Name Vashta Nerada
Vashta Nerada - the shadows that melt the flesh - are microscopic swarm creatures which, when present in a high enough concentration, are totally indistinguishable from shadows, and use this to their advantage in approaching and attacking prey. They are described as the "piranhas of the air", able to strip their victims to the bone in an instant in high enough densities. The Doctor said that almost every planet in the universe has some, including Earth, usually seen as the specks of dust visible in bright light. On most planets, however, Vashta Nerada exist in relatively low concentrations, and are carrion eaters. On Earth, Vashta Nerada subsist largely on roadkill, with attacks on people being comparatively rare. The Doctor does attribute the seemingly irrational fear of darkness common to many species as a perfectly rational fear of the Vashta Nerada. An unusually high concentration of Vashta Nerada had completely overrun The Library. Vashta Nerada normally live in forested areas, and reproduce by means of microscopic spores which can lay dormant in wood pulp. The books and The Library itself were constructed of wood from the Vashta Nerada's native forest feeding grounds.
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