In these two buildings, you will see 30 species of fish and 44 species of native and exotic reptiles and amphibians. Most of the animals in the aquarium can be found in our swamp and the rest can be found in the river many of you crossed to get to the park. In fact, some of the animals were caught in minnow traps placed throughout the gardens. (We do have a few exotic donations as well.) The reptile center houses both native and exotic animals, giving you the opportunity to see multiple habitats and animals from around the world.

Definitions
Reptile
A cold-blooded animal with scales, shields, or plates that usually has clawed toes. The young are miniature copies of their parents.
Examples: Turtles, Snakes, Lizards, and Crocodilians (which include alligators, crocodiles, and caiman)

Amphibian
Moist-skinned, cold-blooded animal whose young go through a larval stage before resembling their parents, such as when a tadpole becomes a frog.
Examples: Frogs, Toads, and Salamanders.

Fish
An aquatic, cold-blooded animal with a backbone, fins, and gills throughout its life. Examples: Bass, Gar, Eels, and Catfish.

Aquatic
Any animal or plant that spends all or most of its life in water.

Cold-Blooded
A term describing an animal whose body temperature is the same as its environment. Warm-blooded animals, like us, can regulate their own body temperature and don’t rely on outside sources, such as the sun or heat lamps, to create body heat.

Poisonous or Venomous
There are no poisonous animals in this building! There are, however, 6 species of venomous animals. Poisonous refers to whether or not a substance is toxic when eaten. Venomous usually refers to snakes or one of the 2 species of venomous lizards. These animals are harmful only if they inject venom by biting.

Albino or Leucistic
A creature that is an albino lacks pigment causing it to take on a pinkish-white appearance. These animals often have white hair or skin and red eyes. An animal that is leucistic has pigment, but that pigment is white. It may have partial pigmentation of its more typical coloration and usually has blue eyes. We have an albino catfish in tank 10.