Found between the mesopelagic and abyssopelagic zones, Netimos are a rare and inspiring sight. These massive leviathans are in fact filter-feeders whose large, lengthy bodies provide a surprising haven for small oceanic flora and fauna such as fish, coral, and sea plants that find purchase on their rough scales. They drift along to the pressure of ocean currents on their wide fins, slowly rotating as they move. A slow metabolism supports their intermittent diet, which ranges from plankton to small fish trapped by the gentle suction of the Netimos’ large mouths. Every few years, adult Netimos will expend precious energy to actively swim back to their spawning grounds. Once there, they lay many eggs before dispersing again to drift where the ocean takes them. During this brief mating period, it is not uncommon to hear deep, haunting vocalizations from the waters around the spawning grounds, loud enough to even reach the surface and some distance inland.

The creatures that dwell in this rather desolate world still display some diversity in appearance, eating habits, and social behavior. Whether they have fur or feathers, skin or scales, their unique genetic makeup allows for a variety of colors and markings within each species. Despite limitations in food sources, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores are all present in the food chain, and each species requires specialized care within a laboratory. Although the artificial setting of housing units and breeding pods precludes most opportunities to study true interspecific behavior, the interactions within and between species has been studied extensively in the wilderness by scientists daring enough to venture beyond the outpost’s walls.