KEY ASPECTS OF THE STORY
9- NIGHTLIFE The bioluminescent plankton casts a halo of light on the sudden movements of a predator, and the panic of its prey … In a large cave with an open sky above, a bank of silvery larvae shivers occasionally, and after a time we see the shadow of a larger fish as it darts through. In another cave, the light reveals the cadavers of turtles that got lost in the underwater labyrinths... and were unable to find their way out of the formidable network of galleries. A night-time stroll for a slate pencil urchin ends badly, as it is devoured by a clown triggerfish. 10- MANTIS SHRIMP Lying in wait at the entrance to its lair, the mantis shrimp’s faceted eyes observe a small prawn as it goes back and forth, not yet quite close enough. The mantis shrimp is reluctant to leave its burrow, but has no choice. The prawn has fled, but it spies a slow-moving mollusk, attacks, and pierces the shell with a blow from its powerful forelimbs. The mantis is a serious predator, but is itself at risk from larger creatures, and constantly works to secure its home. 11- MONSTROUS ECHINODERMS The fire urchin, with its multi-colored venom-tipped spines, is a veritable war machine that constantly stalks the reef. A mass of living arms with thousands of spines, it appears behind a small mound, as if piloted by two fragile squat shrimp. The micro-fauna parts. Sea cucumbers appear as huge sand worms, with extraordinary
shapes and colors, invading the sea bed. (Like on the planet Dune). The spectacular horned sea star with its sharp points and vibrant colors only appears dangerous. It is the march of the sea stars, with 15,000 tube feet all walking in the same direction. 12- WORMS, FREE OR IMPRISONED Fan worms allow themselves to be imprisoned in the corals’ skeleton, leaving only their colorful tentacles outside. These creatures grow in time with the coral. Once their tentacles are developed, the reef appears as if scattered with bouquets. In places, groups of worms create a beautiful bloom, which disappears if disturbed.
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