SAWS and CLAWS

The highlights of our new SAWS and CLAWS creature feature are undoubtedly our Smalltooth Sawfish. Measuring between 1.6 and 3 metres in length (the species can actually grow up to a staggering 7.6 metres!), our sawfish are a sight to be seen.

These evolutionary marvels have adapted to live in both salt and fresh water, while their long saw-like rostrum (nose) has evolved to expertly forage for food under the sandy, silty ocean floor. Visitors will be able to see our sawfish gliding around the huge Great Barrier Reef exhibit, with its vast viewing windows, alongside hundreds of tropical fish and reef sharks.

Forming the other half of this awesome new exhibit are our amazing Japanese Spider Crabs - the world's largest species of crab - which, when fully grown, can reach a claw-to-claw legspan of almost 4 metres! In the wild these giants of the deep are found at depths of up to 800 metres, and although they look fierce and intimidating due to their sheer size, they have a surprisingly gentle temperament. The Japanese Spider Crabs can be found in the new CLAWS exhibit area, just past the Mermaid Lagoon dugong oceanarium

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