California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium / California Academy of Sciences news

[splendens]

Twighlight Zone exhibit now open with some insane new species

The Twighlight Zone exhibit just opened back up today, and while I won't have a chance to go while down here, Luiz Rocha from the academy posted a little bit about it and it includes an Abei Angelfish (Centropyge abei), meaning that the Waikiki Aquarium is no longer the only public aquarium to display one! That's crazy! You can now see both the only Peppermint Angelfish in a public Aquarium, and 1 of 2 Abei Angelfish in a public Aquarium in the same room! Plus some other species that have yet to be noted (such as a Lipogramma klayi in the Caribbean Tank) but they'll likely be covered in content from the Academy.
Luiz Rocha on Instagram: "Big news everyone! After a few months undergoing an extensive renovation, the @calacademy Twilight Zone exhibit reopened today! And it looks fantastic! Some amazing new stars were added, and our old friends are doing great. Come check it out if you are in San Francisco!"

The Liprogramma klayi was present before the renovation in a small tank which I believe used to hold a possum wrasse.

 

[splendens]

Recent updates from the Academy instagram,

• 4 juvenile sunflower stars Pycnopodia helianthoides are on display from a breeding program the Academy does
• A red-crested turaco Tauraco erythrolophus chick hatched and is on display in the rainforest
• The east garden will temporarily display pairs of baby hoofstock in these periods
  Reindeer Nov. 23 - Dec. 5
  Dromedary camels Dec. 6-19
  Yaks Dec.20 - Jan. 5
• The rainforest recently received female paradise tanagers Tangara chilensis and female blue dacnis Dacnis cayana for the existing males
• A breeding group of violaceous euphonias Euphonia violacea has been added to the rainforest after an absence since the pandemic, a nest is visible on the L2 ramp on a palm tree
• At least 5 male golden-headed manakins Ceratopipra erythrocephala have been added, they are named Prince, Bowie, Stevie, Woodstock and Michael. I am not sure if any females are on exhibit. They are the only ones on display in America besides Dallas.

 

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

The Academy announced a new limited-time exhibit, Unseen Oceans, which is running from March 21st to September 7th. It's mainly made up of digital and interactive exhibits that show the lesser-known side of the Ocean such as plankton, bio florescent animals, and more education about what the Academy is doing in the Twilight Zone.
(It looks like this exhibit is in the museum portion of the Academy, and clarified to have 0 live exhibits)

They also put out this blog piece that covers 6 new species on exhibit at the Academy, but most o them have already been reported here. I think the only ones that weren't mentioned include a Painted Frogfish (Antennarius pictus) in the "Hidden Reef" Gallery and the return of Weedy Sea Dragons and Lion's Mane Nudibranchs to the "Water Planet" Gallery.

Also, one piece of interesting news I found is they are currently taking care of a small group of juvenile Arapaima in the back. According to the news story, they were seized by California F&W after being illegally imported. They're confirmed to be staying at the Academy and once big enough, will be moved into the "Flooded Forest". I remember the Academy's current Arapaima being pretty large so it might be a while before the new ones move in, but that's cool to hear they were able to rescue them.

 

[Great Argus]

The CFO has resigned, and it sounds like there's a lot of internal problems going on. Seems the staff are pretty unhappy and have been for awhile...

Cal Academy leader resigns amid ongoing labor unrest at the S.F. institution

 

[snowleopard]

The CFO has resigned, and it sounds like there's a lot of internal problems going on. Seems the staff are pretty unhappy and have been for awhile...

Cal Academy leader resigns amid ongoing labor unrest at the S.F. institution

Another disaster for a San Francisco zoological institution! I am a big fan of the California Academy of Sciences, but attendance has steadily dropped over the years and I feel that the attraction needs something new and exciting to bring in the crowds. How about some Giant Pandas? In all seriousness, an attached indoor/outdoor exhibit of some kind could be built, but construction costs in the Bay Area are ridiculously expensive.

This reminds me of a chat I had with a staff member at Living Desert Zoo and I typed up the following information on my Snowleopard's 2023 Road Trip: California, Arizona & Oregon thread. Much of it is accessible in online articles. The situation to unionize is eerily similar at both facilities and I think that many zookeepers are sick and tired of being paid such low wages. Nobody goes into the profession expecting to get rich, but some zoos don't even pay their workers much beyond the poverty line.

Here's my statement from that 2023 thread:

As an aside, I feel compelled to mention that the zoo has spent a considerable fortune in recent years, which has made this great zoo even better for visitors, but apparently has caused dissension amidst the zookeeping staff. In February 2023, the 30 keepers voted 28 to 2 to unionize, and now there needs to be a new contract signed with the zoo to retain all of the employees or else there will be a full-scale mutiny. The zookeepers, some of them with 15+ years experience, earn on average $17.94 per hour and quite often spend months working in 46 Celsius/115 Fahrenheit conditions. There are plenty of fast-food restaurants and big chain stores (Target and Walmart being prime examples) where zookeepers could go to work and be indoors, completing less physically demanding chores, within an air-conditioned space, for more money! Some keepers have become disgruntled because the President/CEO made $518,000 in 2022, and the zoo has opened a new, $10 million Entrance Plaza (2018), the $3 million Australian Adventures (2020), the $17 million Rhino Savanna (2022), and has a $60 million Lion exhibit and Special Event Center in the pipeline. It's all part of the Pride of the Desert campaign to raise $90 million for the zoo. What about those zookeepers working in extreme temperatures? Can they get a couple of extra bucks per hour?

 

[Great Argus]

Another disaster for a San Francisco zoological institution! I am a big fan of the California Academy of Sciences, but attendance has steadily dropped over the years and I feel that the attraction needs something new and exciting to bring in the crowds.

Tourism in SF itself is struggling, which no doubt is contributing. Admission to the Academy is $50 for an adult, which is fairly steep. For a family with 2 adults and 2 kids you're looking at close to $200 for entry alone, which doesn't make it a regular option for many.
I dare say the zoological facilities of San Francisco are in trouble, the Academy comes due for AZA renewal in less than a year. Neither the Academy or Zoo is looking to be a straightforward accreditation unless they can get things sorted. Aquarium of the Bay lost theirs last cycle for relatively similar issues to what the Academy and Zoo are both facing. The city of SF is in budget deficit, and both the Academy and Zoo lost portions of funding. Both have staff turmoil and are struggling to keep people coming through the gates. Continued bad publicity is following both facilities over various reasons. It's going to be interesting to see how things play out...

The situation to unionize is eerily similar at both facilities and I think that many zookeepers are sick and tired of being paid such low wages. Nobody goes into the profession expecting to get rich, but some zoos don't even pay their workers much beyond the poverty line.

There has been significant movements to unionize lately in many of the higher cost of living areas, Monterey Bay Aquarium jumping on that train just earlier this year. Keepers are rarely paid much despite having taxing jobs with limited time off, and when coupled with the exorbitant costs of living in many parts of California it's understandable they're upset. Even at $20 an hour it can be a challenge to live adequately in many areas.

 

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

I feel that the attraction needs something new and exciting to bring in the crowds. How about some Giant Pandas? In all seriousness, an attached indoor/outdoor exhibit of some kind could be built, but construction costs in the Bay Area are ridiculously expensive.

Agreed, I haven't been able to go down for a visit in about 3 years but I definitely think there's something they can do that could target a wider audience.

• The Rainforest Dome is phenomenal
• The African Hall is surprisingly popular with a lot of guests
• The Natural History Museum and Planetarium are also a big hit with guests

Arguably, IMO the biggest weakness of the building is the "Venom" exhibit inside the
Aquarium. The rest of the aquarium is fantastic. A lot of it does appeal to the general public with your typical species (although arguably the Twighlight Zone Exhibit might not be as popular to the general public as let's say the Philipine Coral Reef or Water Planet gallery. I think for the most part, you have to have a good amount of knowledge of fish to truly appreciate the Twighlight Zone exhibit).
Nothing really stands out in "Venom", a lot it was based around arachnids, some fish, some invertebrates, but that's about it. Most of the species are common in either the pet trade or other institutions anyway. I know they just renovated the Twighlight Zone exhibit late last year, so hopefully their focus could shift towards this area since I had thought it was initially a limited time exhibit, but looks like it outlived it's runtime. I think if they were to renovate this area into another ground-breaking space like the Twighlight Zone exhibit was, even something on the simpler side like a full-on Jelly gallery (those are always wildly popular with the general public), it wouldn't be a bad idea. They definitely don't have the space to add any large exhibits for the more recognizable sharks so that's out of the question.

I really hope the Academy is able to find its way soon. Personally, it's a Top 3 institution for me that I've visited so to see them go through so much discourse right now is saddening.

 

[RatioTile]

Does Venom still have a Southern Grasshopper Mouse? That was one of the main reasons I went in 2023.

Agreed, I haven't been able to go down for a visit in about 3 years but I definitely think there's something they can do that could target a wider audience.

• The Rainforest Dome is phenomenal
• The African Hall is surprisingly popular with a lot of guests
• The Natural History Museum and Planetarium are also a big hit with guests

Arguably, IMO the biggest weakness of the building is the "Venom" exhibit inside the
Aquarium. The rest of the aquarium is fantastic. A lot of it does appeal to the general public with your typical species (although arguably the Twighlight Zone Exhibit might not be as popular to the general public as let's say the Philipine Coral Reef or Water Planet gallery. I think for the most part, you have to have a good amount of knowledge of fish to truly appreciate the Twighlight Zone exhibit).
Nothing really stands out in "Venom", a lot it was based around arachnids, some fish, some invertebrates, but that's about it. Most of the species are common in either the pet trade or other institutions anyway. I know they just renovated the Twighlight Zone exhibit late last year, so hopefully their focus could shift towards this area since I had thought it was initially a limited time exhibit, but looks like it outlived it's runtime. I think if they were to renovate this area into another ground-breaking space like the Twighlight Zone exhibit was, even something on the simpler side like a full-on Jelly gallery (those are always wildly popular with the general public), it wouldn't be a bad idea. They definitely don't have the space to add any large exhibits for the more recognizable sharks so that's out of the question.

I really hope the Academy is able to find its way soon. Personally, it's a Top 3 institution for me that I've visited so to see them go through so much discourse right now is saddening.

 

[StoppableSan]

Does Venom still have a Southern Grasshopper Mouse? That was one of the main reasons I went in 2023.

They had them when I visited last month!

 

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

A couple of recent updates from the Academy itself:

3 new adult Sunflower Sea Stars are on exhibit in the Giant Pacific Octopus Tank, they come from Alaska and will serve as new broodstock for the Sunflower Sea Star conservation program
Critically Endangered Sunflower Sea Stars Now on Exhibit at California Academy of Sciences - California Academy of Sciences

Academy researchers rediscovered over 250 colonies of the stony coral, Rhizopsammia wellingtoni, in the Galapagos, which hadn't been seen since 2000 on an expedition last year, but the results were just recently published (It is the Galapagos, so none of the colonies were brought back unfortunately, would've been a cool addition to the Twighlight Zone)
California Academy of Sciences Rediscovers ‘Extinct’ Black Stony Coral in the Galápagos After 24 Years - California Academy of Sciences

The Academy recently created two new leadership positions that have already been filled: "Chief Innovation Officer" and "Chief Sales and Operations Officer". (To be honest, I'm not sure what they do, but hopefully it's a good thing in terms of working on stabilizing the internal unrest and financial issues)
California Academy of Sciences Announces New Chief Innovation Officer - California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences Promotes Cathy Estelle to Chief Sales and Operations Officer - California Academy of Sciences

 

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

Happy to say that I'll be visiting (and Monterey Bay) during Labor Day weekend, so I'll definitely be getting a species list when that time comes. But for now:

A new species of Cicada, Okanagana monochroma, was just described last month with the help of Academy researchers. It was first spotted in 1982.
Okanagana monochroma Smeds and Chatfield-Taylor 2025, new species

And thanks to this Instagram post from today via a guest, we know of 2 new species that are in the Twilight Zone gallery which (at least before the renovation), weren't on exhibit before. There is a Masuda's Hogfish (Bodianus masudai), which appears in the aquarium hobby rarely time to time, in the Suncoral only tank, but more excitingly, a Bennett's Perchlet (Plectranthias bennetti) is now on exhibit with the Peppermint Angelfish! It's still a somewhat recent discovery, being described back in 2015 and was named after Tim Bennett, well-known Mesophotic Diver from Australia who does a lot of work with the Academy for the Twilight Zone gallery (for example, the Abei Angelfish that's on display was also caught by him). As far as I know, that Perchlet is the only one of its species in a public aquarium. But a few are now at a wholesale facility in LA since Tim Bennett himself actually just caught a couple (I wouldn't be surprised if the one at Steinhart was also caught by him / part of that batch) recently.
If you put it in monetary value, that 1 tank alone is probably between $35k to $40k between those 2 fish lol..

 

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

In addition, someone seemingly already added it to ZTL, but a group of Striped Scats (Selenotoca multifasciata) were added to the "Shallow Lagoon", though I'm not sure if they're signed (don't think that's been reported here yet). Confirmation via various visitor posts and the live cam
Also via various visitor posts, it looks like there are some Flamboyant Cuttlefish (Ascarosepion pfefferi) (Side note, did not realize that they were reclassified from Metasepia, that's a big surprise) on exhibit in the "Water World" Gallery in the Steinhart Aquarium. I've been hearing that Flamboyants have been pretty hard to source lately so that's a pretty cool thing to see.

 

[Coelacanth18]

Got to visit again recently, first time in 4 years. I haven't even gotten to looking through all of the fishes yet. At some point recently the Academy acquired a Colombian Giant Toad (Rhaebo blombergi) which is on exhibit with the caiman lizard, basilisk and matamata - and it is indeed massive, a rabbit-sized amphibian. I also noted that the Academy holds Lovely Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates lugubris), a very rare species in zoo collections.

As a disappointing trade-off, I did not see any Allison's Anoles or Riggenbach's Reed Frogs on display. I at least saw the latter years ago, but it was a very cool animal.

 

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

According to this walkthrough video of the Dome posted last week, there appears to be a Garden Tree Boa (Corallus hortulanus) (aka "Amazon Tree Boa"). I'm not sure what species it replaced, maybe the Girdled Lizard since there's no clips of it in the video, but I will find out myself relatively soon.

 

[splendens]

According to this walkthrough video of the Dome posted last week, there appears to be a Garden Tree Boa (Corallus hortulanus) (aka "Amazon Tree Boa"). I'm not sure what species it replaced, maybe the Girdled Lizard since there's no clips of it in the video, but I will find out myself relatively soon.

They used to be kept in a paludarium with dwarf corydoras, ember tetras and marbled hatchetfish between the girdled lizard and the Malagasy tank so I'd assume that is the tank they are kept in now.

 

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

Wrapped up my visit from today, was so incredible to be back after almost 3 years and post Twilight Zone renovation / new birds being added to the Rainforest Dome.
I had an orange lens for my camera which helps block out a lot of blue lighting i got specifically for the Twilight Zone gallery and other Steinhart exhibits which was a life saver, pictures are being uploaded to the gallery. I believe I got a handful of new species for the gallery as well. This time, I got a lot of pictures of the exhibits themselves as well to show what the spaces look like.
Species list is in the works and should be out later tonight since I prepped it a few weeks in advance since I'd knew it be super long, so I just have to edit some things to make it accurate.
Here is what I was able to note:

As a disappointing trade-off, I did not see any Allison's Anoles or Riggenbach's Reed Frogs on display. I at least saw the latter years ago, but it was a very cool animal.

The Reed Frogs were replaced with more Strawberry Dart Frogs and Lovely Dart Frogs

They used to be kept in a paludarium with dwarf corydoras, ember tetras and marbled hatchetfish between the girdled lizard and the Malagasy tank so I'd assume that is the tank they are kept in now

This is correct, that tank now holds

• Garden Tree Boa
• Marble Hatchetfish
• Kaup's Caecilians
• Bumblebee Catfish

The Motoro Stingray in one of the Amazon exhibits is also not signed anymore and I didnt see any appearance of it
Also it appears the Derby's Sun Beetles were replaced with Striped Love Beetles (Eudicella sp.)
The Yellow-striped Anthias (Tosanoides flavofasciatus) weren't signed in the Twilight Zone gallery, didn't see any appearance from them either. Pretty sad since those were the only pair on public display in the world to my knowledge.
The Japanese Green Anemones (Halcurias sp.) are also not on exhibit, but are still signed.

Also after seeing the suspected Mahogany Maskrays (Neotrygon varidens) in the shallow lagoon, i can confirm i did not see any blue spots. While we still should wait for them to a DNA test to confirm, im almost certain they're definitely N. varidens, which makes the Academy the only place to exhibit them in the world to my knowledge.

 

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

The Academy announced the passing of arguably the most famous animal under its roof; Claude the Albino Alligator
While an exact cause isn't 100% confirmed yet, they suspect an infection could be responsible as his appetite and behavior had been waning recently to the point they moved him behind the scenes a few days ago to keep a closer eye on him. Definitely the biggest loss in recent memory for the Academy.
A memorial service will be held sometime in the future, and a necropsy will also be done to determine the exact cause. RIP to an Academy icon.
Claude the Albino Alligator Passes Away at Age 30

 

[Local_Shark]

Very sad to hear, I loved Claude. Hopefully he is free of pain and in a happy place now.

 

[dinosauria]

An icon indeed! He might have lived "only" thirty years, but he evidently made his mark.

It was always funny when you overheard the occasional visitor asking if he was dead and/or a a statue because his primary habit was laying still, like most gators

 

[SeaOtterHQ]

An icon indeed! He might have lived "only" thirty years, but he evidently made his mark.

While 30 years might seem relatively young for an alligator, it's worth remembering that albinos tend to have significantly shorter lifespans in the wild, so Claude most likely exceeded expectations in that regard.

I think there are fewer than 200 albino alligators in the world. Claude will definitely be missed.