Over its decades-long history at Mandalay Bay, Shark Reef Aquarium has been host to some of the most fascinating and unique animals across the globe (both above and beneath the water), and its most recent addition—the first since 2008—is a dream come true for lovers of sharks, as well as a highly educational segment that helps to dispel some popular myths.
The re-creation of a kelp forest includes a variety of cold-water sharks (horn, leopard, swell and pyjama), and the aquarium also re-creates the dappled light that helps to camouflage the sharks in their natural environment. It’s here you’ll learn tidbits like:
• Sharks do not need to constantly move to survive. In fact, species like the pyjama are nocturnal, meaning they will likely be sleeping at the bottom of the enclosure during most of the day;
• Despite what you see in movies like Jaws, sharks actually eat very little: In fact, most sharks eat about 1 to 2 percent of their body weight in a seven- to 10-day period (humans, conversely, eat that much in a day).
Other highlights at this perennial favorite include a Komodo dragon, Johnston’s crocodiles, piranhas, skinks, jellyfish, a Burmese python and a wide variety of fish (everything from French angelfish to queen triggerfish and parrotfish), some of which share aquarium space with the sand and zebra sharks. There’s also a touch tank (the only part of the exhibit where you can actually reach out and discover what some of these creatures feel like).
Mandalay Bay, 702.632.4555
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