Shark Reef Aquarium Offers Tropical Ocean Amidst the Desert Sands LAS VEGAS – Dangerous predators and unusual aquatic creatures abound at Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. The 90,560-square-foot aquarium holds nearly 1.6-million gallons of fresh and seawater in 14 major exhibits. Since its debut in 2000, Shark Reef Aquarium has become a must-see attraction, where adults and children alike flock to get up close and personal with more than 2,000 divinely dangerous animals including sharks, crocodiles, sawfish, piranhas and a rare Komodo Dragon. A total sensory experience, Shark Reef Aquarium transports visitors to an undersea ocean of fantastic sights, sounds and encounters. Unlike other aquariums and zoo exhibits in the U.S., Shark Reef Aquarium allows guests to experience a themed journey through an ancient temple that has been slowly claimed by the sea and onto the deck of a sunken ship in shark-infested waters. “Shark Reef Aquarium provides visitors the unique opportunity to closely observe rare predators such as a Komodo Dragon, Golden Crocodiles, two Shark Rays and several species of magnificent sharks all under one roof,” said Adrienne Rowland, the facility’s director.

“Shark Reef Aquarium offers an unforgettable adventure, transporting visitors past jungle creatures and down into a sunken ship with sharks gliding overhead. It’s thrilling to be within reach of such fascinating animals.” The latest additions to the Shark Reef family are a male and female Bowmouth Guitarfish, more commonly known as Shark Rays. The Shark Ray, not actually a shark but rather a member of the ray family, is referred to as a Shark Ray because its front half is wide and flat like a stingray while the back half is long and slender with tall fins like a shark. There are less than 12 Shark Rays on display in U.S. aquariums. Unusual for most attractions of its kind, Shark Reef Aquarium allows visitors to experience the environment on many levels – viewing exhibits from all angles. Guests are able to see rays resting on the ocean floor and then look up and watch a school of fish swim overhead. In the temple exhibits, not only do visitors see the animals, they feel the mist on their skin, hear birds sing and see exotic flowers all around.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 2003, Shark Reef Aquarium was conceived with an international team of aquarium and exhibit designers. Anchored by Las Vegas architectural firm Klai::Juba, the team includes overall development guidance by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre of Vancouver, Canada; exhibit design of BIOS:Inc. animal life support engineering systems by TA Maranda of Seattle and Desert Plumbing of Las Vegas; vacuum cleaner parts njanimal care criteria by Dr. Dennis Thoney of New York, NY, and the advice and consultation of a variety of scientific and technical experts from five continents.best vacuum cleaner suction power Shark Reef offers locals and Las Vegas visitors an Annual Pass which provides unlimited entry, discounts and exclusive offers. portable steam cleaner commercial

Additionally, the Annual Pass provides access to Shark Reef Aquarium’s Dive with Sharks program, giving dive-certified pass holders the opportunity to dive in the aquarium’s 1.3-million-gallon Shipwreck Exhibit. Annual Passes can be purchased for $40 for adults and $25 for children ages 5-12; children four and under are free when accompanied by an adult pass holder. Shark Reef is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; carpet cleaning brush amazonFriday and Saturday, 10 a.m. tocarpet cleaning utah couponsLast entry is one hour prior to closing. pool cleaning robot reviewsTicket prices are $18 for adults and $12 for children; children four and under are free. Discounts are available for Nevada residents with identification.

Watch, touch and occasionally feed the unique and fascinating stingrays, as they glide through a warm saltwater pool. The sharks are a little too shy for petting, but you may be lucky enough to have one touch you briefly as it swims by. Located under a large pavilion near Lakeside Cafe these ocean animals swim through a 17,000-gallon pool complete with waterfall and a lush surrounding landscape. You'll be surprised at how gentle and graceful the animals are in the water, as they swim past and under your hands. Our stingrays can't sting you. At the Zoo, the stingrays' barbs are painlessly clipped back just as human fingernails are clipped. Staff monitor the stingrays throughout the season to ensure that the barbs stay neatly trimmed. Zoo interpreters will be on hand to assist visitors and share information on the animals and ocean conservation. Cownose rays and southern stingrays are related to sharks and skates. They have a flat body, long pointed fins and a long whip-like tail.

Stingrays are known for their stinger, but they are actually very docile creatures. Learn more about stingray anatomy. Bamboo sharks, such as the white-spotted bamboo and brown-banded bamboo, are known as "cat sharks" because the barbels, or sensory organs, near their mouths resemble cat whiskers. The bonnethead shark is the smallest member of the hammerhead family. These sharks have semi-circular shaped heads resembling a shovel or bonnet. See shark school to learn more about sharks. The sharks at Stingrays at Caribbean Cove are small, shy and docile fish and pose no danger to humans. They range from two-and-a-half to four feet in length and are bottom-dwelling species that prey on small fish, crabs and invertebrates. Our visitors will not be feeding the sharks, but there may be opportunities to touch the sharks as they swim by. Though the cownose rays and southern stingrays are not currently endangered in the wild, other species of stingrays are. Stingrays and other ocean animals are often accidentally caught during commercial fishing for other fish.

It's important that consumers purchase seafood from suppliers that farm or fish in ways that will ensure the long-term health of the world's oceans, rivers and lakes. Our stingrays eat fish that are sustainable, and so should you! Here are some other ways that you can make a difference for ocean inhabitants and all animals: You are invited to join the Zoo in helping take care of the planet. Your visit to the Zoo is the first step. Together we can make big changes! The Saint Louis Zoo is proud to partner with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation in support of their Seafood WatchSM Program. Download their Midwest Seafood Watch card or mobile app for a list of recommended seafood choices (and those that are not recommended). Cards are also available to pick up at Stingrays at Caribbean Cove. Seafood WatchSM is a registered servicemark of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. Animal and veterinary care for the stingrays is supervised by a full-time exhibit supervisor and an assistant exhibit supervisor from Living Exhibits, a Las Vegas-based corporation that produces and manages interactive exhibits for zoos, aquariums and museums.