[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180727/dc8a929c2bcdca6de2d4083dabf823c6.png[/img][/center][hr] [color=0072bc]"The Equariel race is an amphibious gill bearing humanoid race, with large variations in correspondence with their natural environments and evolutionary conditions."[/color] [color=8dc73f]"Can you say that again in English Doctor?"[/color] [color=0072bc]"They're fish people captain. They have gills, they have fins, they have scales. They swim fast, they're good divers, and they can breath underwater. Surprisingly smart too. While they aren't exactly the most dangerous creature on that planet down there, they certainly learned how to avoid the ones that should be worried about. We discovered them quite some time ago when the TCS Imperium fell into the Planet's orbit. If you're unfamiliar with them you're more than welcome to read up on them in my observational studies. They were still in their respective stone age when we discovered them- well they discovered us. If we hadn't brought them into the space age before their time, who knows what kind of advancements they could have made on their own..."[/color] [hr] [hider=The Equariel Race] [b]Species:[/b] [color=0072bc]Equariel[/color] [b]Homeworld:[/b] [color=0072bc]Opecularis[/color] [b]Physical Description:[/b] [hider= Discussing Common Traits] [color=0072bc]The Equariel race is one of Amphibious Humanoids that have evolved to survive in a harsh water environments. There are many genetic variations of the Equariel due to the centuries of evolution that the planet has undergone through undisturbed growth likely thanks to the nature of the oceans on the planet and the lack of celestial hazards in the planet's solar system. The most common of these genetic variants will be covered in detail later in this file as these variants have defined advantages over each other to suit their intended living environment, though inevitably some details may be slightly touched upon here in this report. On to the observations of the study, there are some traits and features that are common between all of variant's apperances and are known to be the most notable key points in identifying a being of the Equariel's Genus at a glance. All variations of the Equariel are amphibious, some more equipped to leave water than others. However they all share a similar texture of skin. Immediately it appears to feel like it may be coated in a moisturizing mucus, though this is just a natural protective byproduct of their skin structure when wet. The top layers of their skin are actually made up of incredibly fine fish like scales, made to be flexible and hydrodynamic in water as they swim. While every color of these scales can differ they maintain a certain level of moisture at all times to prevent these scales from cracking and flaking in a painful manner somewhat akin to a road rash on a human. While these scales prove to be a major benefit for the Equariel in the water, it has proven to heavily limit the amount of time they may spend on dry land without some kind of method of keeping themselves moist after certain periods of time. Some variants can spend more time on land than others due to these limitations, but none can stay on land forever or they run the risk of drying themselves out which can lead to death by respiratory failure. While the need of regular moisture have proven to be a major downside to this species off-world, it is also thanks to these scales that the Equariel have their most striking feature of beauty; their color patterns. Equrial color patterns are incredibly varied, and many depend on what genetic variant they belong to. It's been speculated by specialized researchers that these patterns serve separate functions depending on the natural ecosystem of the planet that the individual belongs to, but these functions have been reasoned to range from mainly two purposes: Attracting mates, and natural Camouflage techniques. These functions will be detailed more individually in the individualized files, though to many a person their fascination with this alien race usually steams from a captivation of the beauty from these color patterns. The most radical and common of these patterns are found in the Paradise variation, aptly named for their similarity to the flashy colors of the famed Paradise Fish of East Asia. The color combinations of recorded Equariels seem nearly endless, and so their beauty is often times appreciated nearly just as much. As for their general body structure they're not too different than Humans. They have evolved from tailed fish like bodies to become more adept at traversing land through the growth of legs, and they have shown to still use these legs similarly to tails when swimming in the water almost like diving flippers. Their hands, while limited in usefulness under the sea, have proven to be quite useful for them in building tools and shelters to hide from their larger predators of the ocean. As many would expect, their hands are webbed to some extent to assist in propulsion while swimming. It is noteworthy however that their fingers only have a single joint to bend on, likely to maintain a degree of stiffness while swimming while still allowing the ability to hold objects in their palms when needed. Interestingly enough this results in noticeably shorter fingers than a human, if only by half an inch or so. Other important features common among all variations: * Large fins that protrude from the skull, ankles, back, and even lower back/waist areas likely used for high speed swimming in varying ecosystems, this may appear to be look very similar to hair in many cases but can be easily recognized from it's translucent appearance upon closer inspection. * Gills on the inner ribs near the armpit as well as on the dip in the collar bone. The gills on the rib cage noticeably seal shut reflexively upon exiting the water while the ones in the dip of the collar bone usually continue to function while on land. * Incredibly dark black eyes that typically don't have any irises on the surface but with the use of a flashlight it has been discovered that the eye is similar to the low light vision of a cat. You may even see a glint in the water at night when one stares back to you under a full moon. * Sharp teeth similar to those of ancient sharks for catching and eating other sea-born prey, these can grow back once removed and lack nerves that would trigger pain if damaged or lost. * A lack of ears or nose cartilage though there are signs of a primitive nose present in the face and sensitive eardrums in the skull. Note: They can handle room level noise as well as any other person but as their ears work better in the water than on land, they are incredibly sensitive to high pitched noises and sudden loud sounds, if at all possible please be courteous of subjects at all times. * Notably while their scales serve to protect their skin to some degree of cutting along the grain, their skin is much softer than that of a human's to a certain degree. Though this is a rather negligible observation it is a noteworthy one. For now these notes on the appearance of the Equariel race may seem tedious and obvious, it will prove to be indispensable to the future research on the Equariels as we press on into their ecosystems and evolutionary ancestry. Further more, there will be more extensive coverage on the individual purposes of the anatomy and functions of evolutionary traits in future studies.[/color] [/hider] [color=00aeef][i]Important Note - Genetic Variations:[/i][/color] [color=1a7b30]It may seem obvious to those familiar with the race, but the variations of the many kinds of Equariel have proven to be of incredible note during research. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the common traits of an Equariel's appearance before delving into the variations, as they can prove to appear dramatically different on a more in depth level due to their environmental conditions when evolving over the untouched generations through vast millenniums. These genetic variants are categorized into three general descriptions: the coral dwelling Paradise variant, the inland dwelling Fresh Water variant, and the deep ocean dwelling Deep Sea variant. Each one is specifically evolved to thrive in these particular environments, and has equally served as a natural segregation between the species as the harsher conditions make it more difficult to live in the places ill suited for those not born of a particular type. For example, as the name would suggest the Fresh Water variants dwell in deep inland rivers that only offer at most 50 feet of of water depth on average. This has lead to an evolutionary adaptation that accentuates a lifestyle living off waters close to land. This variant is more equipped to handle longer periods of time on land, but not adapted to handle the dense salt water content of the ocean. This results in a sever burning sensation in the eyes and skin of this variant when introduced to the sea. Likewise, their bone and organ density is not properly supported for the pressure of the deep trenches of the ocean, and so if they attempted to dive too deep they would likely burst under the pressure of the water. And in a similar fashion, Deep Sea variants cannot properly live in freshwater due to complex nature of their blood cells. Paradise variants are notably Euryhaline in nature, but seem to feel unbearably uncomfortable in fresh water environments. --For more information on these variations, see the study files of the corresponding names.[/color] [hider=Paradise Variation] [color=0072bc]The Paradise Variations are by far the most common of the Equariel. These are the ones you would immediately think of when someone would mention them in conversation. The color patterns of their scales are incredibly defined, and their fins are thin veil like protrusions with very little to offer in terms of mobility while swimming. These Equariel are known to make their homes in Coral Reefs that form close to small island chains where sand and rock pile up after transportation by water currents. This was likely to avoid the large leviathan scale beasts that have been known to feed on the world's animals in the more spacious deep water areas that would otherwise be too large to enter into the coral without beaching themselves in the process. These Coral reef settlements can be found all over the planet of Opecularis wherever the planet's coral grows and thrives. This suggests that at some point in the history of the Equariel the species was far more nomadic than it is in the modern era, and if the other variations are anything to go by likely also more willing to venture into unknown territories for survival. Well in any case the members of this variation are your standard run of the mill Equariel. They have long flowing veil like fins from their heads, lower backs, and ankles that are often times used to attract mates during breeding seasons as well as blend in with certain colors of coral when neccisary though the need for this was quite rare in the times of their evolution. Their scale patterns are typically strikingly vivid with various kinds of patterns meant to catch eyes, and most often than not they have light colored scales along their stomachs and necks where they lay as they sleep.[/color] [color=0072bc]Some examples of color schemes commonly found in this variation include -[/color] * [color=f7941d]oranges[/color] with [color=0054a6]Indigo[/color] * [color=ed1c24]Reds[/color] with [color=662d91]Purples[/color] * [color=f6989d]Pearly pinks[/color] * [color=ed1c24]Clashing Reds[/color] [color=0054a6]and Blues[/color] * [color=007236]Deep Greens[/color] with [color=f26522]Striking Oranges[/color] * [color=6ecff6]Pale Baby Blues[/color] * And a large amount of solid color variations that cover most of the scales in the body. [color=0072bc]They can breath in both salt water and fresh water but heavily prefer to live in salt water environments due to their long standing familiarity with it being their natural environment. It's also highly impractical for these Equariel to live in fresh water environments, as they maintain a particular taste for freshly caught fish. Notably their bodies and scales cannot handle elevations past a maximum of 1,000 meters below the surface of their sea, or very drastic damage can be caused to their bodies. Any deeper than around 1,300 meters and their body begins to shut down as internal organs begin to rupture. This is in sharp contrast to both other variants that both live regularly at entirely separate depths. [/color] [color=0072bc]It appears that their jaws are very well adapted for biting down with extreme pressure with equally sharp teeth to match that bite. Some researchers have noted that their teeth can be compared to those of sharks with how they seem to easily come out of the jaw and grow back in a matter of a few days. This is especially lucky for those tasked in the research of the species, as this makes it incredibly simple to collect teeth samples when needed for study. Caution is advised in any further dental observations due to the incident in physical observations file [/color][color=ed1c24]429[/color]. [color=0072bc]Regardless that about makes up most of the results after extended study on the Paradise variations collected so far. Any future information will be added in as more is discovered about the species in detail.[/color] [hider=Regarding the incident of File 429] [color=0072bc]Paradise Equarial have noted a particularly strong love of the taste of Tuna, and regularly asked for tuna-fish sandwiches at meal times after a brief incident of a researcher casually eating a lunch during one of the routine physicals. Reportedly there are strong behavioral changes when the scent is present in their environment similar to those of predatory species in our own oceans... Anderson's tendons are still in good enough shape for a android prosthetic but he's never been the same after the incident. Our canned supply of the fish are beginning to run low...[/color] [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Fresh Water Variation] [color=0072bc]Fresh Water Equariel are rather odd for the species. It seems during the early existence of the species there were some Equariel that took to living in the connecting fresh water rivers of the scarce amount of small continents that dot the globe of Opecularis. At first glance one may think that they were entirely separate beings than both the Abyssal and Paradise Equariels, but further research and post-mortem dissection of the species confirms that they are indeed of the same species. It's unknown if this was the first iteration of the species grown to fit it's original ecosystem or if this is the result of the sea dwelling variants of the species venturing into the inland of the world, but these Equariel are heavily adapted to live in smooth flowing rivers and lakes as opposed to deep oceans. Their scales are softer and finer than any other variant, and also come in a less extravagant variety of colors. It would appear that this variant strictly comes in shades of dark muddy greens and amber like yellows; without a doubt to serve as a sort of advanced camouflage after witnessing this variant's styles of hunting. Unlike the other Equariels in the species, Fresh Water Equariel are explicitly designed from an evolutionary standpoint to be experts at patient riverbed hunting. They prey on smaller fish and large bugs in a fashion similar to the strategy of the Flounder Fish on earth by laying on their stomachs and covering themselves in the river bank's mud until prey comes close by; then snapping them up when they get the chance to pounce on them. This results in a significantly less powerful jaw and smaller more needle like teeth. Their fins also look dramatically different, taking shape of dome like flabs that stretch down the back to their waistline without connecting to the body. It has been speculated that this is likely to mask the shape of the Equriel's body that may become visible while hunting for prey due to slight currents or other motions. These Equariel do still share the pale creme colored underbelly that other Equariel are known to have, but it rarely gets to be seen during a swim as they tend to lurk low towards the bottom of the lake beds in slow searching patterns when moving through their environment. Surprisingly, these Fresh Water variants have at times been known to leave the water to explore the forested areas around them, though they rarely have a reason to do so other than transitioning over short distances of land to get to new bodies of water. However to accommodate the need for more time to be exposed to air, this variant noticeably retains moisture far longer than other Equariels. After some investigation it was discovered this is likely thanks to these finer softer scales that may serve as a kind of absorbent sponge-like material on a near microscopic level. Thanks to this evolutionary advantage they stay wet for slightly longer periods of time than other genetic variations, even when in direct sunlight. On paper these differences may come off rather minor, but when seen in the flesh the change is dramatically different. Culturally these seem to be the most advanced of the Equariel as well, displaying a quicker understanding of tools and foliage that other Equariel in the ocean may not have the option to use or even see in most cases. They travel in tighter knit family packs, and try to avoid over eating if at all possible. Their stomachs seem to handle digesting vegetation better than others in their species, likely due to the denser plant life in their environment than the others. Likely due to the same reasons, their body seems more in tune to breath in more oxygen rich environments leading to them being the more athletic of the bunch on land. Though, that would be highly inappropriate to ask an Equariel to do physical tasks on land in the first place. You know what they say about judging a fish on it's ability to climb a tree and all. Back on topic, the body of the Fresh Water Equariel is as you may have guessed less equipped to handle the pressure of deep ocean. Their bodies reject saltwater entirely, and it causes an intensely painful burning sensation to even enter the stuff. As a result, their bodies are shockingly less bony than their relatives and do not support the intense pressure that the others have been known to withstand. Their bodies possess a lot more fat, producing a less tough muscle than their relatives and feeling softer when squeezed or prodded. This combined with their finer scales may make them feel almost leather like if touched as opposed to the spiny sensation of a fish's scales. This covers the main points of the research details of the Fresh Water Equariel. As before, when new information is presented on the subject matter more reports may be in order.[/color] [/hider] [hider=Abyssal Variation] [color=0072bc]The Abyssal Equariel Variation... What is the best way to put this? You'll definitely know them when you see them. Compared to their sibling variants, they by far are the most radical in appearance. These Equariel live in what we would call the Abyssopelagic Zone in our oceans. At around 5,000 - 6,000 ft below the ocean surface where the sunlight begins to fail to penetrate down and the water becomes perpetually dark. These Equariel were likely the result of ancient evolutionary ancestors attempting to escape predators by retreating into a place where almost nothing can survive. Down there it's eat or be eaten, and as a result all unnecessary functions are abandoned in favor of more specialized changes. Their bodies for example are mostly bone, keeping them sound under the immense pressure of the sea above them. Due to the lack of light at this depth, they lose most of their color and become pale blue and white with leathery textured scales. Their eyes also go white, rendering them near blind as they traverse the abyss. Their fins are long, spine like, and sharp at the points when touched; made no doubt to cut through the water when swimming at high speeds. If you're picturing these creatures in your head to appear something akin to a monster; you'd be right. These things are not very pleasant to look at. As you begin to observe their mouths, you'll immediately notice that their teeth are far longer than other Equariels in the species. They are about an inch in total length, and more often than not stick out of their mouths to avoid puncturing the roof of it. These teeth aren't meant to tear, they're meant to shred as they swim so that they may eat without having to stop moving for too long as they need to maintain constant movement outside of their homes so they can maintain the minimum body temperature necessary to survive. Societies for these creatures are nearly non-existent, typically only going as far as mating pairs to avoid having to share resources with others. So much so that they even lay their eggs near volcanic vents and quickly abandon their young to fend for themselves after hatching to avoid having to contend for their resources. Because of this lack of social structure, communication simply does not happen with natives of this variant. Some even lack the vocal capabilities to muster more than a sharp growl or screech. Even more fascinating, these Equariel even possess something the others notably lack: a tail like propulsion limb. This tail protrudes out of their lower back a little further than the length of their legs, and they latch their legs to the thin sides of the tail to sway through the water at high speeds. With this speed, they swoop in and attack any helpless prey that they can find. They can't afford to be picky down in those depths, they'll eat anything if it means another day of survival. Amazingly, this is an effective tactic for avoiding most predators as they rarely have to deal with leviathan sized predators at these depths. There are very few animals larger than them in that area, and the ones that can threaten them usually can't handle the attack of a mating pair. Though this tactic isn't without it's drawbacks. If you may have noticed before, it was stated that they are only [i]nearly[/i] blind. They can indeed see, but their eyes are made to take in as much light as they possibly can so that they may effectively see in the dark depths of the sea. This naturally makes them horridly light sensitive to the point where even something as dim as a candle light causes them severe pain. To accommodate for this, they make use of bio-luminescent lights along their fins in their skin to alert each other to their presence, and attract movement in some prey. These specimens are as remarkable as they are dangerous, and equally rare. At this point in time, most of these variants are deep in the seas of Opecularis and the ones that are not are likely born from recovered egg samples and birthed in controlled research environments. We have to be careful not to introduce them into fresh water environments as it results in swift death as their blood cells reject the water. Efforts are being made to breed out some of the more difficult aspects of the species as we transition them into the modern age along with the rest of the Species; but it may prove to result in an entirely [i]new[/i] variation hybrid that reflects only mere aspects of the original species. It may be unprofessional of me to think so, but I'm sure glad I'm not personally researching this variation....[/color] [color=fff200]--Caution: Approach All Deep Sea Equariel with care and only in the appropriate equipment. They can prove to be incredibly dangerous if not properly integrated into the research facility, and even then can be prone to violent instinctual compulsions. Don't be stupid. Follow Protocol.--[/color] [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Common Planetary Ecosystem] [img]https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/008/897/794/large/branislav-perkovic-13.jpg?1515977576[/img] [center][color=0072bc]Opecularis Sandbar[/color][/center] [/hider] [hider=The Growth of the Equariel Society] [hider=Society Before Discovery] [/hider] [hider=Post Discovery - Integration into a modern age] [/hider] [/hider] [hr] [center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180730/9a1ea8245582b2ef4a8db2cb44414f7c.png[/img][/center] [hider=Dr.Rhine Balik] [color=0072bc]Name: Rhine Balik, MD Age: 32 [i]Earth[/i] Years, ok? Ok. Great. Gender: Female Species: Fresh Water Equariel Apperance: Deep Amber colored scales with a soft pearly stomach and neck pattern. Due to a rare and minor mutation, there is also a royal blue stripe pattern along the Doctor's arms. However she keeps her scales covered most of the time with a professional white lab coat, and keeps her waistline covered with a soft wet suit type bottom covering developed by humankind to keep Equariels covered in a private manner akin to how humans cover their lower regions. However Equariels do not have mammary glands and only a bony chest region that serves no real function other than protecting inner organs many feel as though it's unnecessary to be shy as humans are. So the doctor often times only has her labcoat to cover her body otherwise, only standing to take it off when re-hydrating her scales. When out on missions that would otherwise require her to be away from provided re-hydration facilities for an extended period of time, she opts to wear a special body suit with material designed explicitly to trap moisture inside of the material for immensely long periods or time. Though it's rather uncomfortable to wear, and often times causes a chaffing sensation if not removed and washed on a daily basis, but will allow an Equariel to avoid drying out for at most three days. Skills: * Highly qualified in medicinal knowledge * Adept Surgeon * Skilled researcher * Capable in operating information gathering tools * Highly Skilled in Long Distance Fresh Water swimming * Swift reader * Enjoys Puzzles and critical thinking games[/color] [hider=Personal History] [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Kriev] [color=00a651]Name: Kriev'en Age: 50 Gender: Male Species: Paradise Equariel Appearance: Kriev'en is always found wearing his full water suit, never removing it in view of others with the explanation that he has a severe disfigurement after an attack from a predatory creature on his home planet while defending his reef home. He changes the suit daily, switching between the colors blue, black, and brown, with the only common design being the large bulky helmet that completes the suit. The inside of the suit is filled with water, and filters the spoken word of the Equariel inside through the helmet via speaker in the mask. Most Equariels choose to wear these helmets with their suits as it completes the full submersion effect that allows the Equariel to maintain moisture, so this isn't a very uncommon appearance for an Equariel to adopt. If what he says is true, you'd likely not want to see his true appearance either. He also carries an extendable harpoon with his other equipment, stating he never leaves it behind after the attack in his youth. He trusts hard steel more than any rifle, so if he's ever in a situation where he would lose his weapons or run out of ammo, his handy old fashioned spear will serve him well. Skills:[/color] [hider=Personal History] [/hider] [/hider]