Thanks to my “expert” naming abilities as a kid, my family’s pets always had some interesting names. There was Cosmo, Little Bo, Spike, Sugar, and even Skittles (I had a bad sweet tooth). This week, kids can join in on the naming fun by taking part in naming the Butterfly Pavilion’s newest invertebrate, an Octopus Vulgaris (better known as the common octopus).
Starting on April 23, guests can visit the Butterfly Pavilion to submit a name for consideration of this eight-legged friend. At the end of the week, Butterfly Pavilion staff will then select the five best names for a public vote on their website the week of April 30-May 3. The winning name will be revealed at the May the Fourth celebration, complete with appearances by a Galactic Resistance Warrior, a Galactic Princess, and $1 off admission for those who dress up as their favorite character from a galaxy far, far away. The guest whose suggested name gets chosen will not only get a claim to fame, but a family membership and behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo.
The Butterfly Pavilion’s newest unnamed octopus is from the Florida Keys, and has an average lifespan of one to two years. They range in size from 12-36 inches and six and a half to 22 pounds, and are widely known for their defensive mechanism, creating a thick cloud of ink that dulls a predator’s sense of smell long enough for the octopus to escape. Guests looking to see the new octopus in action can check out the two live feedings on April 24 and 27 at 2:30 p.m.
Butterfly Pavilion is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. Admission is $8 for children ages two to 12, $12 for adults, $10 for Westminster residents and seniors, and free for children under age two.
