There are no creaky doors or spooky music at the Tennessee Aquarium, but visitors might be surprised by some of the critters they’ll encounter during Thrills, Gills & Chills. The Halloween-themed promotion starts today.
In addition to special feedings, costumed divers and themed keeper talks (see schedule), guests will come across an animal encounter specialist with an awe-inspiring animal in each building every hour of every day (locations and animals vary).
Perhaps it will be an eight-eyed creature possessing an exoskeleton and covered in something called urticating hair — otherwise known as a tarantula.
Senior educator Susie Grant says the Aquarium’s three species — Mexican red-knee, Chilean common and curly hair tarantulas — are actually mild-mannered beauties, not fear-inspiring beasties.
“Even though they have eight eyes, tarantulas can’t see very well,” said Grant. “They use the hairs to detect prey and perceive tiny movements in the air surrounding their bodies. In fact, the curly hair [tarantula] is sometimes called the Teddy bear tarantula because of the way it looks.”
All of the Thrills, Gills & Chills activities are designed to bring visitors closer to nature’s most feared creatures. Animal encounter specialists will introduce visitors to creatures that have been misunderstood or may only come out at night, adding to their spooky reputations.
Owls, for instance, appear to float through the night sky without a making a sound, have big eyes and can make some rather chilling sounds.
“Our screech owl makes kind of a high-pitched trill,” said Grant. “In some ways, it almost sounds like a horse whinny.”
Visitors will learn how they are able to rotate their heads nearly all the way around, how they achieve silent flight and who’s on their menu.
Guests may opt for the Backstage Pass (additional charge) to go behind the scenes to get even closer to sharks and barracudas and to talk to divers about feeding the Aquarium’s green moray eels.
THRILLS, GILLS & CHILLS SCHEDULE
(Through Oct. 31; free with regular admission)
* 10:30 a.m. Pumpkins & Penguins (keeper talk at Penguins’ Rock, Ocean Journey)
* 11 a.m. Scaredy Cat-Fish (costumed divers in Nickajack Lake, River Journey)
* 11 and 11:30 a.m. Bite Fright Dive Show (Secret Reef, Ocean Journey)
* 1:30 p.m. Jaws & Claws (animal feedings in Boneless Beauties, Ocean Journey)
* 1:45 p.m. Pumpkins & Penguins repeats
* 2 p.m. Divers Delight (costumed divers in Gulf of Mexico, River Journey)
* 2 and 2:30 p.m. Bite Fright Dive Show repeats
* 3 p.m. Swamp Things (keeper talk in the Delta Swamp, River Journey)
SAVE THE DATE
* Oct. 29: Aqua-Scarium Halloween Party, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Includes trick-or-treating, mascots in costume, “Monster Mash” dances, games. $5 member adults and children; $30 adults, $20 children 3-12 for nonmembers (includes Aquarium admission).