Aquarium's Whale Exhibit To Debut Newly Discovered Species

CLEARWATER, FL — The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is set to open a whale of an exhibit in March, featuring multi-media exhibits, a virtual reality experience, walk-through life-size whale gallery, kid's interactive zone and a theater featuring whale-related films and speakers.

"Whales: Living with Giants" will occupy 20,000 square feet of space in CMA's newly expanded visitor center. The exhibit opens this spring and will run through the summer.

"This exhibit brings our guests into an undersea experience where they come eye to eye with a wide variety of whale species found in Florida waters," said Dr. James "Buddy" Powell, executive director of CMA's Research Institute. "It's especially timely with the recent ground-breaking discovery of an entirely new whale species not far from CMA off the Florida gulf coast."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Fisheries announced the discovery of the Rice's whale on Jan. 22.

"The discovery of the Rice's whale, previously thought to be a type of Bryde's whale, and the fact that it is already considered endangered is a stark reminder of how much we still have to learn from these beautiful creatures and the impact they have on our shared environment," Powell said.

NOAA Fisheries scientist Dr. Patricia Rosel identified diagnostic characteristics that distinguish it from the other closely related baleen whale species. Genetic data provided additional evidence supporting the whale being identified as a new species.

The name Rice’s whale, Balaenoptera ricei, is in honor of renowned American biologist Dale Rice who had a distinguished 60-year career in marine mammal science. He was the first researcher to recognize that Bryde's whales (now Rice’s whales) are present in the Gulf of Mexico.

Rosel was able to examine the skull of a Rice’s whale in 2020 after a dead whale washed up on the beach in Everglade National Park in January 2019.

The new species retains its protected status under the Endangered Species Act since it was previously listed as an endangered subspecies (Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale). It is also protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. To date, there are fewer than 100 of these whales remaining, making them critically endangered.

The Rice's whales can weigh up to 30 tons and grow 42 feet long. Not much is known about their life expectancy, but closely related species can live about 60 years.

For many years, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute scientists and biologists have been working with NOAA and other partners to track, monitor, and protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

"This exhibition is significant not only because it is bringing to light CMA's work to preserve a whale species, but we will be debuting a remarkable discovery – Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale (Rice's whale) species," said Laura Engleby, marine mammal branch chief for NOAA Fisheries Southeast. "We truly appreciate the collaboration of our partners to educate the public through engaging experiences like this exhibition."

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is also partnering with virtual reality entertainment group Immotion to bring a fully immersive VR theater complete with motion-platform seating to CMA during the exhibit. Guests will take on the role of marine biologists to observe and be immersed among wild, giant humpback whales by way of virtual reality.

An interactive pre-show area primes the guests with information about the animals before they embark on their adventure.

"We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Clearwater Marine Aquarium on this milestone installation," said Immotion group commercial director, Rod Findley. "We're honored to be part of the first exhibit to go into the new expansion at the aquarium. It's a bold step to give their guests the newest and most immersive experiences."

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage, recently underwent an $80 million expansion project complete with a visitor center and 1.5 million-gallon dolphin habitat which opened to the public in October.

Visitors can book tickets and learn more at cmaquarium.org.