Academy biologists sustainably source many of the butterfly species found in our four-story rainforest exhibit through a conservation partnership with the Costa Rica Entomological Supply (CRES), helping to support local communities and native plant populations. Follow the journey as pupae make their way to the Academy, where they will emerge and inspire visitors to protect rainforest ecosystems around the world.

Butterfly Journey: From Costa Rica to the Academy

Hear from Steinhart Aquarium's highly skilled animal husbandry team about how they care for Methuselah, our lively eldest Australian lungfish. Learn how Methuselah has inspired and educated visitors to become one of the Academy's most iconic residents.

Meet Methuselah: Celebrating a Longtime Academy Icon

Northern spotted owls are endangered and scientists are rushing to learn more about the species to help protect them against potential threats.

Spotted vs. Barred: Investigating Hybrid Owls in the West

Biologists in the Steinhart Aquarium use enrichment and training to keep animals—like penguins, stingrays, and macaws—healthy and engaged. It also helps the animals communicate and connect with their caregivers.

Animal Care and Well-Being at the Academy

Scorpions are lurking in your backyard (really!). Don't worry, they're relatively harmless (and adorable!). Two fun facts: they fluoresce in ultraviolet light and they're the only arachnid to give birth to live young.

Local Scorpions

Intelligent, color-changing, inking squid are some of the largest (and smallest) marine animals in the sea.

Super-Sized Squid

How do you keep intelligent octopuses from getting bored?

Octopus Enrichment

Endangered pandas breed more successfully in captivity when they have a choice of mate.

Pandas' Choice

Ten different animals desperately need attention for their survival and zoos and aquariums want all of us to get involved.

Saving Animals from Extinction

How do dung beetles find their way? They do a little dance.

Dung Beetle Directions

Animals

Researchers from Steinhart Aquarium traveled to South Africa to help save hundreds of penguin chicks from starvation.

African Penguin Conservation

Academy biologists feed the Academy's anaconda a euthanized guinea pig. The guinea pig was not served alive, because it could possibly damage the museum's specimen. Additionally, it would experience unneccessary trauma. (Video filmed by Richard Ross)

Anaconda Feeding

Academy biologist Eric provides a behind the scenes look at training the Academy's Barn Owl (Tyto alba). Barn Owls are native to the San Francisco Bay Area and are the most widely distributed species of owl. Their body length can reach 40 centimeters (15.5 inches) with a 110 centimeters (43 inch) wingspan. These nocturnal birds have excellent low-light vision but they find prey using asymmetrically placed ears that localize sounds generated by voles, pocket gophers, mice and rats.

Barn Owl Training

Witness the different stages of a young chicken's life cycle in-person at the Academy's hatchery. Chicken eggs hatch 21 days after fertilization; an incubator keeps the eggs uniformly warm and moist leading up to hatching. The right temperature and humidity keeps the embryos developing normally with proper levels of fluids and gases. Once they hatch, chicks are then kept in the hatcher for the first 24 hours to rest and dry. They are then kept in a brooder for 5-8 weeks until they grow feathers. This Spring to Life exhibit will be on display in the Piazza from March 14 - April 24, 2011.

Chick Hatching

Academy aviculturist Vikki provides a behind the scene look into catching, identifying, and feeding the free-flying birds that inhabit the Rainforests of the World exhibit. There are over 12 different species of birds that live in the rainforest, including silver-beaked tanagers (Ramphocelus carbo), red-legged honeycreepers (Cyanerpes cyaneus), bananaquits (Coereba flaveola), paradise tanagers (Tangara chilensis), rufous-crowned tanagers (Tangara cayana), violaceous euphonias (Euphonia violacea), opal-rumped tanagers (Tanagara velia), and turquoise tanagers (Tangara mexicana).

Feeding Rainforest Birds

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