Have you ever wondered what a stingray skeleton looks like? Turns out, so do scientists! And by using some new technology, we can get a better picture of animals that also helps inform how we care for them at Shedd Aquarium. Dive into spooky science and challenge your audience (or news anchors) to try to guess the animals at Shedd from these CT scan images! (Answers below) With the help of Shedd’s new on-site CT (computed tomography) scanner in the aquarium’s state-of-the-art, full-scale animal hospital, veterinarians can view 3-D models of an animal’s skeletal structure, furthering advancing animal health and welfare in aquatic medicine. From fishes to marine mammals, every animal has a unique skeleton, which may be made of either bone or cartilage. Put your science skills to the test and try to identify these animals by their skeletons, just in time for Halloween!
Answers for Animal Skeleton Species

1. Blanding’s turtle (native to the Great Lakes!)

2. Cownose ray (stingray)

3. Red boxfish

4. Sea otter

5. Caiman lizard

6. Rockhopper penguin

Photo Credit: Shedd Aquarium