Plants and Animals of the Undersea World

Coral-Eater:
   This kind of starfish is similar to what we know as the "Crown-of-Thorns" starfish. It loves to eat coral, and can do a lot of damage if there are too many of them in one area. The elves have to watch out that these don't damage the Palace. They are the bane of coral-shapers, who have to repair any damage they do.

Dogfish:
   A very small type of shark. They grow to about 3 feet long, although some have been seen that are up to 5 feet. Their bodies are dark gray with lighter gray or white below and white spots sprinkled along the sides. They eat fish and the smaller sea animals. They are valued by the humans in some far-off places for their oil, but are not normally hunted by the elves.

Feather Star:
   A version of the sea lily (see below) that floats around in the sea instead of being attached to the bottom. Named because it is star-shaped,and its arms look feathery.

Manatee:
   A plump, gray-black animal seen near the mainland. They have a small head with a bristly snout, flippers, and a body that tapers to a rounded, flattened tail. Adults range from 8 to 15 ft, and weigh from 440 to 1300 lbs. They are very gentle creatures, and eat water plants. Each small "tribe" of 15 to 20 manatees has a small home territory which its members rarely leave. They are hunted by coastal humans for their hides, meat, and blubber.

Sea Lily:
   An animal with a bony, disk-shaped body whose feathery arms form a cup. Its colors are very vibrant and beautiful. Underneath the body is a stalk that the creature uses to hold on to the sea bottom. They eat little bits of food that drift by in the water. They are seen mainly in the deep ocean.

Sea Otter:
   They are mammals about three or four feet long, with fluffy fur that traps the air around them to keep them warm while in the water. They eat while floating on their backs, often using a rock as a tool to crack open a tough shellfish.

Sea Spider:
   This creature looks like a spider, but it really isn't. The local ones are very small, only 2mm long, though in the deep ocean they are rumored to be much larger. They prey on soft-bodied sea creatures such as anemonies.

Sea Snake:
   A snake that lives in the sea. They're a couple feet long and are black or dark brown, sometimes with a brightly-colored belly. Their tails are shaped like paddles so that they can swim, but they still have to go to the surface to breathe. They're very poisonous, but not usually aggressive. Unlike land snakes, sea snakes give birth to live young.

Shark:
   An aggressive fish covered in sharp, pointy scales, with five gill slits behind the head and a big mouth filled with rows of teeth. When they lose a tooth in prey, another one moves forward to replace it. They are usually gray. They have very sharp senses, and are great hunters. When they quit swimming, they start to sink; they cannot float or drift in the water while motionless. Some sharks lay eggs, but most give birth to live young. The babies come out large and well-developed, and eat the same foods their parents do.

Shrimp:
   These creatures resemble small lobsters or crayfish, and are usually transparent greenish-brown with a fan-like tail. They live mostly on shallow seafloors, though some kinds can be seen swimming around in the open seas. They like to eat small sea animals and various plants. The biggest kinds grow up to 8 inches long.

Spider-crab:
   What we know as a "horseshoe crab". A creature with a brown, horseshoe-shaped shell with a spike on the end. They live on the bottom of the ocean, near the floor.

Starfish:
   A star-shaped animal with rough, spiny skin, usually but not always with five arms. They can be found in all depths of the sea, and come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are only 1 centimeter when fully grown, while other kinds grow up to 26 inches. They eat many small creatures, including oysters and coral.

Tern:
   A white, gray, and black bird with short legs and long, narrow wings. The bills and feet are brightly colored and the tails have a forked shape. Different varieties range from 8 to 20 inches long, with a 20 to 53 inch wingspan. They live along the ocean coast, eating fish and other small sea creatures. They are very long-lived for birds. They can live to be well over 20 years old, unless they are killed before that. They start to breed at 3 years old. Only one baby is born at a time.

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