Special Exhibit to Open at Sea Life Aquarium “Claws” exhibit will feature crabs and crustaceans from around the world

"CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 26, 2014) – “Claws”, a brand-new special exhibit at Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium, will open to the public on Feb. 27. The exhibit will feature multiple displays and showcase a variety of crustaceans, including the Japanese spider crab, fiddler crab and peacock mantis shrimp.  Recognized as having the largest leg span of any crustacean, the highlight of the new exhibit is the Japanese spider crab, a crab that can grow up to 14 feet wide or the size of a small car. These unique creatures can inhabit depths of up to 2,000 feet and are typically found crawling along the seabed of the Pacific Ocean near Japan. Another unique creature, the brightly colored peacock mantis shrimp can punch its prey with speed 50 times faster than the blink of a human eye, allowing it to break though the shells of clams and mollusks. Speaking of eyes, these crustaceans have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. “We’re excited to show our guests these fascinating creatures of the deep,” said John Markovics, Marketing Manager at Sea Life Charlotte-Concord. “With interactive displays and special viewing windows, guests can get an up-close perspective of how these creatures look and behave.” “Claws” joins 20 other educational and interactive exhibits found at Sea Life Charlotte-Concord, as well as thousands of diverse sea creatures. The exhibit is included in regular admission. For ticket information, visit www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord.   About Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Sea Life Charlotte-Concord is a 26,000-square-foot indoor aquarium with another 10,000 square feet planned for future expansion. This one-of-a-kind attraction allows visitors to experience the magical world beneath our seas with marine habitats, displays, and close encounters with thousands of sea creatures. Sea Life provides a glimpse of the diversity of marine life while also playing an active role in animal and environmental conservation. Visitors see strong evidence of Sea Life’s Breed, Rescue and Protect activities around the world, including new projects developed locally. Sea Life is the world’s largest aquarium chain with over 45 attractions around the world. Sea Life Charlotte-Concord is the sixth Sea Life aquarium launched in the U.S. and parent company Merlin Entertainments’ 100th attraction worldwide. Sea Life Charlotte-Concord is located at Concord Mills, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd. in Concord, NC. For more information, visit www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord." - A Press Release