"Georgia Aquarium - 2009" Atlanta Travelogue by grayfo

The whale shark is the largest of the sharks and the biggest fish, and can grow up to 14 metres (46 ft), weighing up to 15 tons. The average size being 7.6 metres (25 ft) long. It has been estimated that whale sharks may live up to 100 - 150 years.

The whale shark has light-yellow markings (random stripes and dots) on very thick dark grey skin. Its skin is up to 10 cm (4 inches) thick. The whale shark has tiny teeth and feeds on plankton and small fishes.

The whale shark is found in all tropical and subtropical oceans, along coastal regions, and enters lagoons on tropical islands. It generally swims near the surface allowing divers and snorkelers to swim with it.

Named after its distinctive mouth, the Bowmouth Guitarfish is also known as Sharkfin Guitarfish, Shark Ray or Mud Skate and is found across the Indo-west Pacific. A bottom-dwelling species the Bowmouth Guitarfish lives in shallow coastal areas and inshore coral reefs, at a depth range between 3 and 90 metres.

The Giant Grouper is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and normally live in shallow waters preferring coral reef. Giant Groupers can grow as large as 2.7 metres (9 ft) long, weighing up to 600 kg (1320 lb) and feed on a variety of marine life, including small sharks and juvenile sea turtles.

The white beluga whale is normally found in the arctic and sub-arctic regions of the world. Seeing these animals with their flexible necks and the ability to swim upside down was for me like watching an undersea ballet.

There are 20 different species of the piranha in the Amazon and nearly all of them. However, the only species of piranha that can strip flesh of an animal in double quick time are the red-bellied piranha. The red-bellied piranha has the reputation for being one of the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. They have a set of razor sharp teeth which are capable of stripping flesh from prey and dead animals.

The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter in the world and is found in the fresh waters of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The otters live in small family groups with the Georgia Aquarium’s five Asian small-clawed otters being sisters.