The key species that supports
almost all other ocean life is the Phaeton, a tiny, shrimp-like androgyne that
is barely visible to the naked eye. Many species of fish and marine mammals
eat primarily phaeton which float freely in the ocean's currents. Those
species are, in turn, food for carnivorous predators, such as sharks, orcas,
devil rays, and electric eels. When predators like these maul their prey, bits
fall to the sea floor and decompose, providing a rich fertilizer for the
"templa" or sea floor, one of the Ocean Biomes five layers. The
second layer is the "firdga," (pronounced frid-ja) a very
cool and dark band of stagnant water that supports moistly lampfish--species
that use special lights on their bodies to navigate and find food. The third
layer, the "fluvia," channels the strongest currents, but is too
turbulent for most animal species. Most marine animals prefer to occupy the "luffa,"
the second layer from the surface wherein phaeton are abundant and light is
able to penetrate and support plant life. The "nomar," the topmost
ocean layer, which includes the surface of the ocean biome, also supports a
few species, mostly flying-fish and damselflies, which use the surface to mate
and hatch their young.