The tropical aquarium is located in the 12th district of Paris in the Palais de la Porte Dorée. This public aquarium was created for the 1931 international colonial exhibition. - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

The aquarium was set up to present aquatic fauna from tropical countries to the public during the international colonial exhibition and new additions have constantly been made to it since. This is a speckled ray. - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

In 1985, the aquarium was renovated to take new demanding animal species, thanks to the introduction of recent technology. This is a Heckel discus. - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

Some 5,000 animals belonging to 300 species live in the aquarium. These figures vary regularly depending on how many are born and die and exchanges with other public aquariums. This is a blue crayfish. - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

Among the species you can see in the aquarium is the piranha, a freshwater fish living in the Amazon basin. It is known for its sharp teeth with which it can devour large mammals. - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

A celebrity fish since the release of the animated film Finding Nemo (2003), the clownfish generally lives in symbiosis with an anemone, which, thanks to its stinging cells, protects the clownfish from predators. - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

The aquarium has a crocodile pit 13 metres in diamètre. In it, live four Mississippi alligators, which arrived from the Pierrelatte crocodile farm (in the Gard region) in 2009 - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

The site has four species of shark, most of which come out mainly at night. So you will need to be patient if you want to catch a glimpse of them. - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

The Porte Dorée aquarium has set itself an educational mission. It offers theme-based visits for adults and children. This is an African spurred tortoise. - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée

Honeycomb stingray. The aquarium takes part in Journées de la Mer (Sea Days) which are held every year in early June. It regularly hosts temporary exhibitions devoted to the world of the sea - © Aquarium de la Porte Dorée