Stories from the Seaside - the E-newsletter of the Gulf Specimen marine Lab in Panacea

Where the Sea Reveals its Secrets

Spooky Specimens is BACK! Gulf Specimen Marine Lab is bringing back our 4th Annual Spooky Specimens: A Halloween Experience! Join us for a night of spooky fun at the aquarium on Saturday, October 24th from 5–8 PM.   Explore our Spooky Specimens under black light and Trick-or-treat throughout the aquarium  FREE admission for children wearing costumes!  Every adult ticket includes one free drink ticket.   Bring the whole family and celebrate Halloween with some of the creepiest, coolest, and strangest creatures around!  Come get spooky with us!

New Additions to our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Unit! Our Sea Turtle Hospital has two new patients! Meet Frito, a Loggerhead sea turtle, and Turtellini, a Green sea turtle. Both were rescued in Port St. Joe last month after being found floating, unable to properly dive beneath the surface. Frito and Turtellini are suffering from a condition commonly called “bubble butt,” caused by gas buildup underneath their shells. This makes it extremely difficult for them to dive, swim normally, and escape predators in the wild. Thankfully, they’re now in safe hands and receiving the care they need to get back on their flippers!  With the arrival of Frito and Turtellini, we are now caring for a WHOPPING 9 sea turtles in our hospital!  Caring for endangered sea turtles is a huge undertaking. From food and medications to veterinary care, diagnostic equipment, water systems, and daily husbandry, every turtle in our care comes with significant costs. You can help us give Frito, Turtellini, and all of our patients the best chance at returning to the Gulf!  Click Here to Donate!

Intern Spotlight Meet Brianna Garofolo, one of our new 6-month interns from Katonha, New York! Brianna has her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Art from Eckerd College. In her free time, Brianna enjoys drawing! During her time at GSML, Brianna is especially excited to get hands on experience and work with sea turtles Brianna's Goals: to share why our natural resources are worth protecting. Favorite Lab Animal: Lil Frank the Trigger Fish!  We are so thrilled to have her on as an intern!

Molts! Molts! Molts! Today we want to highlight a really special behavior called molting. All Arthropods molt; this includes crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and insects. Molting is when an animal sheds its exoskeleton; they do this so it can continue to grow.  The first photo shows a recent molt from Clark, our Caribbean Spiny Lobster. The second photo shows a molt of Louis, our Slipper Lobster, from about 6 months ago. The following photos are of these animals as they look today, happy and healthy and continuing to grow. Come check out our molt tank located in our stingray room next time you visit GSML!

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