Manila Ocean Park: The Creatures

These are just some of the animals you'll meet at Manila Ocean Park! (disclaimer: all descriptions are from MOP sign boards)

Giant Arapamai/ Pirachu is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. It is an air breather and comes up to the surface to make a coughing sound. Although they can survive drought by gulping air and burrowing in the sand. 

Alligator Gar is the longest primitive fish existing for 100 million years. It can breathe air and survive above water for up to 2 hours.

Hybrid Blood Parrot fish always have their mouths open in a perpetual "O" shape. Their teeth go far down their throats and bump into each other but cannot bite.

Koi are ornamental domestic varieties of the common carp. They are among the longest living vertebrates, with some living for more than 200 years.

Black Spotted Pufferfish.  Pufferfish can inflate their bodies with water but lack spines, unlike the porcupinefish.

Albino Pangasius Catfish

 Common Lionfish have reddish to nearly black with white and red bars. Dorsal ans pectoral fin rays and spines are separate from each other but connect at the base and have flag-like skin flaps. It hovers to stalk its prey using its pattern to camouflage.


Convict Blenny is a dramatically pigmented eel that loves to burrow under rocks.

Blackpatch Triggerfish are compressed, thick and vary from small to moderately large. The first dorsal spine is sharp and large. Once erected, the second spine locks into place. Only by triggering the second spine can the first be released. They are demersal egg layers aggressively defend their nests.

 Square Anthias, along with all other anthias species, are hermaphroditic. If a dominant male perishes, the largest female of the group morphs and takes its place.


Nautilus are found only in the Indo-Pacific and inhabit the deep slopes of the coral reefs. It is long believed that they rise at night to feed, mate and lay eggs.

Large Tooth Sawfish are closely related to rays. The saw is a specialized extension of the rostrum used for excavating, defense and for attacking prey.

Whitetip Reef Shark have a disticnt white tip on their dorsal and upper tail lines. They have long slender bodies that allow them to maneuver into small crevices and caves.

Seahorse

The Philippine Crocodile is a relatively small freshwater crocodile 

 Humboldt Penguins live in a warm and dry environment over the coast of South America. They are fast swimmers using their flippers to propel. Their diet consist mainly of shrimp, sardines and anchovies. They grow up to 70 cm and live up to 20 years in the wild and 30 years in captivity.

Eagles

Parrot and White Cockatoo

Then there's more... a lot more, actually.