At dusk, mature Flirtanta Flamos rip free of their chrysalises using their sharp forelimbs and drag themselves, wet and wrinkled, into the world. They cling to the chitinous structure that once housed them just long enough to dry their wings in the fading sunlight. After drying sufficiently, a Flirtanta Flamo will spread its wings and cut the cremaster of its abandoned chrysalis. By doing so, it gains enough air resistance to lift its light, fluffy body into the air. Using its intricate but uncoordinated wings, the Flirtanta Flamo ineptly steers itself toward the most favorable haven for its offspring while its strength rapidly fades. As it floats along, its glimmering abdomen begins to glow due to gas buildup within the cavity. This glow increases over a matter of mere moments until, with a sharp pop, the structure bursts and releases a shower of tiny glittering eggs that are carried off by the wind. The Flirtanta Flamo’s ruptured body plummets to the ground and grows dim as its life ebbs swiftly away.

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.