oozoids

Oozoids are a fictional group of gelatinous, amorphous life forms commonly encountered in speculative biology and science fiction. Descriptions emphasize a jelly-like body that can flow and reorganize, forming pseudopod-like projections for locomotion, prey capture, and environmental interaction. They typically lack fixed organs and rely on diffuse networks to process chemical and mechanical cues.

Across different works, oozoids inhabit oceans, caves, and other moist environments, often preferring nutrient-rich zones. They may move by slow gliding or rapid, contraction-driven pulses, and some depictions grant them bioluminescence or refractive abilities that aid camouflage or signaling. Their sensory modalities and nervous system analogs are usually minimalist or distributed, reflecting their amorphous body plan.

Reproduction is usually asexual, through budding or fragmentation, yielding genetically identical offspring, though occasional genetic exchange is depicted in some settings. Development is simple, with young oozoids resembling miniature adults and gradually increasing their motility and plasticity.

Classification and history are informal, since oozoids are not part of real biological taxonomy. They are described within individual works, sometimes grouped with amorphous protists or gelatinous zooplankton in fan-made classifications. The term has circulated since the late 20th century in speculative fiction and role-playing game materials, where oozoids serve as examples of extreme plasticity in life forms.

See also: gelatinous zooplankton, amoeboid organisms, speculative biology.