Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Species List (6/8/25)

[Northwest_FIsh_Keeping]

The Zoo finally opened the last bit of the Tropical Reef Aquarium renovation, being the "Coral Reef Close-up" exhibit which consists of 3 tanks, but this is where the Zoo's live Coral exhibits are. And with that, all of the ongoing renovations at the Zoo should be finished. Though they are still making a lot of changes in both Aquariums in terms of adding species, so I thought this deserved a new, updated thread.

• Species in Green are those that are on exhibit, but not signed
• Species in Red are those that are signed, but not on exhibit

As of August 6th, 2025:

'Kidz Zone' |

(Area 1)

• Black and White Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata)

• African Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) (I'm not sure how many adults there are, but there are a total of 15 babies now)

• Damaraland Mole Rats (Fukomys damarensis)

• Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

• Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa)

• African Cichlids (Aulonocara spp.)

• Solomon Island Leaf Frog (Cornufer guentheri)

• Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)

• New Caledonia Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus)

• Vinegarroon / Tailless Whip Scorpion (Acanthophrynus coronatus)

• Lake Malawi Peacock Cichlids (Aulonocara sp.)

• Kenya Sand Boa (Eryx colubrinus)

• Dominio Roaches (Therea petiveriana)

• Chacoan Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli) (Temporarily off exhibit still)

• Magnificent Tree Frogs (Ranoidea splendida)

• White's Tree Frogs (Ranoidea caerulea)

• Home's Hingeback Tortoise (Kinixys homeana)

• Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri)

(former Axolotl exhibit is still empty)

(Area 2)

• Red Belly Pirahna (Pygocentrus nattereri) (Still just the 1 individual who is very old)

• Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)

• Prehensile Tailed Skink (Corucia zebrata)

• Black Breasted Leaf Turtle (Geoemyda spengleri)

• Golden Poison Dart Frogs (Phyllobates terribilis)
• Blue Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates azureus 'maculatus')

• Nigerian Dwarf Goats (Capra aegagrus hircus)

'Red Wolf Woods' |

• North American Red Wolves (Canis rufus)

'Arctic Tundra' |

• Muskox (Adult pair + two calves) (Ovibos moschatus) (The only ones in the mainland US)

• Polar Bears (Twin Sister Duo, Astra and Larke) (Ursus maritimus)

• Arctic Foxes (Young Male + Female pair, Sven and Freya) (Vulpes lagopus)

'Rocky Shores' |

• Southern Sea Otters (3 females, Libby, Moea, and Clara) (Enhydra lutris nereis)

• California Sea Lions (1 male and 3 females, Boomer, Eloise, Matia, and Pepper) (Zalophus californianus)
• Harbor Seals (2 females, Riley and Qilak) (Phoca vitulina)

• Horned Puffins (Fratercula corniculata)
• Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata)
• Common Murres (Uria aalge)

• Pacific Walrus (2 males, Blazak and Lakina) (Odobenus rosmarus) (Some of the only in the US)

'Penguin Point' |

• Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)

'Asian Forest Sanctuary' |

• Sumatran Tigers (Felis tigris sondaicus) (3 females now I believe, Kali, Indah, and Mawar)

• Clouded Leopards (Neofelis nebulosa)

• Malayan Tapirs (Tapirus indicus) (Pair + Calf)

• Asian Small Clawed Otters (Aonyx cinereus) (2 Pairs)

• Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) (Only one in an AZA institution I believe)

• Lar Gibbons (Hylobates lar)

• Siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus)

• Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus) (Is only on exhibit sporadicaly with the Gibbons since he's very old, lives behind the scenes most of the time)

• (Former Asian Elephant habitat is still empty, and will be for a while before they decide on what species to take the spot)

'Discovery Hut' |

• Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

• Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)

'Tropical Reef Aquarium' (Based on the Coral Triangle in the Indo-Pacific, this Aquarium is home to a majority of the Zoo's Sharks, Rays, and tropical fish species). |

'Shallow Beach Lagoon' (None of the rays are signed, but they are easy to ID)

• Blue Spotted Ribbontail Rays (Taeniura lymma) (3 total)
  
• Bullseye Round Ray (Urobatis concentricus) (Potentially the only one in captivity, afaik)

'Shallow Fish Lagoon' (None of the species are signed, but they're mainly common species that are easy to ID)

• Blue-Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)
• Zebra Dartfishes (Ptereleotris zebra)
• Orange Stripe Cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus cyanosoma)
• Coral Catfishes (Plotosus lineatus)
• Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)
• Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
• Threadfin Cardinalfishes (Zoramia leptacantha)
• Black & Pink Sea Cucumbers (Holothuria edulis)

'Tropical Touch Pool'

• Skunk Cleaner Shrimps (Lysmata amboinensis)
• Cerith Snails (Cerith sp.)
• Blue Linkia Seastars (Linckia laevigata)
• Yellow Mesh Seastars (Fromia monilis)
• Burrowing Urchins (Echinometra mathaei)
• Decorator Urchins (Tripneustes gratilla)
• Prickly Black Sea Cucumbers (Thelenota ananas)
• Black & Pink Sea Cucumbers (Holothuria edulis)

'The Lagoon'

• Australian Epaulette Sharks (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) (2 total)
• White Spotted Bamboo Sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) (2 total)
• Scrawled Filefish (Aluterus scriptus)
• Oriental Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus)
• Fivestripe Wrasses (Thalassoma quinquevittatum)
• Bluehead Wrasses (Thalassoma amblycephalum)
• Paddlefin Wrasse (Thalassoma lucasanum)
• Blue Streak Cleaner Wrasses (Labroides dimidiatus)
• Orange Lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)
• Wedgetail Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)
• Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)
• Porcupine Pufferfish (Diodon holocanthus)
• Naso Tangs (Naso lituratus)
• Yellow Tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens)
• Blue Hippo Tangs (Paracanthurus hepatus)
• Coral Rabbitfishes (Siganus corallinus)
• Foxface Rabbitfishes (Siganus vulpinus)
• Tomato Clownfishes (Amphiprion frenatus)
• Manybar Goatfishes (Parupeneus multifasciatus)
• Monocle Breams (Scolopsis bilineata)
• Threadfin Butterflyfishes (Chaetodon auriga)
• Pearl Scale Butterflyfishes (Chaetodon xanthurus)
• Raccoon Butterflyfishes (Chaetodon lunula)
• Lattice Butterflyfishes (Chaetodon rafflesii)
• Dusky Butterflyfishes (Chaetodon flavirostris)
• Scribbled Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus duboulayi)
• Orange-dotted Tuskfish (Choerodon anchorago)
• Blackfin Hogfish (Bodianus loxozonus)
  
• Spot-nape Butterflyfishes (Chaetodon oxycephalus) (Potentially 1 of 2 global holders, the other being in China)
• Mertensii Butterflyfishes (Chaetodon mertensii)
• Koran Angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus)
• Panther Grouper (Cromileptes altivelis)
• Orbicular Batfish (juveniles) (Platax orbicularis)

'The Blue Hole' (None of these species are signed either, so this is to the best of my knowledge by observation and ID)

• Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus)
• Bigscale Soldierfishes (Myripristis berndti) (Assuming they're the same species as in the 'Baja Bay' Tank in the Pacific Seas Aquarium)
  
• Sabre Squirrelfishes (Sargocentron spiniferum)
• Blackfin Squirrelfishes (Neoniphon opercularis)
• Purple Square Anthias (Males and Females) (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia)
  
• Porcupine Pufferfish (Diodon holocanthus)
• Annularis Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis)
• Longfin Bannerfishes (Heniochus acuminatus)
• Raccoon Butteflyfishes (Chaetodon lunula)
• Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus japonicus)
• Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer)
• Harlequin Tusk Wrasse (Choerodon fasciatus)
• Birdnose Wrasse (Gomphosus caeruleus)
• Red Breasted Wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus)
• Blackbar Wrasse (Thalassoma nigrofasciatum)
• Orbicular Batfish (juveniles) (Platax orbicularis)
• Monocle Bream (Scolopsis bilineata)
• Spectacled Filefish (Cantherhines fronticinctus) (Potentially the only one in captivity, afaik)

'The Outer Reef' (240,000 Gallons)

• Blacktip Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) (5 total)
• Grey Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) (3 total)
• Zebra Sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum) (3 total)
• Whitetip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus) (2 total)
• Tasseled Wobbegong Shark (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon) (1 total)
• Australian Whipray (Himantura australis) (Confirmed to be a true H. australis, potentially one of the few in the US)
• Potato Grouper (Epinephelus tukula)
• Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
• Red Emperor Snappers (Lutjanus sebae)
• Red Belly Yellowtail Fusiliers (Caseio cuning)
• Orbicular Batfishes (Platax orbicularis)
• Golden Trevally's (Gnathanodon speciosus)
• Bluefin Trevally's (Caranx melampygus)
• Humphead Unicornfish(Naso tonganus)
• Spotted Unicornfish (Naso brevirostris)
• Vlamingi Tangs (Naso vlamingii)
• Sleek Unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus) (1 of 2 US holders, the other being Shedd)
• Sailfin Tangs (Zebrasoma velifer)
• Eyestripe Surgeonfish (Acanthurus dussumieri)
• Mimic / Chocolate Tangs (Acanthurus pyroferus)
• Clown Tangs (Acanthurus lineatus)
• Blue Streak Cleaner Wrasses (Labroides dimidiatus)
• Pink Tail Triggerfishes (Melichthys vidua)
• Barrier Reef Chromis' (Chromis nitida)
• Monocle Breams (Scolopsis bilineata)
  
• Indo-Pacific Sergeant Major Damselfishes (Abudefduf vaigiensis)
• Orange Tail Damselfishes (Chrysiptera cyanea)
  
• Sapphire Damselfishes (Chrysiptera springeri)

'Coral Reef Close-up'

• Orange Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
• Rainbow Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)

• Dispar Anthias (Nemanthias dispar) (Males and Females)
• Bicolor Anthias (Pseudanthias bicolor) (Males and Females)
• Grooved Razorfishes (Centriscus scutatus)
• Striped Shrimpfishes (Aeoliscus strigatus)
• Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)
• Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
• Red Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
• Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora)
• Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus) (Not on exhibit yet from what I saw)
• Scopas Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) (Not on exhibit yet from what I saw)
• Lemonpeel Angelfish (Centropyge flavissima) (Not on exhibit yet from what I saw)
• (Blue Leg Hermit Crabs, Nassarius Snails, and Coral Banded Shrimp are also on exhibit)
• (Various Stony corals are also on exhibit, of course)

• Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star (Acanthaster cf. solaris)

'Pacific Seas Aquarium' (The Second Aquarium on the property, this Aquarium highlights habitats along the West Coast such as our local waters (Puget Sound), California, and Baja). |

'Crashing Waves' Tank is the wave simulator tank that's outside of the entrance to the Pacific Seas Aquarium. Home to juvenile Coho Salmon, Giant Green Anemones, and various algae

'Japanese Spider Crabs' (Which is actually being used as a Sunflower Sea Star tank at the moment since the Zoo hasn't acquired any new Spider Crabs after the last one passed. All of the Japanese deepwater fish were also taken out too).

• Sunflower Sea Stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides)
• Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

'Schooling Fish'

• Pacific Herrings (Clupea pallasii)

'Jellies Gallery'

• Egg-Yolk Jellies (Phacellophora camtschatica)

• Cross Jellies (Mitrocoma cellularia)
• Pacific Sea Gooseberries (Pleurobrachia bachei)
• Canadian Comb Jellies (Bolinopsis microptera)
• Dryodora glandiformis (Comb Jelly, it has no common name)
• Umbrella Jellies (Eutonina indicans)

• Japanese Sea Nettles (Chrysaora pacifica)

• Upside-Down Jellies (Cassiopea sp.)

• Greater Moon Jellies (Aurelia labiata)

'California Kelp Forest'

• California Sheephead (Bodianus pulcher)
• Flag Rockfish (Sebastes rubrivinctus)
• Tree Rockfish (Sebastes serriceps) (Haven't seen it in a few months, but it does camoflague well so I wouldn't be surprised if it's in there)
• Halfmoons (Medialuna californiensis)
• Opaleyes (Girella nigricans)
• Blacksmith's (Chromis punctipinnis)
• Garibaldis (Hypsypops rubicundus)
• Kelp Bass (Paralabrax clathratus)
• Rock Wrasses (Halichoeres semicinctus)
• California Moray (Gymnothorax mordax) (it's a very small individual but it is in there)

'Northwest Waters'

• Spotted Ratfish / Chimeras (Hydrolagus colliei) (3 total)
• Big Skate (Beringraja binoculata) (1 total)
• White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)
• Yellowtail Rockfishes (Sebastes flavidus)
• Canary Rockfishes (Sebastes pinniger)
• China Rockfishes (Sebastes nebulosus)
• Black Rockfishes (Sebastes melanops)
• Tiger Rockfishes (Sebastes nigrocinctus)
• Striped Surfperches (Embiotoca lateralis)
• Starry Flounders (Platichthys stellatus)
• Sablefishes (Anoplopoma fimbria)
• Cabezons (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus)
• Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus)
  
• Fish-eating Anemones (Urticina piscivora)
• Giant Green Anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)
• Beaded Anemones (Urticina coriacea)
• Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
• Ochre Stars (Pisaster ochraceus)

The Wall of various displays that showcase different local ecosystems in the area

• Wolf Eels (Anarrhichthys ocellatus)
• Kelp Greenlings (Hexagrammos decagrammus)
• Quillback Rockfishes (Sebastes maliger)
• Black Rockfishes (Sebastes melanops)
• Red Irish Lord (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus)
• Un-signed Perch species (waiting on ID)
• Painted Anemones (Urticina crassicornis)
• Ochre Stars (Pisaster ochraceus)
• Sunflower Sea Stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides)
• Giant Spined Sea Stars (Pisaster giganteus)
• Fish-Eating Anemones (Urticina piscivora)

• Basket Stars (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis)
• Feather Stars (Florometra serratissima)

• Pacific Spiny Lumpsuckers (Eumicrotremus orbis)
• Mosshead Warbonnets (Chirolophis nugator)
• Sailfin Sculpins (Nautichthys oculofasciatus)
• Grunt Sculpins (Rhamphocottus richardsonii)
• Orange Sea Cucumbers (Cucumaria miniata)
• Lined Chitons (Tonicella lineata)
• Tubesnouts (Aulorhynchus flavidus)
• Striped Dogwinkle Snail (Nucella ostrina)

• Kelp Perches (Brachyistius frenatus)
• Dock Shrimps (Pandalus danae)
• Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
• Plumose Anemones (Metridium senile)
• Northern Feather Duster Worms (Eudistylia vancouveri)
• California Mussels (Mytilus californianus)
• Pacific Acorn Barnacles (Balanus glandula)

• Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) (No GPO on exhibit right now)
• Sunflower Sea Stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides)
• Fish-Eating Anemones (Urticina piscivora)

• Sidestripe Shrimps (Pandalopsis dispar)
• California Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus)
• Yellow Boring Sponges (Cliona celata)
• Blood Stars (Henricia leviuscula)
• Swimming Scallops (Chlamys hastata)
• Giant Scallops (Crassadoma gigantea)
• Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica)
• Painted Anemones (Urticina crassicornis)
• Blackeye Goby (Rhinogobiops nicholsii)

• Puget Sound Rockfishes (Sebastes emphaeus)
• Roughback Sculpins (Chitonotus pugetensis)
• Northern Spearnose Poacher (Agonopsis vulsa)
• Sand Dollars (Dendraster excentricus)
• Orange Sea Pens (Ptilosarcus gurneyi)
• Slender Sea Pens (Stylatula elongata)
• Burrowing Tube Anemones (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus)

'Tidepool Touch Zone' (None of these species are signed, so this is to the best of my observation)

• Fish Eating Anemones (Urticina piscivora)
• Beaded Anemones (Urticina coriacea)
• Painted Anemones (Urticina crassicornis)
• Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
• Ochre Stars (Pisaster ochraceus)
• California Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus)
• Black Eye Hermit Crab (Pagurus armatus)
• Purple Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis)
• Blood Stars (Henricia leviuscula)
• Giant Spined Sea Stars (Pisaster giganteus)
• Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica)
• Giant Scallops (Crassadoma gigantea)

(Circular tank in the middle that is a no touch tank)

• Eastern Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens)
• Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
• Various kelp and algaes

'Baja Bay' (280,000 gallons)

• Atlantic Nurse Sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) (4 of them) (As stand-ins for the Tawny Nurse Shark that'd be more accurate for the exhibit)
• Ocellated Eagle Rays (Aetobatus ocellatus) (4 of them)
• Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) (3 of them total, 2 Pacific / 1 Atlantic)
• Moorish Idols (Zanclus cornutus)
• Cortez Angelfishes (Pomacanthus zonipectus)
• Clarion Angelfish (Holacanthus clarionensis) (Rare CITES II fish)
• Lookdowns (Selene vomer)
• Convict Tangs (Acanthurus triostegus)
• Bigscale Soldierfishes (Myripristis berndti)
• Panamic Porkfishes (Anisotremus taeniatus)
• King Angelfishes (Holacanthus passer)
• Blue & Gold Snappers (Lutjanus viridis)
• Barred Pargo (Hoplopagrus guentherii) (Might be the only ones in the US, afaik)