Scientific name : Chelmon rostratus
Family : Chaetodontidae
Size : Up to 23 cm
Depth : Up to 25 m
Distribution : Indian ocean and South Pacific
Morphology : Compressed laterally, the body is white with 4 vertical yellow-orange stripes. It has a black spot on the back of the dorsal fin.
Biology : Sociable towards other fish species, it can be aggressive and territorial towards its fellow fish. It lives alone or in pairs above the reefs.
IUCN red list : Least concern
Scientific name : Aurelia aurita
Family : Ulmaridae
Size : Up to 40 cm diameter
Depth : It is pelagic often on the surface
Distribution : In all oceans and open seas except at the poles
Morphology, colour : Its body consists of a transparent umbrella that can be bluish or pink in colour, which is surrounded by many long and thin tentacles. It has 4 buccal arms that are often folded over the stomach part. The reproductive organs are “horseshoe-shaped” and symmetrically arranged from the centre of the umbrella where the stomach is located.
Biology : It moves by regularly undulating and using marine currents. It captures very small zooplankton prey (fish larvae, micro crustaceans,…) using its tentacles which are equipped with stinging cells (cnidocytes). The food is then directed towards the mouth which is located in the centre of the ventral surface; this orifice also serves as an anus as in all cnidarians (corals,…). This jellyfish species has the particularity of having two modes of sexual and asexual reproduction.
Scientific name : Paracanthurus hepatus
Family : Acanthuridae
Size : Up to 31 cm
Depth : Up to 40 m
Distribution : Indo-Western Pacific
Morphology : The laterally compressed body is bright blue with two black stripes and the tail is yellow.
Biology : A sharp spine on each side of the tail is covered with venomous mucus and can cause severe pain.
IUCN red list : Least concern
Scientific name : Carcharhinus melanopterus
Family : Carcharhinidae
Size : Up to 200 cm
Depth : Up to 30 m
Distribution : East Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific tropical west
Morphology : Medium sized shark, light beige grey with black markings on the tips of the fins.
Biology : It lives alone or in small schools. It moves mostly at night in search of food (fish, molluscs, crustaceans). It is a viviparous species (the embryo grows inside the female’s belly). It can give birth to several young (6 max.).
IUCN red list : Minor concern
If the beauty of whales amazes us, their song rings like a strange and fascinating music.
Breathe in the sea air on the terrace quickly… because the sight may just take your breath away with the terraces breathtaking panoramic views.
Seals laze in the sunshine, play and swim around to the great amusement of young and old alike ! Entertainment and emotion guaranteed !
Come and see the seals being fed, every day at 10.30 am and 5 pm !
An aquarium in a cave-like setting that is home to 2 turtles : a green turtle and a loggerhead turtle.
They share the pool with turbots, undulate rays, meagres…
The blue colours take us to a magical scene under the oceans !
The Paul Arné room, another temporary exhibition room, is on your left when you arrive on the 2nd level.
You will be in raptures when you see the stunning panoramic underwater view of the seal pool !
The seals swim and play in front of your very eyes…
You can even see them sleeping at the bottom of the pool !
Such entertaining and delightful creatures…
A truly historical collection with, among other displays, models and curios steeped in history that provide an emotional account of bygone times.
This room exhibits navigational instruments (octants, sextants, proportional compasses…), and provides information on how our forefathers used to fish for tuna and cod. Not forgetting the whalehunting that is such an integral part of the history of the Basque Country and especially of Biarritz.
