A Deeper Experience at Manila Ocean Park

 

"It's a deeper experience!"

Giant arapaima

The arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world. The diet of the arapaima consists of fish or even other kinds of small animals, including birds. This fish exclusively inhabits the Amazon River Basin of South America.

Philippine crocodiles

Cousins of Nemo?

We smell something fishy!

Whitespotted bamboo sharks and a chocolate chip sea star

Chocolate chip sea stars

 

Colorific!

Blue-spotted sting ray

You got me trippin', stumblin', flippin', fumblin'
CLAMS-y coz I'm fallin' in love...

 Stone fish

Crab fish

"Don't stare. You might fall in love."

Gluta overdose?

The triumvirate

Bamboo shark eggs

Scrawled filefish or "tiwarik"

Scrawled filefish can be found in lagoons and seaward reefs, and are occasionally seen under floating objects.

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Colorific!

Big lobster

Common lionfish or "ranuy-ranuy"

This unique-looking fish hides in unexposed places at daytime often with its head down and practically immobile. The widespread pectoral fins are used to trap prey into a corner and then swallowing it whole in one gulp. The dorsal spines are venomous: the sting can be treated by immediately applying heat to the afflicted area.

                       

 Blackspotted puffer & Manila puffer or "butete"

Puffers have round shapes with heads and snouts which at times make them look like a seal or a dog. They come in a variety of colors, although most commonly blue-gray. Like most puffers, the blackspotted puffer is highly poisonous to eat since its flesh contains tetro-doxin which can cause heart problems, kidney failure, and a death-like coma that can be mistaken for death.

Sailfin tang or "labahita"

The sailfin tang can be recognized by its pointed snout, tall dorsal and anal fins and sharp spine. They can be found in Western Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Lipstick tang or "labahita"

Its common name refers to the red around the lips. They are also called "unicorn fish" because of a spike that protrudes from the forehead in some species. However, others have a bulbous protrusion rather than a pronounced spike, and some lack a spine altogether. Unicorn fish usually have a pair of spines on each side of the tail shaft that are used for defense. They can be found in the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines.