The Shop Questions Answered Camouflage is a great way of going unnoticed by your enemies or your own prey and there are many examples in the aquarium. Scorpionfish blend in perfectly with the rocks on which they rest, further protection is afforded by the possession of venom- tipped spines on the dorsal fin and gill covers. Keep a special look out for the stingray. The sharp barb on its tail is a formidable weapon and this species is less camouflaged than its cousins.
Rays have skeletons made of flexible cartilage and are related to the sharks.
There are more than twenty species of shark known from UK waters but only some of the small varieties settle well in captivity. Towards the surface of the Deep Reef tank you may spot one of the smoothhounds, while bull huss and lesser spotted dogfish swim lower down. Around the rocks at the base of the tank you may often spot the egg cases of rays and dogfish. These are known locally as mermaid s purses and can often be seen washed up along our local beaches. The eggs in this exhibit were all laid by our own sharks after mating in the ideal conditions of the Deep Reef.