limemortels

Limemortels are a fictional group of sessile marine invertebrates created for illustrative purposes in speculative biology. They are described as forming lime-encrusted colonies on carbonate substrates and possessing a modular, branching morphology reminiscent of small corals.

Morphology and structure: Individual limemortels range from about 1 to 6 cm in height, with a calcareous exoskeleton composed of microgranular calcite. The skeleton supports a lattice-like internal framework and a network of fine pore canals that draw seawater through the colony for feeding and respiration. Some lineages display surface ridges or tubercles that enhance structural rigidity. The colonies can detach and fragment, with fragments capable of regrowing into new colonies under favorable conditions.

Habitat and distribution: In the fictional account, limemortels inhabit carbonate-rich environments such as limestone caves, reef margins, and rocky shelves with high carbonate saturation. They attach to rock faces or rubble and often form dense mats, thickets, or bushy aggregations that can cover substantial substrate areas.

Ecology and life cycle: Limemortels are suspension feeders, filtering detritus and plankton from passing water. Some described species harbor symbiotic algae, which contribute to the colony’s energy budget through photosynthesis. Reproduction is typically asexual via fragmentation, with a planktonic larval stage enabling broader but limited dispersal.

Taxonomy and naming: In this imagined framework, limemortels are placed in the phylum Calcarea, class Calcifera, order Limemortales, family Limemortelidae, genus Limemortel, with species such as Limemortel calcareus and Limemortel cavernicola.