A couple of quirky animal exhibitions, called "Colorful Silkworms" and "Deep-sea Monster," are the latest "animal" attractions in Shanghai.

Colorful silkworms now nest at the Shanghai Insect and Pet Museum. They range in colors from red and blue to yellow, green, and purple.

Unlike common white silkworms that eat mulberry leaves, the colorful insects dine on a special vegetarian sausage-shaped food. The diet contains artificial mulberry leaves, and also natural dyes in various colors.

"Thus the worms' body colors come from the color of their food," said Chen Ming, a spokeswoman for the museum.

The colorful silkworms come from the Sericulture Research Institute in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. The exhibition will last till September.

For aquarium lovers, a "deep-sea fish" exhibition is running at the Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World. It unveils the real life of more than 10 types of deep-sea fish.

Location: Shanghai Insect and Pet Museum, Pudong New Area, Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World, Putuo District

Duration: Until 31 August

(Shanghai Daily July 21, 2006)