Welcome the Newest Residents to the Aquatic & Reptile Center

The animal care team notes that Flurry is laid back and more active in the late afternoon. At rest, her skin is smooth and typically reddish-brown in color. Like other giant Pacific octopuses, she can change the color and texture of her skin to camouflage herself. These octopuses are also typically den-dwellers, so if you can’t spot Flurry, look to the upper right of the habitat to see if she’s tucked herself away.

And a new habitat in the ARC — with animals native to the Indonesian/Australian region — includes two frilled dragons and a blue-tongued skink.

The frilled dragons, named Baby Frank and Trogdor, arrived at MCZ in November 2023 and were behind the scenes until they grew large enough for the public habitat. They’re now almost 2 years old, and both are unsexed. To identify them, the animal care team has added a blue colored dot to Baby Frank and red to Trogdor, until the marks are eventually shed off.

The frilled dragons are a new species to the MCZ. The animal care team shares that Baby Frank and Trogdor are fairly relaxed, and although they’re named for their “frills,” guests shouldn’t typically see them displayed. (When threatened, this species can inflate the frills around the neck to appear larger and more intimidating.)

The blue-tongued skink, a 5-year-old female not yet named, shares the habitat with the frilled dragons. MCZ hasn’t had this species in its population since the ’80s. The skink continues to increase her confidence and isn’t always visible. When she is, guests will notice her long and tubular body covered in overlapping scales, with a broad, triangular head and short legs. A voracious eater, guests might also catch a glimpse of the skink’s distinctive blue tongue.

On your next visit to the Zoo, swing by the ARC to check out all of the latest residents!

Giant Pacific Octopus Fast Facts:

• Each of their eight arms has two alternating rows of about 250 individually-controlled suction cups that contain thousands of chemical receptors.
• This octopus is a solitary animal that spends most of their life alone.
• They’re native to the temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean, from southern California to Alaska, and west to Japan.

Frilled Dragon Fast Facts:

• When their frill is fully extended, it can reach up to 12 inches in diameter.
• Know as “tree huggers,” these dragons will only descend to the ground to feed on insects and smaller lizards.
• They can be found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea, in warm temperate dry forests and grassy savanna woodlands.

Blue-Tongued Skink Fast Facts:

• If grabbed by a predator, the skink can release their tail. The tail will grow back but never be as fully formed as the original.
• This species is ground-dwelling, with little to no ability to climb.
• They’re native to Papua and north and west Australia, found in moist lowland forests and scrublands.