For Holan’s Birthday we went to Sea Life at Crown Center in

Kansas City. Sea Life opened in April 2012 with tanks of fresh

waters of the Missouri River, into the mighty Mississippi River

then out into the warm blue coral strewn waters of the

Caribbean Sea, ending in the deep dark abyss of the Atlantic

Ocean. They have a huge tropical ocean tank with a

walk-through underwater tunnel.

 

 

 

 

We learned that instead of blood, starfish have a water

vascular system, they pump sea water through its sieve plate,

into its tube feet to extend them. Muscles within the tube

feet retract them. This is why when the starfish always

keep their feet in the water when they reach the top of

the water line.

 

 

 

 

There is a whole tank of sea animals you can touch and play

with, as Steve is doing here.

 

 

Steve had a few questions about the tank.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the things we saw were Blacktip and Zebra sharks,

jellyfish, cow nosed rays, a beautiful octopus, seahorses &

Nemo (clown fish). It was a very relaxing time.