Rare Blue Lobster, Parrot Among New Animals At The Maritime Aquarium In Norwalk: PHOTOS

NORWALK, CT — Guests visiting the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk may notice a few new animals currently on exhibit.

From a rare blue lobster to some colorful frogs, the aquarium has provided an inside look at the facility's new residents now available for guests to visit.

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Yellow-Crowned Amazon

Parker, a 26-year-old male parrot from the tropical rainforests of South America, can be found in the aquarium's desert and rainforest-inspired Just Add Water Exhibit.

According to additional press materials provided by the aquarium, Parker can follow cues during training sessions and has learned a variety of behaviors, including saying his name, presenting his feet and distinguishing between certain colors.

Assistant Curator Julie Mede Moussa said Parker receives different enrichments throughout the day and training to keep him mentally stimulated.

"Enrichment is extremely important," Mede Moussa said to Patch. "It's one of the main parts of welfare that we really try to make sure to put an emphasis on, and it really allows them to be mentally and physically stimulated. An animal like Parker, a parrot, which is a very intelligent species, really needs to be stimulated a lot."

According to Mede Moussa, parrots have a much longer lifespan than guests might realize.

Though Parker is only 26, his species can live roughly up to their 60's in the wild, while those in human care will likely live up to their 80's.

"They're a big commitment," Mede Moussa said, "but he has a great personality and we love to work with him."

Splashback Poison Dart Frogs

Just steps away from Parker's home, guests can find four colorful frogs native to the southern Amazon Basin of Brazil.

They are one of five different species of poison dart frogs currently at the aquarium.

"They have this bright coloration to warn their predators that they are poisonous," Mede Moussa said.

The ones at the aquarium, however, are not poisonous due to their diet, Mede Moussa noted.

According to Mede Moussa, predators in the wild learn over time not to touch these frogs because they begin to associate their bright colors with being poisonous.

Other non-venomous animals will often use that association to their advantage, Mede Moussa said.

"So now you have other animals that then take this to their advantage, and they're not venomous or poisonous at all," Mede Moussa said, "but they're also going to show these bright colorations because they know that the predators have learned that, so it's mimicry."

Their vibrant colors can range from yellow-orange to red-orange, and some can even be bright red, according to the aquarium.

The poison dart frogs in the exhibit currently represent a variety of colors, including orange, green, blue and brown.

See also: Maritime Aquarium Brings Atlantic Puffins To CT With New Exhibit In Norwalk

Dwarf Shield-Tailed Agama

A dwarf shield-tailed agama, a lizard from the deserts of Somalia and Ethiopia, can also be found in the Just Add Water Exhibit.

"Hercules," a 4.5-year-old male lizard, is immediately identifiable by his distinct tail, which is very unique to his species, according to Mede Moussa.

"It's really short and spiky," Mede Moussa said, "and they use it as a defense mechanism."

According to Mede Moussa, these lizards can wedge their tails into the entrance of a burrow to keep predators out.

His throat can also turn a striking metallic blue during mating season or when showing off.

According to Mede Moussa, the intent of the Just Add Water Exhibit is to showcase different relationships of nature and biomes with water.

"In the desert biome, there's not a lot of water," Mede Moussa said, "so it shows in the vegetation that you see and the adaptation that the animals have."

The rainforest area, meanwhile, features more water and more lush vegetation as a result, according to Mede Moussa.

"Even though, yes, we're an aquarium," Mede Moussa said, "we like to show the different biomes and how they relate with the amount of water that they have and the different adaptations that the animals have in regard to that."

American Blue Lobster

Guests who move deeper into the aquarium may encounter something unexpected: a blue lobster.

Though he likes to hide, a male blue lobster estimated to be more than six years old from the Atlantic coast of North America can be found on the "no-touch" side of the aquarium's Intertidal Touch Tank.

"The rarity of a blue lobster is probably their defining trait," Brendan Pisarski, assistant curator of fish and invertebrates, said to Patch. "A blue lobster is 1 in 2 million, and it's because they aren't exhibiting some of the pigmentation that a normal lobster has, which allows the blue to show up more readily."

According to the aquarium, blue lobsters are exceptionally rare, and their blue color is caused by a genetic anomaly that leads them to produce extra amounts of a protein complex called crustacyanin, giving them their striking appearance.

While the one at the aquarium can be a bit shy, he also enjoys interacting with guests, as well as food.

"He enjoys hiding mostly, but he will come out every once in a while," Pisarski said, "so he'll interact with the guests. He enjoys feeding time, so he'll come out for food."

See also: Maritime Aquarium Welcomes New Harbor Seal In Norwalk

Green Moray Eel

An eight-year-old moray eel from the Western Atlantic Ocean can also be found in the Sea Turtle Exhibit.

According to the aquarium, green moray eels are not blind, however they do have poor eyesight.

Their eyes are specially adapted to detect light sensitivity rather than fine detail, which helps them to spot movement from nearby prey and strike at the right moment, according to the aquarium.

The eel at the Maritime Aquarium most enjoys hiding in the exhibit's tubes and peeking out at passing visitors, according to the aquarium.

More information about the aquarium's various exhibits can be found at maritimeaquarium.org.