Invertoria

Invertoria is a fictional taxon created for speculative biology and worldbuilding narratives. The term is used to describe a group of aquatic invertebrates noted in in-world lore for an unusual developmental trait described as an inversion during metamorphosis. The name blends the idea of inversion with a taxonomic suffix, following conventions often seen in fictional biological systems.

In the imagined taxonomy, invertoria are placed within a fictional phylum Invertoriata and described as having several representative species, such as Invertoria lumina and Invertoria striata. Members are typically depicted as gelatinous or semi-rigid organisms that vary in size from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. A defining feature is a reversible internal arrangement: during a specific life stage, internal organs reorient themselves relative to the animal’s external shell or body plan, a process interpreted in-universe as an adaptation to feeding or predator avoidance. Some depictions also mention a calcareous skeleton in a minority of species, though many illustrations emphasize soft-bodied forms.

Habitat and ecology are described as freshwater environments, including shaded streams, cave pools, and mineral-rich springs. Inhabitants are often portrayed as ambush feeders or scavengers that anchor themselves to surfaces before activating the inversion process to access prey or detritus. Reproduction is commonly depicted as a combination of asexual budding and brief planktonic larval stages, with life cycles tuned to fluctuating water conditions.

In fiction, invertoria are sometimes used as symbols of reversal or symmetry-breaking, appearing in worldbuilding compendia, novels, and role‑playing game lore. See also speculative biology, worldbuilding, and taxonomic naming practices.