amebat

Amebat is a fictional term used in speculative fiction and collaborative worldbuilding to describe an imagined organism that merges features of an amoeba with traits associated with bats. The concept is not part of established biology and has no standing in scientific taxonomy; instead, it appears in fan glossaries, role-playing games, and short fiction as a thought experiment about life that blurs traditional categories.

In most depictions, ame bats are small, flexible organisms with an amoeboid body that can reshape itself in response to surroundings. Some versions grant them limited flight or gliding ability through membrane-like extensions, while others keep them land-bound. They are often portrayed as nocturnal and highly adaptable, using sensory cues akin to echolocation to navigate obstacle-rich environments. Diet varies but typically includes microfauna, detritus, or bacteria, with rapid shape-changing enabling access to microhabitats.

Etymology and taxonomy: The name combines “amoeba” and “bat” as a descriptive coinage rather than a scientific term. There is no standardized definition, and different authors may emphasize different traits.

Usage and reception: In fiction and gaming, ame bats serve as flexible, boundary-crossing lifeforms that resist easy categorization. They provide material for worldbuilding about sensory ecology and morphological plasticity. As a trope, they are recognized mainly within fan communities and speculative media rather than established scientific literature.