Every species, and where it grows

Extremely hardy photosynthetic organisms adapted to arid environments. They use waxy leaves for protection, can enter hibernation by sealing off atmospheric exchange, and funnel precipitation to internal storage via specialized cells.

Atmosphere

Carbon Dioxide (thin), Ammonia (thin)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Organic tubular structures resembling ancient amphora containers from Earth's Neolithic period.

Atmosphere

None

Body

Metal Rich

Star

A or B, any star in the system

System

has Earth-Like World, or Ammoniac World, or Gas Giant with water-based life, or Gas Giant with ammonia-based life, or Water Giant

Organic structures resembling sea urchin shells rather than true anemones. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and absorb energy from nearby stars.

Atmosphere

None

Body

High Metal Content, Metal Rich, Rocky, Icy

Star

O, B, A (giant)

Unicellular extremophiles capable of surviving across extreme temperatures, chemical environments, and atmospheres. They derive energy from photosynthetic, chemosynthetic, or thermosynthetic processes and often coexist with other lifeforms.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Mound-shaped organic structures with a bark-like outer layer, found on airless volcanic worlds in and around nebulae.

Atmosphere

None, or thin Carbon Dioxide / Sulphur Dioxide / Carbon dioxide-rich / Argon-rich

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content, Metal Rich, Icy, Rocky Ice

Fungal-like organic structures resembling trees with brain-shaped growths. They absorb minerals through subsurface roots and energy via their outer surfaces.

Atmosphere

None

Photosynthetic organisms adapted to extreme environments by minimizing surface area to protect internal tissues. Their outer layer consists of light-transmitting cells with hydrophobic insulation, allowing temperature stability and fluid retention. They anchor via deep root systems and may reproduce through explosive seed dispersal.

Atmosphere

Carbon Dioxide (thin), Carbon dioxide rich (thin), Ammonia (thin), Water (thin)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Extremophile organisms that form hardened shield-like structures to protect against stellar radiation. These shields are synthesized from surrounding inorganic material and help condense and channel trace atmospheric liquids, enabling survival in extremely arid environments.

Atmosphere

Carbon Dioxide (thin), Water (thin)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Temperature

at least 190 K

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Highly specialised extremophiles with protective shell-like structures that open and close depending on environmental conditions. Their inorganic-coated shells help regulate internal stability, exposing the organism only when conditions are suitable.

Atmosphere

Ammonia (thin), Nitrogen (thin), Water (thin), Carbon Dioxide (thin), Carbon dioxide rich (thin)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Clusters of crystalline shards on cold, airless worlds far from the system's main star, in systems holding a life-bearing or water world.

Atmosphere

None (thin allowed)

Body

Icy, Rocky, High Metal Content, Rocky Ice

Superconductive extremophile organisms found on extremely cold icy worlds, typically near frozen lakes. Most of the organism exists beneath the surface ice, extending into subsurface melt layers, while visible tips connect to the atmosphere to create electrical potential differences, producing bioluminescence.

Atmosphere

Helium (thin), Neon (thin), Argon (thin)

Body

Icy

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Photosynthetic colony organisms found on icy worlds. They melt surrounding ice, absorb liquid through cellular pores, and refreeze it into protective translucent exoskeletons. Colonies reproduce via fragmentation when structural pieces break off and form new growths.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Body

Icy, Rocky Ice

Gravity

up to 0.28 g

Woody shrub-like photosynthetic organisms adapted to extreme environments. They anchor into rocky terrain using deep root structures and survive strong temperature fluctuations and low-light conditions. Highly widespread across the galaxy.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Chemosynthetic and thermosynthetic extremophile organisms that grow on fumaroles and volcanic vents. They derive energy from geothermal activity and often incorporate mineral deposits from vent ejecta, giving them semi-inorganic appearances.

Body

Icy, Rocky, Rocky Ice, High Metal Content

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Substrate-dependent fungal-like organisms that grow deep within planetary crusts. They extend reproductive structures to the surface, typically in elevated terrain such as mountains, cliffs, and crater edges. Energy is derived from chemosynthetic and thermosynthetic processes within the substrate.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Body

Rocky, Icy, Rocky Ice

Gravity

up to 0.28 g

A single-species genus known from one system only, HIP 87621.

Atmosphere

Thin Carbon Dioxide (hot)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Rock-like xenobiological organisms that resemble eroded mineral formations. They grow as semi-solid exoskeletal structures emerging from rocky terrain, often mistaken for geological features. They thrive in low-atmosphere environments and exhibit slow mineral accretion growth.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content, Rocky Ice

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Highly advanced extremophile organisms that construct semi-enclosed protective bio-spheres. They regulate internal chemistry, temperature, and atmosphere by building a translucent shell around a central organism. Growth is slow and layered, resulting in very old and complex structures.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Body

Icy, Rocky Ice, Rocky, High Metal Content

Gravity

up to 0.275 g

Fungal macro-organisms that grow on airless planetary surfaces with volcanic activity. They form tubular, branching surface structures that represent only the exposed portion of a larger subsurface organism. Their morphology varies significantly based on volcanism type and planetary composition.

Atmosphere

None or thin (carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Low-lying photosynthetic organisms that form tightly bonded colonies on rocky and metallic surfaces. The organism partially embeds into subsurface rock layers for protection, exposing only photosynthetic proto-leaves. Their evolution is primitive but highly successful, making them one of the most common xenobiological genera.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Thargoid biology, sampled on foot with the genetic sampler. Never predicted: listed only when a DSS names it on the body, or once you have logged it there.

Thargoid biology, sampled on foot with the genetic sampler. Never predicted: listed only when a DSS names it on the body, or once you have logged it there.

Thargoid biology, sampled on foot with the genetic sampler. Never predicted: listed only when a DSS names it on the body, or once you have logged it there.

Highly specialised columnar biological organisms that grow in thin-atmosphere environments. They form tall vertical structures composed of layered, leaf-like modules that create internal chimneys for controlled atmospheric circulation. Some species exhibit external ring structures that indicate age progression.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Body

Rocky, High Metal Content

Temperature

160–195 K

Gravity

up to 0.15 g

Robust photosynthetic grass-like organisms forming clumped colonies across flat and gently sloped terrain. They rely on shallow but stable root systems anchored in solid ground and propagate through both tillering and spore dispersal mechanisms. Some species exhibit antifreeze cellular adaptations for survival in extreme cold environments.

Atmosphere

Thin atmosphere (required for all species)

Body

Rocky

Gravity

up to 0.275 g