New Exhibition at Birch Aquarium
Showcases Nature's Craftiness

By Jan Jennings I June 13, 2005

The lacey scorpionfish blends so perfectly into its seagrass and seaweed environment that it appears as a sculptured artifact, a
relic of the sea, and the California halibut snuggles on the ocean's sandy bottom so flatly it becomes a part of it's surface.

These are just two creatures in a cast of at least 40 species starring - but seemingly "behind and the scenes" - in the newly opened exhibition, The Art of Deception, at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Admission to the exhibition is included with admission to the aquarium.

Mimic, deceive, hide, camouflage, and blend in are key words for the exhibition which is on view in the Scripps Explorers Gallery.

Nigella Hillgarth, Birch Aquarium executive director, at the King of Camouflage introductory showcase to the Birch Aquarium Art of Deception exhibition. The chameleon is the king of camouflage.

"Perhaps the most significant thing about the exhibition is that it showcases the most wondrous, beautiful creatures in the ocean that we don't often see," says Birch Aquarium executive director Nigella Hillgarth, who describes the exhibition as a "nature walk under the ocean."

But unless you observe closely, you still may not see these elusive creatures.

As the poetic introduction to the exhibition, aptly situated next to the King of Camouflage - the chameleon showcase, reads:

This exhibit is full of art that's alive;
these creatures use deception to survive.
Deception's a trick some animals use
to hide, escape, or to confuse.

For example, decorator crabs camouflage themselves by attaching bits of their habitat to their body. Stripes and spots on many fish break up the outline of the body allowing them to blend into the environment. Cellophane-like jellies are nearly transparent. Wafer-thin bodies help some fish disappear in an instant. Kelpfish so resemble kelp they become just another leaf of the sinuous brown seaweed.

And though such characteristics are challenging, and perhaps frustrating, to the exhibition-goer dedicated to finding all species in the exhibition, this hide and seek, as the poem notes, is serious business - survival.

Prey animals are eager to melt into their environment to avoid becoming a menu item for a creature a tat higher and hungrier on the food chain, and, conversely, predators utilize their deceptive characteristics to conceal themselves from their prey before they strike.

Gathered at the front of the Exploration Station at the Art of Deception exhibition are, from left, Birch executive director Nigella Hillgarth, education instructor Wayne Justice, Graham Ross, 4, and Gabriel Ross, 8. Volunteer Joan Allmaras, behind the tanks, is in charge of the hands-on experience. Graham and Gabriel are visiting with their parents, Shanna and Colby Ross of Riverside. (not shown)

Among the interesting deceptive characteristics of many animals, Hillgarth points out, is the black spot, not really an eye, but appearing to be one.

A black spot near the tail of a fish can resemble an eye and confuse a predator who might attack at the wrong end. Also, large black or eye spots on the body, though not really the eyes, can make the animal appear larger and more intimidating.

Hillgarth says that a major goal of the exhibition is to get kids and their parents to think and observe. "What excites me is that kids are really catching on. They are learning to look more closely, to observe more carefully."

Just as the characteristics of the animals are deceptive, so the learning process invited by the exhibition is craftily highlighted in fun and games.

The exhibit is presented in four distinct ocean habitats: the rocky reef, the sandy ocean bottom, the kelp forest, and the open ocean. Along the way, there is The Curious Octopus, an interactive game inviting kids to find 13 objects, such as spoon, cheese, and eagle, hidden in the ocean scene with octopus and fish. There is a series of teasing questions with answers hidden under pop-up doors and costume capes and curtains of camouflage fabrics invite kids to don a disguise and fit into the appropriate fabric.

Fun-house-like mirrors, providing multiple images of the person within the mirror configuration, punctuate the reason why fish swim in schools - that safety in numbers makes it harder "for a predator to lock into a specific image."

A continuous video display on a large screen shows the wonders an underwater camera can capture of the colorful, moving water environment and individual displays with magnifying glasses allow closer perception of sea creature characteristics.

Education instructor Wayne Justice in front of the Art of Deception's Habitat L pointing to the delicately balanced leafy seadragon.

As Hillgarth points out, the exhibition is hands-on and interactive and volunteers and education instructors are on hand to answer questions. At the Exploration Station, a volunteer allows kids and parents alike to get up close and personal and touch species, such as the decorator crab.

"We have such a disconnect today between the natural world and our everyday lives," Hillgarth says. By providing an environment like this, which introduces creatures in the ocean not often seen by most, in a fun setting, the hope is that there will be more awareness of these natural creatures and their habitat.

And by extension, the challenge of observing these ever so crafty creatures of the sea invites keener observation of everyday surroundings in general.

Hillgarth, who received a Ph.D. in zoology from Oxford University in England and came to the Birch Aquarium three years ago from duties as biologist at the University of Utah and director of the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, credits Bob Burhans, Birch curator of fishes, and a team of creative Birch staffers with the inspiration and development of The Art of Deception.

As the exhibition's introductory poem concludes:

Now try to find the fishes of the sea.
Observe, explore, enjoy your visit;
It's not hard to find them all . or is it?

For further information, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu or call (858) 534-FISH.