Making History Together: PCB Wheel and Pier Park

 

Marine Life Mural

In 2023, the PCB Wheel partnered with Pier Park, a Simon Mall, to gift this mural to the community. The project is the first privately funded public art in the City of Panama City Beach.

Artist Kollet Hardeman included only native marine life in her design: black groupers, a bottlenose dolphin, a dwarf seahorse, a great white shark, lesser amberjacks, mahi-mahis, a Mexican four-eyed octopus, pompanos, queen angelfish, red snappers, sergeant majors, leatherback sea turtles, sheepsheads, southern stingrays and yellowfin tunas.

Check the slideshow below to see if you correctly spotted all 15 animals featured in the mural. 

this vibrant mural captures the diversity of the ocean with a Great White Shark looming over a school of Red Snapper and a pair of Mahi-Mahi and Queen Angelfish.
1 From predator to prey, this vibrant mural captures the diversity of the ocean with a Great White Shark looming over a school of Red Snapper and a pair of Mahi-Mahi and Queen Angelfish.
A photo of the Mural and Pier Park showcasing marine life such as the Mexican Four-Eyed Octopus and Southern Stingrays.
2 In this dynamic scene, the ocean mural features a Mexican Four-Eyed Octopus and a school of Southern Stingrays, bringing the undersea world to life
A photo of the Mural and Pier Park showcasing marine life such as a Dwarf Seahorse, Pompano, Sergeant Major, Bottlenose Dolphin and Leatherback Sea Turtle.
3 This section features a diverse group of marine animals, including a Leatherback Sea Turtle, Bottlenose Dolphins, Sergeant Major fish, a Pompano, and a Dwarf Seahorse.
A photo of the Mural and Pier Park showcasing marine life including sheepshead, pompanos, sergeant major, a dwarf seahorse, a great white shark and a Mexican Four-Eyed Octopus.
4 This image of the mural showcases an array of ocean creatures, including a Great White Shark, a Mexican Four-Eyed Octopus, a Dwarf Seahorse, a Sheepshead fish, Pompano, and Sergeant Majors.
A photo of the Mural and Pier Park showcasing marine life of Lesser Amberjacks, Yellowfin Tuna, Black Groupers, and Mahi-Mahi.
5 In this mural of diverse marine life, we feature two Mahi-Mahi swimming alongside a school of Lesser Amberjacks, Black Groupers, and Yellowfin Tuna.
A photo of the Mural and Pier Park showcasing marine life such as a Queen Angelfish and Red Snapper.
6 This section of the mural showcases a tropical reef scene, featuring a large Queen Angelfish and several Red Snapper, bringing the ocean to life.
Image of a sea turtle underwater.

A Closer Look: The Marine Life of the Mural

Dive into the details of the stunning marine life featured in the mural. From the majestic Mahi-Mahi to the graceful Leatherback Sea Turtle and the powerful Great White Shark, this section explores the real-life counterparts of the painted creatures. Discover more about each species, their unique characteristics, and their vital role in the ocean's ecosystem through captivating photography of them in their natural habitats.

A brown sea turtle in the ocean.

1 Leatherback Sea Turtle

The Leatherback Sea Turtle’s biology has remained unchanged for millions of years! They have existed in their current form since the dinosaur age.

A small fish with yellow and silver fish with black strips.

2 Sergeant Majors

These striped fish are nest builders. Adult males clear spaces on hard surfaces like rocks, shipwrecks, and pilings and guard the eggs after spawning.

Image of two southern stingrays in the ocean with other small fish swimming nearby.

3 Southern Stingray

 

While average adult size is much smaller, mature southern stingrays can grow to 5 feet wide. Like most whip-tailed stingrays, the southern stingray’s tail is often longer than its body’s width.

A red tinted fish swimming above the coral reef.

4 Red Snapper

 

Red snappers grow at a moderate rate and may reach 40 inches long and 50 pounds in weight. They can have a long lifespan—up to 57 years, according to reports.

A school of fish swarming in the ocean.

5 Lesser Amberjack

 

The Lesser Amberjack is known for its boomerang-shaped tail. The smallest of the Amberjacks, these predators feed on small fish, squid, and crabs.

A white and black stripped fish swimming above the sand.

6 Sheepshead

 

Sheepshead fish have strong, human-looking teeth that help them breach hard shells. Their favorite foods include plants, seaweed, and algae, which they grind with their enamel-coated teeth.

A silver and yellow fish in the ocean.

7 Pompanos

Pompanos prefer the nearshore and turbid waters found along sandy beaches, oyster bars, and over seagrass beds. These bottom-feeders inhabit warm waters worldwide. 

A silver shark with marks on the face.

8 Great White Shark

The largest of all predatory sharks, great white sharks have serrated, bladelike teeth that can reach over 6 inches in height. A female great white shark can give birth to up to 14 pups at a time!

Two silver dolphins swimming together.

9 Bottlenose Dolphins

Bottlenose dolphins have a streamlined body. Propelled by powerful flukes, the marine mammal can dive deeply and swim swiftly, reaching speeds of up to 22 miles per hour!

A large brown and black spotted fish with a big mouth.

10 Black Grouper

 

Black groupers grow up to five feet long and can weigh up to 180 pounds. They begin life as females, but some change into males as they grow, usually between two and four feet in length or when they reach age 11 or older. They can live for up to 30 years!

A large green and blue fish swimming near a boat.

11 Mahi-Mahi

Mahi-Mahis are a fast-growing species. They can grow up to 2.7 inches per week and can reach their adult size within about one year. They reproduce rapidly and are sometimes referred to as the rabbits of the sea.

A small seahorse beside coral reef in the ocean.

12 Dwarf Seahorse

Dwarf seahorses are only an inch tall and have a high, columnar coronet. Males give live birth to three to 16 fully-formed, quarter-inch-long young after a 10-day gestation period. Males carry two broods per month, and the mating season is from February to October.

a school of fish swimming in the ocean.

13 Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin tunas are among the Gulf of Mexico’s fastest swimmers! Like some shark species, yellowfin tunas must continuously swim forward to keep oxygen-rich water flowing over their gills.

image of a blue and green angelfish.

14 Queen Angelfish

Queen angelfish were named for their “crowns”—a round, blackish-blue spot on the top of their heads. They can grow as large as 18 inches long and can weigh more than three pounds.

Image of a Mexican Four-Eyed Octopus on the ocean floor.

15 Mexican Four-Eyed Octopus

The Mexican four-eyed octopus appears redder when agitated. The main difference between the common octopus and the Mexican four-eyed octopus is a dark spot located beneath each of its eyes. The spots look like eyes and are called ocelli.