Animals

The Virginia Living Museum is home to more than 250 species of animals and plants found throughout Virginia including reptiles, mammals, birds and fish. With its rivers and waterfalls, mountains and sandy coast, Virginia has an array of wildlife ranging from the extremely rare red wolf to jellyfish. The Chesapeake Bay is the world’s richest marine-life estuary. Experience the Bay’s diversity year round at the VLM. Plus explore the underwater worlds of a steamy cypress swamp and a cool mountain stream. Most of the mammals and birds on exhibit could not survive in the wild because they were either injured, orphaned or born in captivity.

Other Native Virginia Animals

Summer Flounder

Scientific Name: Paralichthys dentatus

Yellow Perch

Scientific Name: Perca flavescens

White-tailed Deer

Scientific Name: Odocoileus virginianus

Bobcat

Scientific Name: Lynx Rufus

Spadefish

Scientific Name: Chaetodon faber

Yellow Tail Blue Damsel

Scientific Name: Chrysiptera parasema

Raccoon

Scientific Name: Procyon lotor

Atlantic Croaker

Scientific Name: Micropogonias undulates

Largemouth Bass

Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides

American Red Wolf

Scientific Name: Canis Rufus

American Alligator

Scientific Name: Alligator mississippiensis

Mountain Redbelly Dace

Scientific Name: Phoxinus oreas

Greater Siren

Scientific Name: Siren lacertina

Spotted Turtle

Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata

Longnose Gar

Scientific Name: Lepisosteus osseus

Crevalle Jack

Scientific Name: Caranx hippos

Red Drum

Scientific Name: Sciaenops ocellatus

Bubbletip Anemone

Scientific Name: Entamacea quadricolor

Beaver

Scientific Name: Castor Canadensis

Opossum

Scientific Name: Didelphidae

Smallmouth Bass

Scientific Name: Micropterus dolomieu

Eastern Hellbender

Scientific Name: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis

Shortnose Sturgeon

Scientific Name: Acipenser brevirostrum

Windowpane Flounder

Scientific Name: Scophthalmus aquosus

Common Mudpuppy

Scientific Name: Necturus maculosus

Bowfin

Scientific Name: Amia calva

Groundhog

Scientific Name: Marmota monax

Lined Seahorse

Scientific Name: Hippocampus erectus

Wood Turtle

Scientific Name: Clemmys insculpta

Cobia

Scientific Name: Rachycentron canadum

Striped Skunk

Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis

Vultures

Scientific Name: Cathartes

Bullhead Catfish

Scientific Name: Ameiurus spp.

Red Foxes

Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes

Harris Hawk

Scientific Name: Parabuteo unicinctus

Lookdown

Scientific Name: Selene vomer

Northern River Otter

Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis

Grey Snapper

Scientific Name: Lutjanus griseus

Shrimp

Scientific Name: Caridea

Gag

Scientific Name: Mycteroperca microlepis

North American Porcupine

Scientific Name: Erethizon dorsatum

Bald eagle

Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Rock Bass

Scientific Name: Ambloplites rupestris

Snubnose Darter

Scientific Name: Etheostoma simoterum

Striped Bass

Scientific Name: Morone saxatilis

Wood Frog

Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica

Common Snapping Turtle

Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina

Flame Angel

Scientific Name: Centropyge loriculus

White Sucker

Scientific Name: Catostomus commersonii

Heads Up!

The Virginia Living Museum will open at 11AM to the public today to allow staff to get operations up and running after extensive power loss last night.

This will NOT interfere with regular summer camp operations, camp will begin at 9AM. 

Thank you for your patience!

Wild Explorations

Heads Up! The Changing Exhibit Gallery, where our Wild Explorations exhibit lives, will close at 3PM today in preparation for an after hours event!