Mystic — Mystic Aquarium opened a new 1,000-square-foot exhibit Saturday that features 20 different species of frogs ranging from the exotic Solomon Island frogs to the oversized American bullfrog.

The exhibit emphasizes the importance of protecting the habitats of threatened species of frogs and amphibians, something that has been recommended in the aquarium’s new strategic plan.

The opening along with the ongoing construction of a $5 million research facility are the initial phases of what Mystic Aquarium officials envision as a $25 million to $50 million update of the institution and its exhibits over the next decade.

Aquarium spokeswomen Dale Wolbrink said the new frog exhibit is scheduled to remain on display for about a year. The frogs and salamanders on display came from the aquarium’s collection and other accredited zoos and aquariums.

She said that past exhibits of frogs were very popular with children. About a decade ago the aquarium featured frogs and amphibians in a popular exhibit that recreated a science research station in the Louisiana bayou.

“Kids really connect with them and when they connect with them they care more about protecting the species and their environment,” she said.

Many of the enclosures that hold the frogs and amphibians have iPod touch screens which visitors can use to learn more about the species inside. There are other interactive exhibits that feature how a frog’s body works and the sounds they make.

Children can climb inside some of the exhibits and pop up on the inside of the enclosures to give them a different view and find some of the frogs that may be hiding among the natural vegetation, water and rocks.

There are also large explanatory panels with conservation messages in English and Spanish.

Wolbrink said that two of the more popular frogs may be the aptly named “bird poop frog” and the massive African bullfrog.

The tomato frog looks like a crab shell and the yellow Solomon Island leaf frog resembles a fallen autumn leaf.

One of the stranger animals on display is the Axolotl, an amphibian that resembles an eel with furry horns. It only lives in the southern edge of Mexico City in an ancient system of water channels and lakes that are being threatened.

The 25 poison dart frogs on display come in bright hues such as teal/brown, neon blue/purple and yellow on black. The dart frogs also can be seen trying to climb the side of the glass enclosure but slowly sliding back down on the moisture.

Wolbrink said the frogs have already learned it is easier to climb the corners of the enclosure and can been seen at times climbing up in a line.

As the spring school field trip season winds down at the aquarium and the summer tourist season begins, the aquarium has also introduced two harbor seals into the Arctic Coast Exhibit with the beluga whales. And after their quarantine period is up, two juvenile fur seals who were rescued and rehabilitated but deemed unreleasable because they never learned how to catch fish themselves will be put on display. The aquarium will also be open on Monday evenings in the summer.

j.wojtas@theday.com