The Oregon Coast Aquarium will open a new exhibit this weekend.

“Oddwater” will take a look at some bizarre life forms in the ocean and show how their unusual adaptations help them survive. The exhibit combines marine biology and art with blown glass inside the displays and life-size murals of the ocean’s larger oddities.

The idea of “Oddwater” is to offer an experience that will educate, entertain and enlighten visitors about life forms and subaquatic landscapes most people never see, a press release said. The exhibit will demonstrate how extreme environments require specialized adaptations, resulting in strange appearances in some species. Featured species include the chambered nautilus, noted for using jet propulsion to move. Other fish include the lion fish and the bridal burrfish.

Colorful blown art glass, created by artists at The Edge Art Gallery for the exhibit, has been placed inside the tanks of the displays to complement the strange creatures of “Oddwater.”

Throughout the exhibit will be digital images and colorful murals by artist Michael Cole.

The exhibit’s interactive components include a sting-ray touch pool where visitors can touch sting rays, which are harmless when their barbs are trimmed. A crawl-through tank offers a close look at “lookdowns,” a silvery, round fish with a blunt forehead. Interactive audio stations throughout the exhibit allow visitors to hear details about “Oddwater” species.

The Bioluminescent Theater will show a film called “Secret Lights of the Sea,” about animals that make their own light, a chemical reaction called bioluminescence.

“Oddwater” replaces “Claws,” which closed Jan. 7.

The aquarium begins its summer hours, through Labor Day, on Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Other weekend activities will include live music by Gabriel Surley, broadcasts by Radio Disney and KYTE-FM radio, face painting, children’s crafts and giveaways.

The aquarium is located at 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road. For more information, those interested can visit http://www.aquarium.org. call Cindy Hanson, public relations manager (541) 867-3474, ext. 5224, or e-mail cindy.hanson@aquarium.org.