Silversides swirl through mangroves like a river in the sea.
They are carnivorous fish with silvery band along each side of their bodies. The
dense forest of roots offers welcome shelter for the finger-size fish, which
form large schools to try to confuse predators. Mangroves enhance reefs by
providing a nursery area for vulnerable creatures and by trapping sediment that
can smother coral. They also store carbon that might otherwise contribute to
global warming.
(Adapted from Encarta encyclopedia and National Geographic magazine)
