If you have visited The Dallas World Aquarium recently, then you may have noticed a number of new arrivals in our freshwater and saltwater aquariums throughout the facility.

If you have visited The Dallas World Aquarium recently, then you may have noticed a number of new arrivals in our freshwater and saltwater aquariums throughout the facility.

The warm and sunny days of spring and summer led to a baby boom in many of our exhibits and holding areas. In February, we set aside a special "culture room" area specifically for the purpose of raising the many types of foods necessary in rearing young fish, and that investment has paid off! The "fruits of our labor" can be seen throughout the aquarium gallery and the lower levels of the Mundo Maya exhibit. In August, after many months of trials and tribulations, we proudly introduced the first captive born Ribbon seadragons to the New Guinea exhibit.

In September, the seahorse exhibit in Mundo Maya was expanded to include a small glimpse of some of the baby Gulf pipefish and Lined seahorses that our staff biologists have been raising.

Aquatic animals reproduce in a number of interesting ways. In the case of the seadragons, pipefish and seahorses mentioned above, it is the father that holds the eggs in a pouch or brood patch until they hatch, giving birth to fully developed juvenile fish.

Another Mr. Mom is the Bangaii cardinalfish. These black and white beauties, found in the Indonesia exhibit, receive the eggs from the female, and after fertilization hold them in their mouths for up to one month! They even fast during that time to ensure the survival of their brood! The next time you are near that exhibit, look closely and see if you can spot one of the dads tumbling his eggs, or the babies peeking out of his mouth.

In an effort to not be outdone by their vertebrate neighbors, the Pharaoh cuttlefish in the Japan exhibit have been busy laying clusters of balloon-like eggs throughout the crevices in their exhibit. The eggs have been steadily hatching over the past several weeks, but look closely, the many young masters of camouflage can be easily missed hiding along the sandy bottom.

Our Rainforest exhibit has also produced a number of water babies this season. The colorful Polka dot stingrays have reproduced and some of their young have recently been reintroduced into the Stingray exhibit next to the crocodiles. In mid-September, we had our first Big tooth river stingray babies! Both of these species are now protected by law in their native countries, so these births are significant. When you are near the crocodile exhibit take a close look in the shallow areas for the young Orange spotted stingrays, whose parents live in the River exhibit.

Many of our ornamental freshwater fish such as the African cichlids at the Education entrance and the Jaguar cichlids in the Mundo Maya exhibit frequently reproduce. These tiny territorial young fish tend to stay close to their parents, but can be seen moving in and out of the rocks in search of food.

So the next time you are visiting The Dallas World Aquarium, stop one of our fish staff folks and ask us to show off our babies! We are proud parents, and happy to point them out to you!

Some of the recent newborns at The Dallas World Aquarium may be the smallest, but they may also be the most colorful! The Blue poison frog (Dendrobates azureus) is found only in the southernmost part of Suriname. Its coloration and patterns may include various hues of blue, with blue and black spots and stripes. As in most poison frogs, the unique pattern of each animal allows for individual identification.

Some of the recent newborns at The Dallas World Aquarium may be the smallest, but they may also be the most colorful! The Blue poison frog (Dendrobates azureus) is found only in the southernmost part of Suriname. Its coloration and patterns may include various hues of blue, with blue and black spots and stripes. As in most poison frogs, the unique pattern of each animal allows for individual identification.

The Dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) is found in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil. Stories relate that the common name is due to its use as a dye by various tribes in its natural habitat. It is one of the larger and brightly colored poison frogs, with thirty identified color morphs. Typical colors are blue-black with yellow, cream or blue-white patterns. Yellow-stripes with blue, black or yellow spots are not uncommon. The many color and pattern variations often make it difficult to identify this species.

The Green and black poison frog (Dendrobates auratus) is native to Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. They are usually identified by their distinct black and green patterns, however, the green color may vary, ranging from blue to gold.

The Golfodulcean poison frog (Phyllobates vittatus) is found on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Although the species has varied color shades and patterns, it is usually identified by its bright metallic orange dorsal stripes on a black back, with green dotted hind legs.

"Poison frogs" usually reference those that have potentially dangerous skin secretions (not necessarily toxic). Even though poison frogs have developed a toxicity from alkaloids ingested with their food, their brilliant coloration gives fair warning to would-be predators. When kept in captivity, without their natural diet of toxic insects, they eventually lose their potency. Poison frogs brought in from the wild can retain their toxicity for years. Studies are being done to determine the usefulness of these toxic secretions in medical applications such as antibacterial and anticancer compounds, understanding and treating nerve and muscle cell functions and as a painkiller more effective than morphine.

Frogs are referred to as "living barometers" of the earth's environment. If this is true, it would seem the worldwide decline of amphibians indicate that we are faced with urgent environmental concerns. It is estimated that between 33% - 50% of all amphibians could become extinct in the wild within the next half century, with 170 species disappearing since 1980. Regardless of "causes" such as habitat destruction, global warming, and the spread of an amphibian-killing fungal disease - after all the frogs are gone, what is the next species to disappear?

Not to be outdone by the other departments, we are proud to include the newborn Golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithicus chrysomelas) and the Pygmy marmosets (Callithrix pygmaea).

Not to be outdone by the other departments, we are proud to include the newborn Golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithicus chrysomelas) and the Pygmy marmosets (Callithrix pygmaea).

The Golden-headed lion tamarins were born on or around September 20, 2007 on exhibit in the rainforest. Golden-headed lion tamarins have black fur over the entire body except for on the head and mane, where the fur is varying shades of golden-orange. This same color is also seen on part of their tail, feet, hands and forearms. Like all species of lion tamarins, Golden-headed lion tamarins are included on the IUCN Red List and are CITES - Appendix I.

The world's smallest monkey, the Pygmy marmoset is a long-time favorite at The Dallas World Aquarium. These monkeys have orange-brown coats and ringed tails that are often as long as their bodies. Claws are adapted for climbing trees, from which they obtain much of their diet by gouging tree bark for sap with their specialized incisors. The latest Pygmy marmoset at The Dallas World Aquarium was born on October 7th. Born in off-exhibit areas, baby marmosets weigh only half of an ounce at birth and are less than two inches in length. Adult females weigh four to five ounces and reach body lengths of five to six inches.

The genus Rupicola, of the Cotingidae family, includes two species -- the Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola) and the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana). As the name implies, male birds gather to show their prowess at being "cock-of the-rock." Cocks-of-the rock are included in the group of animals that exhibit courtship displays in arenas or leks. It is reported that in the wild, Andean cocks-of-the-rock perform their pre-mating communal activity twice each day for some two hours or more each session. The early morning and late afternoon time selections may occur when the males are less obvious and therefore less likely to become prey.

The genus Rupicola, of the Cotingidae family, includes two species -- the Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola) and the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana). As the name implies, male birds gather to show their prowess at being "cock-of the-rock." Cocks-of-the rock are included in the group of animals that exhibit courtship displays in arenas or leks. It is reported that in the wild, Andean cocks-of-the-rock perform their pre-mating communal activity twice each day for some two hours or more each session. The early morning and late afternoon time selections may occur when the males are less obvious and therefore less likely to become prey.

The males of both species are about 10-11 inches long, although the Rupicola rupicola is the smaller of the two species. Both species have very distinctive crests that run along the center line of the crown, almost hiding the beak. The crests are formed with two rows of feathers. Both species also have hooked beaks, strong legs and sharp claws. Their wings are wide and strong, allowing them to fly with maneuverability and speed. The hens of both species are smaller than the males, rather dull in color and have rudimentary crests.

Due to their nesting habits, Rupicola are found in mountainous areas -- Andean or Peruvian in the Andes, and Guianan to the mountains of the Guinana shield. Nesting areas depend on suitable rocky areas in evergreen forests where food can be found. Both the Andean and Guiana cocks-of-the-rocks are fruit eaters.

Both species are part of the avian collection at The Dallas World Aquarium. The Guianan cock-of-the-rock is housed in an off-exhibit aviary and can often be seen on the web-site Lek cam. The Andean cock-of-the-rock is on display in the southeast corner of the upper level rainforest, an area referred to as Andean Heights. The male is easy to see with his brilliant orange-red feathers. The females are reddish-brown in color. In early July, an egg was found in Andean Heights, at which time the decision was made to move it to an incubator in the nursery. Hatch date was on or near July 4, 2007. After looking at some of the first images of the baby, it was difficult to imagine that it could possibly grow up to be a stately, beautiful cock-of-the-rock! But as time progressed, so did its possibilities and we watched it transform into a beautiful creature. We are excited that, after a 22-year lapse, this interesting bird is again being captive bred in the U.S.

Although we have successfully bred several of our 26 species of Ramphastids (toucans) since June 2000, it is still exciting to see each newly hatched chick and watch it develop into an "individual bird."

Although we have successfully bred several of our 26 species of Ramphastids (toucans) since June 2000, it is still exciting to see each newly hatched chick and watch it develop into an "individual bird." One of the most recently hatched species of Ramphastids at The Dallas World Aquarium is the Crimson-rumped toucanet (Aulacorhynchus haematopygus). Crimson-rumped toucanets are mostly green in color and, as the name implies, have a red rump. The blue-green tail has some reddish-brown tips. The patch at the base of the mandible, area around the eyes and broad band across the breast are blue. The beak is reddish-brown and black, with a vertical white stripe at the base. Eye skin is brown and the iris is dark. As you will notice in the first image, five eggs would simply have been too many for the nest log selected for the clutch of four. Like many baby birds, they seem to be all beaks and wings but the remaining body parts soon catch up and the chicks will be proportionately perfect toucanets!

Another toucanet baby is the Guianan (Selenidera culik). Guianan toucanets have longer bills, shorter tails and wings than many other toucanets. There are distinct sexual differences in this species. The head, throat and most underparts of the males are black. The remaining parts are mostly green, with a yellow, narrow band across the upper mantle, chestnut on thighs and some red on underside of the tail. Both male and female have black with red base beaks, blue eye patches, yellow ear coverts and red irises.

Curassows are usually black and white with decorative head appendages. Their feathers are usually dark with white patches and many have crests of recurved feathers or casques. These birds are comparable to pheasants or turkeys. Colorful knobs or wattles, bare skin on the neck or face, "helmets" or "horns" (at the base of the bill and forehead) or crests/casques allow for easy recognition of different species. In their native habitats, they are hunted as game birds for food.

The crest on the baby Yellow- knobbed curassow (Crax daubentoni) develops prior to the bill ornament. Also known as Daubenton's curassow, the large black bird is easily recognized by its crest, which has feathers curled at the tip toward the beak and a bright yellow bill knob and wattle.

The Elegant crested tinamou (Eudromia elegans) is named for its long crest that points upward. Two white stripes can be seen on the side of the face. Their plumage is gray with dark streaks. These highly terrestrial birds have a diet of seeds, leaves, fruits and insects. The Elegant crested tinamou is a popular game bird in its natural habitat.

The chartreuse green, porcelain-like eggs are incubated for 20-21 days by the male, who also does the parenting.

"Baby Animals" is a delightful book for all ages. It is full of breathtaking photos of baby animals interacting with other "family" members - playing, loving, learning and surviving in their environment.

"Baby Animals" is a delightful book for all ages. It is full of breathtaking photos of baby animals interacting with other "family" members - playing, loving, learning and surviving in their environment.

Author Angela Serena Ildos has divided the book into 10 different sections: First Steps, Family Life, Play and Tricks, A Dangerous World, Little Clowns, Warm and Safe, Primary Needs, Exploring the World, Becoming Self-Sufficient and Sleepyheads. The introduction text and photo-text used in each section becomes a journey into the life of these amazing creatures.

The Book Store has two versions of Baby Animals Cube Books for sale. The full size version is 6" x 6", with 727 pages and is $18.95 plus tax and the miniature version is 2" X 2", with 727 pages and is $6.95 plus tax. Remember that all members get a 10% discount!!