grey triggerfish is just one of 42 species in the triggerfish family.
Horseshoe Crab
Reason #6
Horseshoe crabs have 6 gills that help them breathe underwater.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
Reason #40,000
Kemp’s ridleys are known to nest in mass events, called arribadas. At one point, 40,000 Kemp’s ridleys were caught on film!
Lionfish
Reason #30
Lionfish love to eat. Their stomachs can expand 30 times its normal size.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Reason #1988
Loggerhead sea turtles became South Carolina’s state reptile in 1988.
Moon Jelly
Reason #4
Moon jellies can be easily distinguished by the 4 translucent horshoe shapes seen near their center.
Northern Pintail | Penny
Reason #14,914
Don’t be fooled by their tiny body – northern pintails like Penny have 14,914 feathers, give or take a few!
Nurse Shark
Reason #40
In the wild, nurse sharks like to pile on top of each other to rest, sometimes in groups of 40 or more.
Porcupinefish
Reason #2
Porcupinefish teeth are fused together, appearing as 2 plates on the top and bottom of their mouth.
Purple Sea Urchin
Reason #5
Urchins have 5 teeth arranged in a circle, called Aristotle’s Lantern.
River Otter | Ace
Reason #350,000
Ace was named after the Ace Basin, 350,000 acres of protected habitat for wildlife in South Carolina.
Robust Redhorse
Reason #122
Robust redhorse were rediscovered after 122 years of supposed extinction.
Sand Tiger Shark
Reason #1,000
Sharks typically go through 1,000 teeth annually.
Sea Star
Reason #1
Look closely – sea stars have 1 orange dot that pumps water into their bodies.
Sergeant Major
Reason #56
Sergeant majors have 5 distinct stripes plus an occasional 6th stripe on their tail. Because of these stripes, they are named for the sergeant major military rank.
Slipper Lobster
Reason #500
Slipper lobsters are typically bottom dwellers, found at depths of up to 500 meters (1,600 feet).
Yellow Rat Snake
Reason #60
Yellow rat snakes are quite arboreal – some have been known to climb trees 60 feet high!
Visit your favorite animal today!