DMM KARIYUSHI AQUARIUM

Ma row

Reptiles

Classification
Caudata, Ambystomatidae
distribution
Lakes Xochimilco and Chalco in Mexico

Mexican salamander

Scientific name
Ambystoma mexicanum
English name
axolotl

Features

This salamander lives its entire life in water with its gills intact.
The process of remaining unchanged throughout life even after reaching adulthood is called neoteny.

From the breeding staff

In Japan, they are widely known as "axolotls."
Although they are generally thought of as having white bodies, wild individuals are black. I would love to see one living in the wild.

Reptiles

Classification
Squamata, Gekkonidae
distribution
Madagascar

Madagascar day gecko

Scientific name
Phelsuma madagascariensis
English name
Madagascar day gecko

Features

The soles of geckos' feet are covered with many nanometer-sized hairs, which create a molecular-level pulling force. By adjusting the angle of their feet, they can change this pulling force, allowing them to climb vertically on walls made of various materials.

From the breeding staff

Unlike the other geckos at DMM KARIYUSHI AQUARIUM, this gecko has very attractive round eyes. If you look at its head, you will see a pattern that looks like a heart! Please try to find it!

Reptiles

Classification
Order Testudines Family Chelidonidae
distribution
Northern South America

Matamata

Scientific name
Chelus fimbriatus
English name
Matamata

Features

The name comes from the local meaning of "skin." Its appearance is thought to be a camouflage to mimic the surrounding fallen leaves and rocks. It rarely comes onto land, but waits on the bottom of the water for fish to pass nearby, and preys on them.

From the breeding staff

His face seen from the front is very distinctive! Maybe he looks like that comedian?

Saltwater Fish

Classification
Perciformes, Lutjanidae
distribution
Ryukyu Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Yakushima

Black and white snapper

Scientific name
Macolor niger
English name
Black and white snapper

Features

The color of the adult fish is very different from that of the juvenile fish, with the juvenile fish having a black base with white vertical stripes and spots, but the adult fish has a completely black body color. In Okinawa, it is sometimes called Inafuku.

From the breeding staff

When young, they have cute patterns, but as they grow, the patterns gradually disappear and their whole body becomes blackish. They are also known as edible fish in Okinawa.

Saltwater Fish

Classification
Order: Ophidiformes, Family: Ophidiidae
distribution
Southern Japan, tropical and subtropical waters of the world

Spotted eagle ray

Scientific name
Aetobatus narinari
English name
Spotted eagle ray

Features

It has a diamond-shaped body and white spots on its back. It can be seen searching for crustaceans to eat from the sandy bottom using the pointed snout at the end of its head. It is a large species, reaching a width of about 1.5-2m.

From the breeding staff

They have a pointed snout that they use to search for food hidden in the sand! The spotted pattern on their back is the origin of their name!

Saltwater Fish

Classification
Perciformes, Grouperidae
distribution
Hachijo Island, Yakushima Island, Ryukyu Islands, Ogasawara Islands

Camouflage grouper

Scientific name
Epinephelus polyphekadion
English name
Camouflage grouper

Features

In the Okinawa dialect, the fish is called "Yuyu-meebai" because its body surface is slimy with mucus, combining "Yuyu" which means drool and "Meebai" which is used for groupers. It lives in shallow water reefs and coral reefs and eats small fish, crustaceans, squid, octopus, etc.

From the breeding staff

This fish has a cool camouflage-like pattern, but it is also a bit of an unfortunate fish whose name means "drool."

Corals

Classification
Order Zoanthacea, Family Zoanthacea
distribution
Tropical and temperate oceans around the world

Zoanthus sp.

Scientific name
Zoanthus sp.
English name
Zoanthus sp.

Features

A type of Corals with a soft body called a "soft coral." Its Japanese name includes "suna" (suna) because it uses sand instead of a skeleton to form parts of its body.

*Skeleton: The part that becomes the Corals's "bone" and is made mainly of calcium carbonate.

From the breeding staff

This Corals comes in a wide variety of colors depending on where it is found! It's soothing to watch as the green, red, and yellow polyps open all at once!

Birds & Others

Classification
Red starfish, Family Horned sea star
distribution
South of the Ryukyu Islands, Indian Ocean, Western Pacific

Cushion star

Scientific name
Culcita novaeguineae
English name
Cushion star

Features

The name comes from the fact that they lack the five arms characteristic of starfish and have round bodies like a "bun." Young individuals are star-shaped, but as they grow, their arms become less noticeable and their body becomes more like a bun.

From the breeding staff

This starfish has a very cute, round appearance.
There are a wide variety of colors to choose from, so take a look!

Mammals

Classification
Carnivora, Mongoose family
distribution
South Africa

Meerkat

Scientific name
Suricate suricatta
English name
Meerkat

Features

Meerkat means "lake cat" in Dutch, but it is a relative of the mongoose. The way they stand on high ground and look around is a sentry behavior to protect the flock from predators. They are omnivorous, eating insects, snakes, scorpions, etc.

From the breeding staff

Although they look cute, they still have sharp claws and fangs for hunting. They look cute when they're sleeping, but they look very wild when they're eating!

Birds & Others

Classification
Order Aurelia, Family Moon jellyfish
distribution
Southern Hokkaido and temperate seas around the world

Moon jellyfish

Scientific name
Aurelia coerulea
English name
Moon jellyfish

Features

This jellyfish is commonly found off the coast of Japan. It also lives in a wide area around the world. The edge of its umbrella has many thin tentacles, which it uses to catch food such as zooplankton. It is not very poisonous.

From the breeding staff

Speaking of jellyfish, this is it! It is no exaggeration to say that this is the jellyfish! The sight of it floating gently in the water is soothing to the soul.

Birds & Others

Classification
Order Aurelia, Family Moon jellyfish
distribution
Ryukyu Islands, Ogasawara Islands, etc.

Moom jellyfish

Scientific name
Aurelia sp.
English name
Moom jellyfish

Features

Although they are members of the Moon jellyfish family, they have different physical characteristics. While the Moon jellyfish of Honshu have a rounded stomach, those that live in the Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands have heart-shaped stomachs.

From the breeding staff

This is a moon Moon jellyfish that can be found in the waters off Okinawa Prefecture. It has a four-leaf clover pattern and a heart-shaped stomach, making it very cute!

Saltwater Fish

Classification
Perciformes, Pomacentridae
distribution
South of Wakayama Prefecture, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

Whitetail dascyllus

Scientific name
Dascyllus aruanus
English name
Whitetail dascyllus

Features

As its name suggests, it is characterized by three black stripes. A single male lives with multiple females. It feeds on crustaceans, algae, and benthic animals.

From the breeding staff

This fish has a distinctive black and white body coloring! As its name suggests, it has three black stripes!

Reptiles

Classification
Squamata, Monitor Lizard
distribution
The Torres Strait islands from New Guinea to Moa Island at the northern tip of Australia's Cape Peninsula

Green slimy monitor lizard

Scientific name
Varanus prasinus
English name
Emerald tree monitor

Features

It is characterized by its vibrant green body color and black banded pattern. It is an arboreal lizard that lives in trees. Its body is designed to be suitable for life in trees. Its distinctive features include its body color and sharp claws that it uses to support its body.

From the breeding staff

They don't usually come down to the ground, but when they get hungry they will come down to look for food. Another attractive feature is their beautiful emerald green body color!

Saltwater Fish

Classification
Tetraodontiformes, Boxfish family
distribution
South of Wakayama Prefecture, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

Yellow boxfish

Scientific name
Ostracion cubicus
English name
Yellow boxfish

Features

As you can see, the name comes from its box-like shape. The body color of juvenile fish is bright yellow with numerous black spots. Adult fish have a yellowish-brown body color with a pattern of white spots covered with black spots. In response to irritation or stress, they secrete a mucus-like poison from their skin to protect themselves from predators.

From the breeding staff

It is also known as the "yellow dice of happiness," and when young it has a bright body color and is very cute.

Corals

Classification
Alcyonaceae
distribution
Tropical and temperate oceans around the world

Star polyps

Scientific name
Pachyclavularia violacea
English name
Star polyps

Features

A type of Corals called a "soft coral" with a soft body. It grows by covering the rock surface. It is commonly called a "star polyp" because the center of the polyp looks like a star.

*Polyp: An organism that looks like a sea anemone and has spread tentacles. Each one is about 5-30mm in size. All Corals are made up of one or more polyps.

From the breeding staff

The sight of all the polyps opening at once looks like a grassland! The color of the polyps really stands out against the purple body!

Birds & Others

Classification
Owls, Strigidae
distribution
Southern Mexico to Argentina and Brazil

Spectacled Owl

Scientific name
Pulsatrix perspicillata
English name
Spectacled Owl

Features

The name comes from the fact that the white pattern on its face looks like it is wearing glasses. Adult birds also have the same pattern, but young birds differ from adults in that the center of their faces is black and their entire bodies are white.

From the breeding staff

They have very strong eyes, so if you make eye contact with them, it'll turn into a staring contest! They're also very curious, so they'll show interest in all sorts of things and you'll see them carefully observing you!

Saltwater Fish

Classification
Perciformes, Labridae
distribution
South of the Nansei Islands, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

Humphead wrasse

Scientific name
Cheilinus undulatus
English name
Humphead wrasse

Features

The name comes from the fact that the black vertical line through the eye makes it look like the fish is wearing glasses. The hump on its head that grows as it grows resembles Napoleon's military cap, so it is also known as the "Napoleon fish." Only males have large humps.

From the breeding staff

We raise young fish at our aquarium, and it is very soothing to see them growing little by little each day.

Freshwater Fish

Classification
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Drassidae
distribution
Tapajos River, Xingu River, Paranaiba River

Giant talking catfish

Scientific name
Megalodoras uranoscopus
English name
Giant talking catfish

Features

A catfish with spines on its body. There are many variations depending on where it is produced, and each individual has different patterns and colors. It grows slowly, but it is a large catfish that can reach a maximum length of about 80 cm.

From the breeding staff

They usually stay still like a rock, but when they eat food they move around quite a bit, sucking up the food that has sunk to the bottom with great force.

Birds & Others

Classification
Owls , Barn owl
distribution
Europe, Africa, Australia

Barn owl

Scientific name
Tyto alba
English name
Barn owl

Features

They have a heart-shaped face, which can range from white to brown depending on the variety. Their name comes from the fact that they look like they are wearing a mask. Their feathers turn brown from their head to their back, creating a snake-like pattern, which serves as a form of camouflage when hunting. They are carnivorous, preying on mice, frogs, and insects.

From the breeding staff

They are carnivorous, so they eat mice and chicks. Their favorite food is mouse tails! The one at our aquarium doesn't like chicks very much...

Birds & Others

Classification
Decapoda Spider Crab
distribution
Western Pacific Ocean south of Sagami Bay

Spider decorator crab 

Scientific name
Camposcia retusa
English name
Spider decorator crab

Features

*Currently not on display.

Its body is covered with hairs that resemble Velcro, to which it attaches sponges and seaweed to hide. Its name comes from the fact that it looks like it is carrying pieces of seaweed on its back.

From the breeding staff

He gathers his belongings and carries them on his back.
In rare cases, they may be carrying not only seaweed but also Corals, so keep an eye out!

Birds & Others

Classification
Owls, Strigidae
distribution
Europe, North Africa, Asia (some areas)

Tawny Owl

Scientific name
Strix aluco
English name
Tawny Owl

Features

They have two types of body color: reddish brown and gray. They look very similar to the owls that live in Japan, but they are a different species of owl. Their body color is similar to that of trees in nature, which serves as camouflage.

From the breeding staff

Although they are smaller than snowy owls, they have a big appetite! They sometimes get so impatient that they fly towards staff while other owls are being fed!
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