Airmantleds

Airmantleds are a theoretical concept in speculative biology and science fiction. They represent a hypothetical organism adapted to an atmospheric lifestyle, dwelling within the upper layers of a planet's atmosphere rather than on its surface or in its oceans. The term itself suggests a creature that is "mantled" by or lives within the air.

The environmental conditions of the upper atmosphere, such as low pressure, extreme temperatures, and high radiation, would necessitate unique physiological and structural adaptations for such an organism. It is speculated that airmantleds might possess buoyant gas sacs or lightweight, porous bodies to maintain altitude. Their metabolism could be adapted to utilize atmospheric gases or chemical compounds for energy, or they might be filter-feeders, capturing microscopic particles or other airborne life.

The concept of airmantleds often explores the possibility of entire ecosystems existing in these aerial realms, separate from terrestrial or aquatic life. These hypothetical creatures are not based on known scientific evidence of life forms but rather on extrapolations of biological principles to extreme environments. They serve as a narrative device in fiction to explore alien worlds and the potential diversity of life beyond Earth. The feasibility of such life depends on the specific atmospheric composition and conditions of a given celestial body, with gas giants like Jupiter or Saturn sometimes cited as potential, albeit extreme, environments where such life might theoretically arise.