As part of our mini-vacation in Rockport this past weekend, we went to the nearby Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christie. We probably should have gone the day before in order to avoid the crowds (what else can you expect on a Saturday in August) but the exhibits were worth the quick trip. The Aquarium focuses mainly on Gulf coast wildlife, so I took it as an opportunity to learn to recognize the kinds of fish I catch whenever I'm out there fishing off a pier in the Gulf of Mexico. :-) Two exhibits entranced us - the seahorses and the jellyfish.

I've always had a fondness for seahorses. They're just such beautiful, yet alien-looking creatures. Every time I see a living specimen I'm amazed that these tiny creatures really exist here on earth. (and then there are seadragons which are even more alien!) Hippocampus zosterae or "dwarf seahorse" is the kind we saw. Their range is northern Gulf of Mexico to the Bahamas and they are one of the tiniest of the 35 known species of seahorses on the planet. If they weren't strange enough to look at - they are also one of the very few species on the planet where the male is the one who carries the "pregnancy". Seahorses, along with pipe-fishes and sea-dragons all belong to the family Syngnathidae.

I can't say that I've ever had the same fondness for jellyfish. Not after at least one childhood incidence of getting stung on the foot by them. Instead, I can say that I have always had a great respect for the quivering blobs I found washed up on the beach. But whenever I see them floating freely I have to admit they are as beautiful as they can be dangerous. Aurelia aurita is a common type in Gulf coastal waters. It's mesmerizing to watch these graceful creatures move through the water with such delicate-looking tendrils following them. By far though the comb jellies were the most fascinating. Whenever these tiny little creatures moved into a lit portion of the tank they appeared to shimmer with psychedelic running lights. You can see some video clips of these here.

Related links:

Texas Gulf Coast:

• Texas Naturalist Web
• Texas State Parks - Gulf Coast Region
• The Texas Gulf Coast: Early Spring Seaside Splendor
• This is sad - I remember it being much longer: Only 50 yards left of Port Lavaca fishing pier

  Seahorses:
  

• Seahorse.org
• Of Leafy Dragons, Pipe-fishes, Seahorses; Family Syngnathidae:A Real Challenge
• syngnathid.org
• Project Seahorse (marine conservation actually)

  Jellyfish:
  

• Giant Jellyfish Invade Northern Gulf of Mexico; Could Threaten Gulf Shrimp, Crab Fisheries
• Photos of Australian jellyfish, Phyllorhiza punctata, in the Gulf of Mexico
• HEADLINE SCIENCE: Invasion of the Jellies
• Student Project on Aurelia aurita
• life cycle
• gallery of images

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