Reef Madness

Lying almost motionless at the bottom of the coral reef a Sea Cucumber expanded its great bulk then relaxed as if breathing. A fish peeked out of the Sea Cucumber’s anus and took a long and careful look at the surroundings.  Then she darted out and hid in a shadow cast by the Sea Cucumber’s body.  Her long slender, translucent body made her almost invisible.  She eased forward staying in the murky light, watching for movement.  The Pearlfish was a huntress, but she was often the hunted as well.

It was nothing more than a shadow, one tiny shadow in a kaleidoscopic world of shadows, but it moved, a vague movement among the fans and branches of the coral forest, but the Pearlfish knew what it was. She eased close, her translucent body just another shadowy shape, and hovered inches above the opening where she knew a meal was hiding. She waited motionless for a chance to strike.  She knew from experience that patience was often rewarding.

A tiny crab, no bigger than a thumbnail, hid under the arm of a coral fan.  The crab was a wily veteran of the coral reef and he knew the fish was lurking above.  He inched back just out of reach and settled down to wait for a chance to escape.

The Pearlfish, her long slender body rippling like an eel, rose slightly, just above the crab’s eye-level, and stopped, motionless and almost invisible.

The crab inched forward, watching the fish. He stopped, still under the protective arms of the coral fan, and settled down.

The Pearlfish watched, concentrating on his movements. She allowed her head to sink slightly and her tail to rise anticipating a quick strike to take the crab. Her eyes fixed on the colorful little crab.  She paid no attention to the little white things attached to his pincers.

The crab held his claws above him like a prize fighter and edged forward.  Tiny white tentacles trailed from the white things like a cheerleader’s pom-pom and waved in the ocean current. A shadow darkened the ambient light as a large fish drifted by overhead. The cautious Pearlfish moved back into the shadow cast by the Sea Cucumber until the large fish disappeared and then she resumed her position.  The crab, taking advantage of her absence, inched a little farther out exposing just enough of its body.

In a lightning quick motion the Pearlfish struck. Instantly, the crab, Lybia Tessellata, jabbed the Pearlfish in the face, like a pugilist, with his pom-pom of Sea Anemones, thus earning his nickname, The Boxer Crab. The poisonous Sea Anemone wrapped its deadly tentacles about the head of the Pearlfish and stung it repeatedly. Within seconds the Pearlfish quivered and died and sank to the ocean floor where the little Boxer Crab and his friend the Sea Anemone feasted on her body.