Mote Marine Aquarium - Sarasota, Florida - aquarium at the Mote Marine Laboratory focusing on education and research

The Mote Marine Aquarium is a part of the Mote Marine Laboratory, which focuses on researching and educating the public about some of the animals found in the waters around Florida and throughout the world. They have over 100 different marine species, ranging from sea turtles to sharks, and they also provide visitors with more educational opportunities than most zoos and aquariums, since this is a full laboratory and research facility.

Every year, over 400,000 people visit the Mote Marine Aquarium. Some of their exhibits include From the Rivers to the Seas, Florida Bay Habitats, Creatures from the Reef, and Shark Habitat. Animals visitors can expect to see creatures include freshwater stingrays, crawfish, seahorses, snook, French angel fish, butterfly fish, sandbar sharks, goliath groups, and bull sharks.

The also have a 27-foot-long preserved giant squid named Molly, and this is the only place in the United States where you can see such a large specimen displayed. Afterwards, guests can visit Shark Attack Theatre to see a short movie about these deadly sea creatures or check out one of the many interactive exhibits. There's a ray touch pool where families can touch stingrays that have had their barbs removed, as well as Contact Cove, an area where children can touch horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, sea stars, and other underwater creatures.

The Mote Marine Aquarium is not just home to fish species. There are also a number of mammal exhibits. They're one of the area's only dolphin and whale hospitals, where they provide critical care for stranded sea mammals so that they can be rehabilitated and returned to the wild. A few patients have become permanent residents, and guests can swim with the dolphins or get a tour of the hospital to learn more. There's also a manatee habitat featuring two manatees that were born at the neighboring Miami Seaquarium. Guest can watch as these creatures swim around their large tank, play with one another and eat huge heads of lettuce.

This facility also has a sea turtle hospital, and like with the dolphin and whale hospitals, the Mote Marine Aquarium provides care to wild creatures found stranded or injured, in hopes of releasing them back into the wild. A few of these animals, although fairly healthy, have been deemed un-releasable, and have become permanent residents of the aquarium. These creatures include Hang Tough, a blind green sea turtle, and Edgar, a baby sea turtle with unusually light coloring, which puts him at risk in the wild.

While at the Mote Marine Aquarium, visitors can also book at tour by the Sarasota Bay Explores, a private boat company based at the aquariums that has eco tours via boat daily. Guests can purchase combination aquarium/boat tour tickets. There's also a seafood restaurant at the aquarium that provides guests with a fun 50s-style diner atmosphere and food for every budget. To learn more about the hours, tour times, and animals at the aquarium guests can call 941-388-4441.