Kokkyx

Kokkyx is a fictional genus of microscopic, spherical marine organisms that appears in speculative fiction and tabletop games. The name is commonly linked to the Greek kokkos, meaning seed or berry, a reference to their compact shape and luminescent cores. In most treatments, kokkyx are described as small, globular life-forms that inhabit dark aquatic environments.

Physically, kokkyx individuals are typically 0.2 to 2 millimeters in diameter and enclosed in a transparent, silica-like shell. The interior consists of a central jelly-like mass with a lattice of light-emitting organelles. Some depictions describe a peripheral ring of photoreceptive or light-producing cells that give kokkyx a characteristic glow, often blue or emerald.

Taxonomically, kokkyx occupy a fictional position in in-universe classifications, commonly placed within a phylum such as Cryptobionta, and including several described species. Notable among these are Kokkyx lumis, known for intense bioluminescence, and Kokkyx ferrum, which is said to have a slightly metallic shell.

Life cycle and biology are typically depicted as alternating between a motile, replicating stage and a sessile, dormant form. Kokkyx can reproduce by budding or by releasing spore-like propagules that germinate under favorable conditions. They are often described as chemotrophic or mixotrophic, deriving energy from inorganic compounds and light when available.

Ecology and habitat commonly place kokkyx in deep or subterranean waters, cave systems, or hydrothermal plumes, where they form biofilms on mineral surfaces. They are frequently paired with mutualistic bacteria that aid in energy acquisition, while contributing to mineral deposition in their surroundings.

In fiction, kokkyx are used as plot devices or as a source of bioluminescent material, occasionally featuring in lore regarding life in extreme environments.