The “Midnight Creatures” exhibition will open at the Sunshine Aquarium (3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo) on March 14.

　The exhibition introduces about 20 species of creatures that are active at night or in the dark, such as nocturnal forests, oceans, and dark caves, using “nocturnal,” “cave,” and “luminous” categories, and “ocean” and “forest” habitat icons.

　The exhibition area will be dimly lit so that visitors can observe nocturnal creatures, which often sleep during the day, in action, as well as creatures that emit light in the dark, which are rarely seen. According to the museum, it will also exhibit the Sligo giant salamander, which is thought to have become extinct in the wild in China, and only two individuals are currently kept in Japan.

　During the exhibition, the museum will sell original goods such as T-shirts and mug cups, as well as admission tickets with original “Midnight Creatures” luminescent stickers.

　Yuji Mita, a member of the museum’s breeding staff, said, “The concept of this special exhibition is ‘Isn’t darkness kind of scary and exciting? The exhibition will be held in the dark of the forest in the middle of the night. Visitors can step into natural environments such as forests and oceans in the middle of the night, which are usually inaccessible, and experience observing the lives of living creatures that live there. You may be able to see nocturnal creatures that move at night for hunting and other purposes, luminous creatures that communicate with each other by emitting light, and other forms and habits that can only be seen at midnight,” he says.

　Hours are 10:00-19:00 (subject to change depending on the season); closed June 19. Admission is 600 yen and runs through November 24.