5 Marine Species You Can See at LEGOLAND® California SEA LIFE® Aquarium

If you’re looking for family-friendly aquariums in Southern California, LEGOLAND® California Resort’s SEA LIFE Aquarium is the perfect stop. Home to over 350 species and 5,000+ marine creatures, make your trip one of discovery while also being just steps from the theme park entrance!

Our handy guide below talks you through five species you must see during your visit, including reef sharks and seahorses. Read on so your little learners arrive ready to explore.

Why Learn About Marine Life Before Your Visit?

We’re all curious about the ocean and the creatures that live in it. Learning about marine life before your visit can help your little ones spot their favorite animals in the tanks as soon as they see them. Why not turn it into a fun game?

To get you started, consider this your mini field guide, built to spark curiosity, learn something new and grow conservation awareness.

Marine Species Checklist for Kids

Print this list or save it to your phone before your visit, then tick off each species as you spot them inside the SEA LIFE Aquarium California:

☐ Grey Reef Shark
☐ Leopard Shark
☐ Seahorses
☐ Jellyfish
☐ Clownfish

1. Grey Reef Shark

You’ll find various sharks gliding through the walk-through Ocean Tunnel. Spot our amazing Grey Reef Sharks, plus Indo Pacific Leopard, Bamboo and Epaulette sharks too. They play an important role on coral reefs, helping to keep other marine life in balance.

Top tip: Spot the Grey Reef Shark by looking for black bands on their tail fins!

2. Indo Pacific Leopard Shark

Keep an eye out for our Indo Pacific Leopard Sharks resting on the seabed. They're gentle, slow-moving hunters who sniff out crabs, snails and shellfish hiding in the sand. Spot their extra-long tail fin, nearly as long as the rest of their body!

Fun fact: They are born with black-and-white stripes, but those stripes turn into leopard-like spots.

3. Seahorse

There are actually over 40 species of seahorses living in our oceans. At the Kingdom of the Seahorse exhibit, you can meet seahorses local to the Californian coast, plus Pot-bellied, White’s and Lined Seahorses too.

Look closely at their curly tails; they use these to grip seagrass so they don’t drift away. Seahorses also have fused snouts and bony plates instead of scales.

Did you know? The male seahorse carries eggs and gives birth to babies.

4. Jellyfish

Even though they have no brain, heart, bones or even blood, jellyfish have been on our planet longer than dinosaurs! They drift with the current of the water rather than swimming against it, floating along like balloons.

Their trailing tentacles carry stinging cells, which they use to catch food and stay safe from predators. It’s wise not to get too close!

Bet you didn’t know that some jellyfish can glow in the dark. Pretty neat, huh?

5. Clownfish

Perhaps one of the most famous fishes of all, the Clownfish is easy to spot, thanks to its orange-and-white stripes. They live inside sea anemones, protected by a special coating so they don’t get stung.

Working together, the anemones provide a nice, cosy home for the Clownfish, and in return they help to keep them clean. It’s one of the ocean’s best examples of two species helping each other to survive.

When you spot the Clownfish, see if you can count how many stripes they have.

Other Marine Wildlife at LEGOLAND California SEA LIFE Aquarium

These five species are only the start. Since the SEA LIFE Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in California, there are plenty more exciting creatures for you to spot during your visit.

The Giant Pacific Octopus, known for its three hearts and lightning-fast camouflage, also calls the SEA LIFE Aquarium home. In the Shark and Ray Lagoon, stingrays can glide right past you, and the Indo Pacific Leopard Shark is great to spot swimming around the reefs.

In the Shipwreck Exhibit, there’s plenty of colorful reef fish to look at. Make sure you spend some time at the Interactive Touchpool too, where you can see and touch real urchins and sea stars.

What Makes SEA LIFE One of the Best Aquariums in Southern California?

The SEA LIFE Aquarium is built around education, so included in your ticket are daily talks and feeding times, meaning you can learn directly from expert aquarists. The Interactive Touchpool and Shark Mission touchscreens also turn learning into hands-on play for younger visitors.

Combining SEA LIFE Aquarium With LEGOLAND California

The SEA LIFE Aquarium sits right next to the LEGOLAND California Theme Park, with its own separate entrance just steps away. A SEA LIFE Hopper ticket lets families visit both in a single day, mixing marine learning with rides and shows.

If you want to extend your stay, the LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel are both close by.

Book your SEA LIFE Aquarium tickets today!

Explore the full Creatures & Exhibits page for more before your trip to one of the best aquariums in Southern California.