Wash, DC
America's Freshwater Ecosystems
Encounter animals from freshwater habitats in every region of the United States. Although many of the native freshwater fish lack the splendid colors of their marine counterparts, they have very important stories to tell.
Many of the animals displayed in this gallery, such as the hellbender, North America’s largest salamander, and the boneytail chub, are on the brink of extinction due to habitat destruction and pollution.
The exhibit is divided into small focus areas that highlight major rivers, including the Rio Grande, the Potomac River, the Colorado River, and the Mississippi River.
Animals in This Exhibit
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The snapping turtle has a thick tail covered in saw-toothed keels, which is nearly as long as its shell.
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The longnose gar is an elongated fish with a long, thin snout full of needle-like teeth perfectly suited for catching prey. Longnose gar are distinguished from other gar species by the long snout, with a length at least 10 times the width.
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The northern snakehead is a tubular, stealthy fish with a robust head and a powerful jaw used to capture prey.
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