ylimpien
Ylimpien is a fictional genus of extremophilic microalgae used in speculative biology and worldbuilding to illustrate life in icy, low-light environments. The term appears in various neologisms within created biospheres and is not part of real-world taxonomy.
Physiology: Ylimpien cells are unicellular, typically 3–8 micrometers in diameter, with a compact silica-like cell wall
Habitat and ecology: In its canonical fictional setting, ylimpien thrives in subglacial lakes and brine pockets
Taxonomy and naming: Ylimpien is placed in the Eukaryota, Chloroplastida lineage in most accounts, as a protist-like
Discovery and use: The concept originated in collaborative worldbuilding and science-fiction writing, serving as a teaching