Natural world
The aquarium combines fish from Australia to Anglesey with the very latest technology. Rarely-seen exhibits from the museum collections immerse visitors in a watery world of wonder.
For the first time World Museum Liverpool's aquarium now has a dedicated learning and activity space; the Living Laboratory. Here even very young children can get up close to fish and other sea life in special low-level tanks. Expert staff are on hand to answer questions and run demonstrations in which visitors can observe and learn more about live marine creature. Video cameras and microscopes bring you face to face with unfamiliar tiny organisms.
Displays and activities in the Living Laboratory emphasise links between the live specimens and the museum's historic collections of spirit-preserved fish and invertebrates. Video conferencing facilities are also available to link through to behind the scenes activity, events in the Treasure House Theatre and other parts of the museum, or even to special events in other aquariums across the world.
Long-horned Cowfish
(Lactoria cornuta)
© Natural Visions
Lionfish
(Pterois volitans)
© 2005 Roger Steene
Doctor-fish, Cleaner Wrasse
(Labroides dimidiatus)
© Natural Visions
Clown Anemonefish
(Amphiprion percula)
© Natural Visions
Powder-blue Surgeonfish
(Acanthurus leucosternon)
© Natural Visions
Regal Tang, Palette Surgeonfish
(Paracanthurus hepatus)
© 2005 Roger Steene
Read about the arrival of baby Falseclown fish (that's the same species as Nemo) on our blog.
The main display tanks contain marine life from both tropical and coldwater environments. The warm water displays include coral reef and lagoon environments as well as an innovative mangrove swamp tank with a tidal effect to mimic the rise and fall of water along a tropical shore. Housed within are a rainbow array of beautiful fish, including venomous scorpionfish, tiny cleaner wrasse and the distinctively striped clown anemonefish.
Archer fish
(Toxotes jaculatrix)
© Natural Visions
Monos
(Monodactylus argenteus)
© Natural Visions
Scat
(Scatophagus argus)
© Natural Visions
The more temperate water around the UK coast also host a surprising variety of fish and invertebrates. These are represented in coldwater tanks replicating the rocky coast of the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales and the sandy shores of Dee estuary around Hilbre Island.
Plaice
(Pleuronectes platessa)
© Natural Visions
Shore clingfish
(Lepadogaster lepadogaster)
© Natural Visions
Tompot Blenny
(Parablennius gattorugine)
© Natural Visions
To complete the marine story there is also a display about the deep-dwelling 'creatures of the abyss' that live at the bottom of the deepest oceans, over 1000 metres (3300 feet) underwater, in conditions too extreme to replicate in an aquarium. Learn the fascinating story of how life survives despite the complete darkness, bitter cold and enormous pressure.
Together the displays and activities within the aquarium use exciting and innovative techniques to highlight important issues such as the fragility of the world's aquatic ecosystems and the need for their conservation.
If you would like to find out more fishy facts without getting your hands wet why not try our fun Fish Olympics game. This page also contains suggestions of other interesting websites, magazines, societies, public aquaria and courses.
Demonstrator holding a crab © Leila Romaya and Paul McCann
Many of the photos on this page have been used with kind permission from the following organisations. Why not take a closer look at their websites? (Links are targeted to open in a new browser window)
Please note that due to the ever-changing nature of the displays, some of the fish illustrated here may not be on show on the day of your visit.