sputabas

Sputabas are a hypothetical lineage of phototrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria described in speculative biology and science fiction settings on the ocean planet Lysara. They inhabit sunlit shallow hydrothermal fields and coastal mats, where they form iridescent biofilms on mineral surfaces.

Physiology: Individual cells are 0.5–2.5 μm, rod- to coccoid-shaped. They possess pigments similar to chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls, giving blue-green to golden hues under light. Their energy metabolism is primarily photoautotrophic, using light to drive oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds and fix CO2 via a Calvin-like cycle. Some strains can switch to chemoautotrophy in dim conditions.

Ecology: Sputabas thrive in mineral-rich gradients at shallow depths and contribute to local sulfur cycling by producing sulfate. They form dense biofilms that stabilize sediment and host secondary microbial communities. Reproduction occurs by binary fission; horizontal gene transfer via plasmids is reported in dense colonies.

Discovery and name: The name sputaba derives from the sputter-like gleam their colonies display when illuminated. The concept originated in Lysaran biosphere studies, with the first description attributed to xenobiologist Dr. Mina Keld in 2149.

Significance: In the fictional setting, sputabas are considered potential bioresources for bioremediation, biogeochemical research, and life-support systems in closed ecosystems, due to their sulfur metabolism and robust biofilm formation.

See also: extremophiles, biofilms, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.