Anduritega

Anduritega is a fictional genus of lichen-like organisms described in worldbuilding and speculative ecology. It is presented as an endemic, bioluminescent thallus that grows on rock faces in the Anduri Archipelago.

The thallus is foliose, up to 6 cm across, with a grey-green upper surface and a pale, powdery underside. It comprises a fungal partner with a green algal photobiont. Reproduction occurs via isidia and soralia, and fruiting bodies (apothecia) are rare. The organism can emit light at dusk and in wet conditions, a property described in fiction to signal ecological interactions.

It is depicted as endemic to the basaltic cliffs and shaded gorges of the Anduri Archipelago, with a preference for humid microhabitats where rock faces retain moisture. It is described as sparse but locally conspicuous after rains.

Its ecology follows a mutualistic symbiosis typical of lichens, contributing to rock weathering and soil formation. The bioluminescence is portrayed as attracting nocturnal invertebrates and aiding spore dispersal in narrative settings. In worldbuilding, it serves as an indicator of climate and microhabitat quality.

The taxon was introduced in fictional field guides; the name blends a regional toponym and a suffix suggesting grouping.

References are fictional sources used in the accompanying worldbuilding material.