I've already introduced you to the penguins at the SciQuarium http://whatsgoodingreensboro.blogspot.com/2014/08/penguins-at-greensboro-science-center.html, but while you can get a pretty close look at the penguins, you can't actually touch them. However, you can satisfy your urge to interact with the marine creatures by visiting the SciQuarium's touch tank, a large, attractive pool that winds through the center of it all, allowing aquarium attendees access to touch and pet the resident skates and rays as they swim by.
Rays and skates are relatives of sharks, and a definite resemblance can be readily seen in the cownose rays, who look very much like bonnethead sharks. These critters don't mind being touched, and most will swim up so closely to the wall that they flop up out of the water, as can be seen in both the photos (in the top photo, one of the cownose rays has a "wingtip" protruding from the water surface. Any animals who aren't feeling sociable at the moment are certainly welcome to stay deeper in the water or more toward the center of the tank.
Like their shark relatives, rays and skates do tend to stay in motion, which makes this an interesting exhibit to look at, and as they continually circle the tank, they provide multiple opportunities to reach out and touch them. I have petted rays and skates and even a shark, before. Have you visited a touch tank and petted a stingray?
You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!
All photos taken by me at the SciQuarium. Click the pictures for a larger view!
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