HMNS New 'Extreme Animals Alive' Exhibit Displays Animals' Unique Superpowers

Meet superheroes at the new Extreme Animals Alive exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Attendees will have the opportunity to step into a world of animals whose unique abilities allow them to be the superheroes of their habitats.

The comic-style exhibit features floor-to-ceiling pages depicting each animal and their superpower. 

The animals are grouped by their superpowers, showing off special abilities such as camouflage, mind control, and night vision. One unexpected supervillain, the Hairworm, infests hosts like praying mantises to drive their lifecycle via “mind control”. 

“I really like seeing all the different animals in here,” Jack Gowen, who was recently visiting the exhibit with his parents. “One of the most fascinating things is how they explain that praying mantises can become victims of mind control. It’s almost like learning about an alien world.”

Every animal in the exhibit’s enclosure has a label with their name, favorite food, and what they like, such as Thorn the lizard, whose favorite food is peas, enjoys extreme heat and going clubbing (using their tails as clubs to defend themselves).

Edana and Viggo Ramesar (pictured, from left) observe Fennec Foxes. (Photo: Alden Farrow)

“I come to the science museum because I love science and animals, and I am trying to save every animal possible,” said Viggo Ramesar, who was visiting with his mom. “My favorite part of the exhibit was the Fennec Foxes because I have never seen one in real life.”

From the fan-favorite Fennec foxes to the elusive stingrays, the exhibit features a wide array of different animals for guests to explore.

Other exhibit attendees like Alberto Quintana came to the exhibit for a chance to see live animals up close. Quintana and his son both said their favorite animal was the possum.

The exhibit concludes with a hands-on experience for all guests. Attendees have the opportunity to touch stingrays, sea urchins, starfish, and more water-dwelling creatures.

River West waits at a touch tank for a stingray to approach. (Photo: Alden Farrow)

Mom and son Keleigh and River West especially enjoyed getting to touch the stingrays in the touch tank.

The Extreme Animals Alive exhibit is located on the Lower Level of the Natural Science Museum. The exhibit is open Monday-Sunday from 9 a.m.- 6p.m. Admission is $35 per public adult and $27 public child. Member pricing is $20 for children and adults.

Editor’s note: For more on buzzy museum exhibits, read about the Floating World immersive exhibit by artist duo A.A. Murakami at MFAH.