Edit: Sorry, forgot to include it:
Name: Sairhavnar(fem: Sairhavna; masc: Sairhavnr; premature: Sairhavnet)
Appearance: Sairhavnar are fairly similar in appearance to humans from the waist up, aside from the key differences, notably the lack of external ears, a rainbow of potential hair colours, and gills protruding from their necks. From the waist down, Sairhavnar appear similar to ancient tetrapods, particularly that of Tiktaalik, although the scale colours are much brighter and more varied, and their tail fin extends to where human knees would be. Further, males and females exhibit traits similar to those of humans, although they have no body hair, and the ‘hair’ on their heads are sensory organs reminiscent of whiskers, and are used to detect disturbances by potential prey.
Description: Sairhavnar are a fishlike species created in the image of the goddess Ilmeula. They exhibit traits similar to prehistoric tetrapods, having both semiretractable feathery gills and a lung which can be closed off from the oesophagus. The lobed fins from just above where hip level would be in humans are capable of movement, and, using their hands, Sairhavnar are capable of manoeuvring outside of water for extended periods of time, though they must crawl on their stomachs due to the fact that their rear fins are only capable of lifting their rear a short distance off the ground.
Among their most unique traits in terms of sentient organisms, however, is their sequential hermaphroditism. Each Sairhavnet exhibits hermaphroditism before they begin to mature. As they mature, they begin to exhibit either male or female primary and secondary sexual characteristics based on a ratio between willingness to show off on physical strength and muscle mass vs desire and competency in caring for young and lack of rigorous physical activity. Whichever value is the largest dictates the continued development of a Sairhavnet, until it becomes either a Sairhavnr or Sairhavna.
Upon reaching maturity, Sairhavnar are given a white shirt to cover their chest and abdomen. When it comes to reproduction and mating, Sairhavnar court each other chiefly through flashing bioluminescent patches on their chests in neon colours, a stark contrast to the duller bioluminescent patches used to communicate in the skin of their faces. The colours, if they shine through the shirts, signify to potential partners that they are in peak condition, and the mating process may begin.
Reproduction occurs just before the final parts of mating, and is nearly indistinguishable from the reproductive processes of amphibians. Once the brief reproduction section of the mating process is completed, the two Sairhavnar may participate in gratifying games, or not at all. Regardless, they then register their mating with an elder Sairhavnar, and move themselves and their brood into an underwater dwelling, usually an artificial cave.
Appearance: Sairhavnar are fairly similar in appearance to humans from the waist up, aside from the key differences, notably the lack of external ears, a rainbow of potential hair colours, and gills protruding from their necks. From the waist down, Sairhavnar appear similar to ancient tetrapods, particularly that of Tiktaalik, although the scale colours are much brighter and more varied, and their tail fin extends to where human knees would be. Further, males and females exhibit traits similar to those of humans, although they have no body hair, and the ‘hair’ on their heads are sensory organs reminiscent of whiskers, and are used to detect disturbances by potential prey.
Description: Sairhavnar are a fishlike species created in the image of the goddess Ilmeula. They exhibit traits similar to prehistoric tetrapods, having both semiretractable feathery gills and a lung which can be closed off from the oesophagus. The lobed fins from just above where hip level would be in humans are capable of movement, and, using their hands, Sairhavnar are capable of manoeuvring outside of water for extended periods of time, though they must crawl on their stomachs due to the fact that their rear fins are only capable of lifting their rear a short distance off the ground.
Among their most unique traits in terms of sentient organisms, however, is their sequential hermaphroditism. Each Sairhavnet exhibits hermaphroditism before they begin to mature. As they mature, they begin to exhibit either male or female primary and secondary sexual characteristics based on a ratio between willingness to show off on physical strength and muscle mass vs desire and competency in caring for young and lack of rigorous physical activity. Whichever value is the largest dictates the continued development of a Sairhavnet, until it becomes either a Sairhavnr or Sairhavna.
Upon reaching maturity, Sairhavnar are given a white shirt to cover their chest and abdomen. When it comes to reproduction and mating, Sairhavnar court each other chiefly through flashing bioluminescent patches on their chests in neon colours, a stark contrast to the duller bioluminescent patches used to communicate in the skin of their faces. The colours, if they shine through the shirts, signify to potential partners that they are in peak condition, and the mating process may begin.
Reproduction occurs just before the final parts of mating, and is nearly indistinguishable from the reproductive processes of amphibians. Once the brief reproduction section of the mating process is completed, the two Sairhavnar may participate in gratifying games, or not at all. Regardless, they then register their mating with an elder Sairhavnar, and move themselves and their brood into an underwater dwelling, usually an artificial cave.
