Coming out of the Bird Gallery and back into the entrance area of this space, I mentioned that this has educational areas and some live specimens of insects and other critters in terrariums. Panels at the base explain things about each.
The other critters include things like spiders. This is a Columbian pinkbloom tarantula. Why are they so hairy? Well, they're waterproofing, a barrier to parasites, and sensitive to air movement- something that allows this largely nocturnal spider to detect both prey and predators.
In other cases, the hairs might be a defensive weapon. The Chilean Rose-haired Tarantula can launch a mist of microscopic barbed hairs that can become embedded in the skin of another animal, causing physical irritation.
Another look at stained glass windows, located in the Lantern area on this floor. From here I was heading over to the gallery on the other side.
The Water Gallery has as its centerpiece the preserved skeleton of a blue whale. Specimens, panels, and displays within this area deal with both freshwater and saltwater biosystems.
This display case, for instance, shows models of various whale species.
Birds are often tied to the water, whether that is the sea or freshwater, spending some of their time out on the water. Specimens are in this case.
Another display case features models of fish and a panel that highlights key differences between them.
It's not just the biosystems of water that are explored in this area. The vast topography beneath the oceans of the world is another subject. We know more about space than we do about what's beneath the waves.
This is a 3D model of Barkley Canyon, along Canada's west coast. It is above the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate descending beneath western North America, and descends to 2000 metres deep. For comparison, the accompanying panel notes that the CN Tower is 553 metres in height. I'll pick up here tomorrow to close out the month.
