Respiraia
Respiraia is a fictional genus of air-breathing, plant-like organisms used in speculative biology and science fiction to explore how life might adapt to diverse atmospheric conditions. In most depictions, Respiraia represents a photosynthetic or mixed-mode respiratory organism that relies on environmental gas exchange to sustain metabolism. It is not known to exist in real-world biology.
The name combines Latin respirare, to breathe, with the -ia suffix common in taxonomic naming.
Species in the Respiraia concept are typically described as flattened, frond-like bodies with an extensive pore
In fiction, Respiraia species inhabit closed ecological spaces such as biodomes, fog-rich highlands, or underwater colonies
As a construct, Respiraia serves as a tool to discuss biosignatures, planetary habitability, and the limits