Enjoy these downloadable and printable snowflake templates. Decorate your walls, windows, ceiling, holiday tree, and even your holiday cakes. These designs are inspired by three of our Woods Hole Science Aquarium residents. They’re currently vacationing next door at the Marine Biological Laboratory as we continue renovating our Woods Hole Science Aquarium:
- Ink, common octopus
- Blot, common octopus
- Stumpy, diamondback terrapin
Woods Hole Science Aquarium Update
Our aquarium is still closed to the public as we continue with construction and renovations. While the bulk of the work is focused on our building’s infrastructure, we’re also taking the opportunity to improve our aquarium’s function and exhibits. That includes upgrading our pumps and sea water systems, water quality lab, life support work spaces, veterinary area, and more! All the walls and floors will be a sleek black, helping to soothe shy residents, make our exhibits pop, and create a more cohesive, cleaner, and professional look. The team is currently developing their 5-year vision for the aquarium. They’re researching to see what’s possible and how to include some pie-in-the-sky ideas and dreams.
While all this work is happening, a few of our aquarium residents are vacationing with our friends and partner, the Marine Biological Laboratory. We’re grateful for their continued support and for providing some pretty lux accommodations for Ink and Blot, our two common octopuses, and Stumpy, our diamondback terrapin.
Our Science Center’s Woods Hole Science Aquarium is the nation’s oldest public aquarium, exhibiting fish and invertebrates found in our region’s waters. Follow us for information and updates:
Ink and Blot: A Tale of Two Octopuses
Ink and Blot are our common octopuses. Like all octopuses, they each have eight limbs, three hearts, and a large brain. Common octopuses are found worldwide in tropic and subtropic waters of the continental shelf. They can be found in shallow waters to 200 meters deep. They spend most of their time on the ocean floor crawling, swimming, hunting, and hiding.
We acquired Ink and Blot in November 2024 from a local fisherman who found them among his whelk traps south of Martha’s Vineyard. When we got them, they could sit on a penny—so small! In an aquarium setting, common octopuses can live to about 2 years. Ink and Blot are both female and are now considered adults. Their arm span is about 3 feet, tip to tip.
Ink
Ink has more of a dog-like personality—she’s very curious and loves to interact with her care staff. She’s quite mischievous and enjoys stealing and hiding tank cleaning tools. Her favorite food? Definitely the invasive European green crab! Her favorite enrichment toys and activities include legos, wiffle/practice golf balls, kong dog toys, and redecorating her tank by moving her rocks around.
Download our snowflake design celebrating Ink (PDF, 1 page)
Blot
Blot is our other common octopus. Blot has more of a cat-like personality—she’s quite shy and cautious. Her favorite food is also an invasive species, the Asian shore crab. Her favorite enrichment toys and activities? Watching movies, like Pixar's Finding Nemo, resting in her big cave watching the world pass her by, and sometimes squirting water at care staff. She can be such a little stinker!
Download our snowflake design celebrating Blot (PDF, 1 page)
Sir Stumpy: One Debonair Diamondback Turtle
Diamondback terrapins are the only turtles in the United States that live exclusively in brackish waters, including marshes, coastal bays, and rivers. They can be found from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Corpus Christi, Texas, including Chesapeake Bay. They get their name from the distinctive diamond-shaped markings on their shells. Diamondback terrapins eat mollusks, fish, worms, insects, and crustaceans.
Stumpy is our charismatic and adorable adult diamondback terrapin. He’s well pampered, getting Grade A seafood like herring and capelin, shrimp, and krill. Stumpy loves shrimp. He’s quite the messy eater, shredding food with his sharp claws and gulping down the shredded bits. We acquired Stumpy in 2008 when his caregivers were trying to rehome him. He’s been a visitor and staff favorite ever since!
Download our snowflake design celebrating Stumpy (PDF, 1 page)
Create Your Own Snowflake
Do you have a favorite marine animal or plant you’d like to turn into a snowflake? Download our blank template to make your own snowflake masterpiece!
