Did you know that eastern musk turtles are little “stinkpots” that emit a foul odor when threatened, or that three-inch-long Vietnamese mossy frogs are mini ventriloquists able to make it sound like their voices are coming from 10 to 13 feet away?  Have you seen a thinstripe hermit crab pull its body into its shell for protection or noticed the arc-eye hawkfish perched to spot prey? 

Join Greater Cleveland Aquarium in taking a closer look at these and other diminutive animals during Spring Discovery Days, March 16–April 7.  Tiny animal trivia, daily animal encounters (with special appearances by Nora the Explorer on Fridays from 11 am–3 pm), pop-up Discovery Cart activities, an I Spy Challenge and short spotlight videos round out the celebration of smaller species, included with regular Aquarium admission. 

While Greater Cleveland Aquarium Curator Ray Popik acknowledges that standing under sand tiger sharks or spotting the well-camouflaged giant Pacific octopus is going to be a memorable part of any visit to this Flats West Bank destination, he hopes Spring Discovery Days will give guests “an added appreciation for the little things—like garden eels’ mucus lined burrows or the gripping power of the blue poison dart frog’s adhesive toe pads.” 

In addition to smaller species, Popik believes Spring Discovery Days highlights one of the Aquarium’s most unique features—its design. Housed inside a historic, brick powerhouse, the Aquarium’s geographically-themed fresh and saltwater galleries include many floor-to-ceiling, overhead and freestanding, 360-degree habitats. “Guests can get close enough to see a weedy seadragon’s independently moving eyes or a Surinam toad’s star-tipped fingers.” 

In addition to in-person activities, the Aquarium is offering an online “A Little Trivia Giveaway” (ages 18+, one entry per person) and a virtual “Take a Closer Look” program (Thursday, April 4, 4–4:30 pm; $10 per screen general, free for Aquarium passholders).  The educator-led online adventure offers participants up-close views of small animals and the chance to ask their big questions in real-time.