Explore the Ocean’s Invertebrates
Water’s Edge is Butterfly Pavilion’s interactive marine exhibit, offering visitors a hands-on encounter with some of the ocean’s most remarkable invertebrates. Our open-top touch tanks invite you to gently touch and observe animals that most people only see in aquariums behind glass.
This immersive exhibit features carefully maintained saltwater environments that replicate tidal pools and coastal habitats. Our animal care team ensures the health and well-being of every creature, and interpretive specialists are always on hand to guide your experience and answer questions.
Meet the Animals
Water’s Edge is home to a diverse collection of marine invertebrates, including:
- Sea Stars (Starfish) – Touch the bumpy surface of these iconic tide pool residents and learn about their incredible ability to regenerate lost limbs
- Horseshoe Crabs – Meet one of Earth’s oldest living species, virtually unchanged for 450 million years. Their blue blood is essential to modern medicine
- Sea Urchins – Observe these spiny echinoderms and discover their role in maintaining healthy kelp forests
- Sea Anemones – Watch as these flower-like animals wave their tentacles in the current, waiting to capture tiny prey
- Hermit Crabs – See these resourceful crustaceans carrying borrowed shells as portable homes
- Sea Cucumbers – Learn about these soft-bodied echinoderms that play a vital role in ocean floor ecosystems
Hands-On Learning
Water’s Edge is designed for visitors of all ages to engage directly with marine life. Our touch tank protocols ensure animal welfare while providing meaningful, sensory learning experiences. Staff members guide visitors on how to gently touch animals using two-finger contact and explain the biology and ecology of each species.
The exhibit also features interpretive displays about ocean conservation, the impacts of pollution and climate change on marine invertebrates, and what individuals can do to protect ocean habitats.