alaliik

Alaliik is a fictional bioluminescent cephalopod-like species described in worldbuilding and speculative fiction. It inhabits the deep waters of the Nalor Ocean, a setting used in various novels and role-playing campaigns.

Adult alaliik reach 0.7–1.0 meters in length. The body is translucent with a bluish hue and a corona of photic organs around the mantle that can shift color. They have eight arms and two longer feeding tentacles.

They are typically found at depths of 200–600 meters, associated with cold currents and rock or coral seamounts. Alaliik feed on small fish and crustaceans and use bioluminescent signals to coordinate movements and courtship.

Behavior is mostly nocturnal; individuals are usually solitary, though pairs may form during mating. Reproduction is external, with females releasing gelatinous egg masses attached to rocky surfaces. Development is rapid, with hatchlings reaching juvenile size within months.

Taxonomy within worldbuilding terms places alaliik in Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Mollusca, Class Cephalopoda, Order Teuthida, Family Alaliidae, Genus Alalius, Species alaliik (binomial Alalius alaliik).

In Nalor folklore, alaliik is regarded as a symbol of guidance and resilience, and its glowing mantle is a common motif in art and ritual. The fiction commonly treats overexploitation as a threat to its populations, underscoring themes of conservation within the narrative.