Mote exhibit will highlight extremes of survival

A new exhibit at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium will showcase what it takes to survive as a marine animal or amphibian in today’s world.

“Survivors: Beautiful and Extreme Adaptations” will open Feb. 1.

The exhibit will feature the peacock mantis shrimp, which packs a “punch” with its appendages that’s as powerful as a .22-caliber bullet; the blue-ringed octopus, which has some of the strongest venom on Earth; the Vietnamese mossy frog, which is a master of camouflage; and many other survivors.

The exhibit is the third limited-time exhibit at Mote, following “Penguin Island” and “Sea Lions: On the Water’s Edge.”

“Survivors will be the most diverse, colorful and exotic exhibit we’ve ever hosted — we’ll be featuring animals native to many different ocean basins around the world and demonstrating why nature has a place for all of them, including the most dangerous ones,” said Dan Bebak, vice president of Mote’s aquarium, in a prepared statement.

The exhibit will also provide information about how humans can stay out of the “most dangerous” category by helping ecosystems remain in balance.

The exhibit will run through Sept. 14. Admission is free with paid admission to Mote.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].