Virpjims

Virpjims are a small, bioluminescent marine mollusk native to the shallow reef systems around the planet Kairon in the Nebula Rift. The common name derives from their luminescent display, which can appear as flickering sigils during dusk.

Individuals measure about 5 to 12 millimeters in length and carry a pearly, calcified shell with a flexible mantle. They form dense colonies on hard substrates, layering their shells and creating bio-mineral structures that can reach several centimeters high.

Virpjims are filter feeders, using an elongated siphon to draw in water and extract plankton. They possess a simple nerve net and rely on synchronized light emission to communicate and deter predators. Within colonies, they coordinate movement and spawning through light cues and chemical signals.

The species was first described in 2047 by marine biologist Lidia Soren during an expedition aboard the research vessel Osprey. Since then, virpjims have been studied for bio-optics, colony dynamics, and reef ecology, with attention to how light signaling relates to population health.

Culturally, virpjim shells are used in local crafts and ceremonial decorations because of their natural glow. Conservation concerns focus on reef degradation, sedimentation, and rising temperatures, which threaten colony density and luminescence. Some regions have protections aligned with broader reef preservation plans.