Sydney Aquarium is celebrating its 20th birthday in July 2008 by giving every child visitor a free Nemo, seal or shark face mask* throughout the school holidays.

And as a special gift to parents, the Aquarium is offering 30 per cent off adult and child admission prices or 40 per cent off combined entry when you also buy a ticket to Sydney Wildlife World next door.

To mark its birthday, the Aquarium is welcoming some unusual new residents - five baby Eastern Water Dragons, two baby File Snakes and a big squid - which will create new displays.

Born around six months ago, the Eastern Water Dragons are unusual native reptiles as their gender is not apparent until they are 12 months old, when the male water dragons develop a crimson throat and underbelly.

Water dragons live around waterways and can also be found in Australian backyards. Despite their fierce name, they make for interesting domestic pets if a license is obtained.

Their new File Snake companions also hatched around six months ago and are set to grow to about one and a half metres. The non-venomous reptiles live on small fish and usually dwell in freshwater billabongs and waterways in the Northern Territory.

Meanwhile the Aquarium's Southern Oceans exhibit has welcomed a new big squid known as a Southern Calamari. The 45cm long squid enjoys a diet of fish, prawns and other crustations but only lives for a maximum of one year.

Sydney Aquarium is proud to build on its existing exhibits with the new additions. Everyone loves to see a baby animal and what better time to welcome them than in July when we celebrate our 20th birthday.

The award-winning Sydney Aquarium is the most popular paid tourist attraction in Sydney, drawing more than 1.2 million visitors each year.

* Masks are available from July 7 until stocks run out. Visitors can also enjoy 30% off adult and child admission to Sydney Aquarium throughout the school holidays or 40% off combined entry to both Sydney Aquarium & Sydney Wildlife World. For more information visit www.sydneyaquarium.com.au

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