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Penguin Experiences are back! That means you get to take your relationship with penguins to the next level! This is a unique chance to get face-to-face with the wonderful rockhopper penguins of the Two Oceans Aquarium in a private setting, and learn a bit more about these quirky little ocean ambassadors - let's take a look at what your Penguin Experience day entails:

It's a triple African penguin birthday week (and it's doubly cute, because they're family)! Peri and Annuli turned 7 yesterday (18 Feb) and Quinn turns 7 tomorrow (20 Feb). Triple 7's - that's a lucky sign!

So, what did barnacles do? Well, as you can see from the image above - if you can't go to your mate, you to need to grow a penis long enough to reach them! In fact, barnacles have the longest penis-to-body size ratio of any animal. But, as any barnacle will tell you, length isn't everything. Longer barnacle willies have a chance of being ripped off by strong currents, so barnacles in more turbulent waters, such as the intertidal zone, generally have shorter and thicker penises. Even though they can't reach as many mates, their risk of failure is lower. In other words, it's not about the size of the barnacle penis, it's about how they use it.

Here's an amazing opportunity for little ocean-lovers, aged 6 to 8, to have fun and learn about the ocean online. Kids can join the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation for the fun and insightful Ocean Funatics Course from 8 to 12 March 2021, and learn all about their favourite sea animals - from crabs to turtles!Three of the Foundation's experienced teachers will offer a new topic every day - "Life in the rock pools", "Animal houses", "Tortoises and sea turtles", "Sharks" and "Wild animals and camouflage" - this sounds so much fun! Space is limited to 20 children so that lessons can remain live and interactive, and be more personal. Find full course details here.

Today's microscopic marvel - Spongebob Squarepants? Nope, it's the hairy tube sponge! Hairy tube sponges (Sycon spp.) belong to the phylum Porifera, which means "pore bearer" in Latin. Porifera are one of the major groupings of Animalia (that's right, they are animals), and they are actually the oldest group of animals, branching off the Tree of Life even earlier than jellies.

Meet the rocksucker, and its extended family - the clingfishes! Clingfishes are a family of small fish found around the world in tropical and temperate seas, from shores to the deep ocean, and even in some rivers! What makes them unique is a special structure on their chest called a "sucking disc", that they can use to cling onto rocks, seaweeds and other objects to easily endure strong currents, and even being battered by waves.

The Two Oceans Aquarium is excited to announce that it has become the second African institution to join the Global Coalition #UnitedforBiodiversity. As the first South African representatives of this Coalition, we are proud to join the growing list of international organisations standing together to support the protection of global biodiversity!

On Thursday, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation and the NSRI released some of their shelly friends back into the ocean so that they can begin their journey home in warmer waters.

Animals have been part of the human culture since the beginning of time. Fairy tales, myths, legends and beliefs, all bring animals into the human narrative that is passed from generation to generation. And today, this is no different. We may have “modernised” and we may have become more aware and reliant on electronics, but even now, we tend to bring the natural world into our cultural and electronic development. Let’s have a look at some of the mentions of marine animals in pop culture:

We usually don't think of fish as noisy animals - in fact, most people have no idea that fish make sounds at all. Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation teacher Kirshia recorded a very vocal display from the Aquarium's giant kob at night in the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit:

We're grateful that we've been able to bring in the new year on a positive note, with families, couples, youngsters and all-round ocean enthusiasts being able to enjoy the Two Oceans Aquarium during the holidays. Thanks for making us a part of your memories, and sharing your favourite moments with us!