Spike babies are individual human, animal or plant meta-types born before the conventionally accepted dates for the first appearance of said meta-types. Magical theory contends that they were born during a "spike" in the ambient mana or magic levels prior to the normal levels required to support and maintain their meta-type. For example, the general return of in 2011 coincides with Unexplained Genetic Expression—when the first generally known elves and dwarves were born—and the first appearances of many para-critters.