Detratis

Detratis is a term used in speculative biology and fiction to denote a hypothetical genus of detritivorous benthic invertebrates. It is not recognized as a real taxon in standard zoological classification.

In imagined classifications, Detratis consists of small, elongated organisms generally 0.5 to 3 millimeters long. Descriptions commonly depict a soft cuticle, a segmented body, and simple paired appendages suited to crawling within soft sediments. Some reconstructions show modest segmentation and sensory structures along the body margins. Life history is often described as direct development from embryo to juvenile to adult without a larval stage.

Ecology and habitat: Detratis is described as inhabiting quiet freshwater and brackish sediments where detritus is abundant. Detritivorous in nature, they feed on decaying plant material, microbial films, and fine organic particles, contributing to sediment turnover and nutrient cycling. In many scenarios, they form microhabitats that support microbial and invertebrate communities.

Cultural and scholarly usage: The term has appeared in speculative biology texts and in science fiction communities as a vehicle to illustrate detritus-based energy flow and the potential roles of tiny benthic organisms in ecosystems. It is commonly used as an illustrative example rather than a description of a real organism.

Etymology: The name derives from detritus, reflecting the proposed detritivorous lifestyle; the suffix -atis is a conventional fictional taxon ending in some works.

See also: detritivore, detritus, hypothetical taxon in speculative biology.