Slurms

Slurms are creatures described in speculative fiction and role-playing games as deep-sea, gelatinous animals noted for their luminescent signaling and mucus-based locomotion. The term Slurm is used to refer to the slime produced by these organisms, which also serves as a defensive cloak in many depictions. Slurms are not real-world species but recurring elements in fictional ecologies.

Physical description: Slurms typically have a translucent, bell-shaped body reaching up to about 0.5 meters in diameter, from which several tapering tentacles extend. The outer surface secretes a viscid mucus that can thicken into a spreading cloud, helping to deter predators or entangle small prey. Bioluminescent organs along the margin produce patterned flashes for communication and mating.

Habitat and diet: In most settings, Slurms inhabit hydrothermal vent fields, abyssal plains, or artificial deep-sea environments created for games, often at depths of 1,000 to 4,000 meters. They feed on plankton, small crustaceans, and detritus, using their tentacles to sweep food toward a central mouth. They rely on ambient currents for movement and occasionally exhibit sluggish, undulating glides.

Behavior and reproduction: Slurms are generally solitary but may form loose aggregations during breeding. Reproduction is typically depicted as broadcast spawning or surface diffusion of gametes, with chemical and light signals guiding mate choice. Predation pressure from larger cephalopods or fish is a common driver of their thick mucus and rapid color changes.

Origin and usage: The name derives from their slurping-like movement and slime. Slurms serve as a dramatic device to explore adaptation to extreme habitats in fiction.