Glysius

Glysius is a fictional genus of tiny freshwater crustaceans created for educational purposes. It is used in textbooks and software simulations to demonstrate the structure of a taxonomic entry and to practice species distribution modeling within an imagined ecosystem.

Origin and naming: The genus was introduced by the fictional researcher Dr. Lian Vorst in a 2042 case study from the Institute of Speculative Biology. The name Glysius is a constructed term, designed to resemble real zoological names, and is not associated with any described real species.

Species and morphology: The genus comprises three described species: Glysius aquarius, Glysius limnophilus, and Glysius sylvanus. Individuals range from 0.2 to 0.5 millimeters in length. They possess a rounded carapace, a simple thoracic appendage arrangement, and short antennae used for navigating microhabitats.

Habitat and distribution: In the fictional Aurelia region, Glysius species inhabit slow-moving freshwater streams and ponds with abundant biofilm. They tolerate a temperature range of roughly 10–22°C and prefer slightly alkaline to neutral pH.

Ecology and life history: Glysius species are primarily filter-feeders, consuming biofilm and microalgae. Reproduction in the model is parthenogenetic with occasional sexual reproduction; generation time is short, allowing rapid population modeling in classroom simulations.

Taxonomy and usage: In the construct, Glysius is placed in the family Glysiidae within the class Crustacea. The entry is used to demonstrate taxonomic hierarchy and to illustrate how biologists record morphology, ecology, and distribution for a species in a standardized format. No real-world specimens exist.