Here is an excerpt from my 2012 review of the aquarium, and I offer up a lot of details in regards to species in the Wetlands complex. The exhibit in the photo is primarily for birds.
Wetlands – A nautilus shell-themed dome roof with 1,100 glass panels arches over the heads of visitors and captive creatures as the pathway winds past River Otters, American Alligators and other denizens of Florida’s wetlands. There are over 30 species of free-flying birds and a plethora of other aquatic wonders in this area, and even the entrance is special as there are two tanks called Florida Waters and Florida Springs. One is set into a mock-rock wall while the other is directly above visitors in the ceiling. Species list includes: Common Snapping Turtle, Bowfin, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Longnose Gar, Florida Softshell Turtle and Largemouth Bass. All aquariums need entrance areas that are this impressive.
The journey continues with Spring-Fed Streams and Florida Rivers, and the real stars are the inquisitive River Otters and the mid-sized American Alligators. These species are across from each other and their exhibits are open to a lot of natural sunlight filtered through the immense glass roof. There is a winding pathway through a large Cypress Swamp zone, and one tank is memorable for having many free-flying birds perched in it (such as Roseate Spoonbill and Scarlet Ibis) as well as these 5 species: Suwannee Cooter, Barbour’s Map Turtle, Yellow-Billed Slider, Peninsula Cooter and Florida Red-Bellied Turtle. Longnose Gar and Florida Gar swim beneath at least 10 towering trees and the whole habitat is brilliantly designed.
Still in the Wetlands giant greenhouse is a small Florida Amphibians tank with 3 species (Greater Siren, Southern Leopard Frog, Bullfrog); 4 species of free-flying owls that are difficult to spot (Eastern Screech, Barn, Barred, Great Horned); an Air Gardens plant habitat; and a series of Mangrove Forests exhibits with stingrays, crabs and many birds and fish. Other exhibits include one for Gopher Tortoises; juvenile American Crocodiles; Brown Pelicans, Double-Breasted Cormorants and other seabirds in an awfully tiny environment; and Nurse Sharks and smaller fish in the same exhibit. The one major complaint for this area is that there are grey, starkly-bleak cement walls everywhere below the animal exhibits, and it resembles some of the 1960’s and ‘70’s architecture from Seattle or New England Aquarium. It would be better to have mock-rock outcrops, or tree bark edges, or even brown paint to lessen the gloom of the concrete. The animals would not be affected, but visitors would love to have a forested environment along the paths and there is not an immersive feel with the steely grey décor.
