Safe on an island haven where there are no predators large enough to threaten her. As she wakes, she launches herself off the shelf into the cool sea, where she glides effortlessly. Propelling herself with four large flippers that move like underwater wings to help her fly through the water. As she pushes down the front pair, the back ones are raised up by the water, then as she pushes the back pair down, the front ones rise. Here the sea is perhaps richer and more varied than it has ever been in Earth's history.
Sponges sprout out of the coral, forming large, plate-like structures or tall, elegant baskets.
Among these crawl shrimps, crabs , snails and predatory worms. And above them swim numerous species of fish, rays, squid and sharks such as the Hybodus . Ammonites feed near the surface. Disappearing into the blue gloom, hundreds of their coiled shapes float suspended in the water, occasionally bobbing after prey with their tentacles. Soon the sea is full of hundreds and hundreds of Ophthalmosaurus , spreading out across the shallow coral.