Species
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Urth has a large variety of sapient species that have each evolved to a general parity in physicality, intelligence, and problem-solving skills. Many societies are made up of many species, while others are nearly exclusive to only one or several. It is not uncommon for certain species to oppress others though there is no pattern of oppression; many species are victims in some countries while being the aggressors in others.
The sapient species of Urth are:
- Aurians
- Cava
- Dwarves
- Elves
- Felines
- Humans
- Lupines
- Lutrynes
- Nekomimi
- Orcs
- Symphs
- Tieflings
- Ursines
- Vulpines
Human Group
The human group are a number of species which possess a shared origin and thus have a number of common characteristics. Species classified under this group are physically defined by their bare skin, flat faces, similar skeletal anatomy, and in some cases the ability to interbreed.
Humans
Humans are by far the most populous species on Urth, as well as the most widely distributed. Humans reside on every continent on Urth except Sempiterna and can live in almost any biome. Humans are believed to have originally evolved in Arcturia, but had spread to all continents on the planet before the advent of written history. Humans exhibit a wide variety of skin pigmentation, hair texture, hair color, eye color, and other physical features. Skin pigmentation is primarily a factor of exposure to the Sun. Humans typically live between 60 and 90 years long, and average just under six feet tall for all genders.
Elves
Elves are humanoids that are believed to share the most recent common ancestor with humans of any sapient species on Urth, and appear largely identical to humans except for their characteristic pointed ears. Elves are also taller on average than humans, and while elves across Urth exhibit large variation in lifespans, a key identifier of elves is their longer natural life span than humans. Tavari elves, on the lower end of the spectrum, tend to live an average of 100 years. On the other end of the spectrum, Banto-Shamsian elves live an average of 170 years, and Usprian elves can expect to live 200 years or more. Like humans, elves exist on all continents except for Sempiterna, and they demonstrate variety in external features like skin pigmentation or hair color. Elves are believed to have originally evolved in central or western Yasteria. There are several recognized sub-species of elves.
Azral Elves
Azral (Kæzhyn: Az'ra) elves, are native to northeast Borea and are found predominantly in Kæra'zna. Their small population is the result of the selective breeding done between Z'rei elves and an extinct elven subspecies. While many categorize them as Z'rei, they bear much more greyish skin pigmentation and hair, as well as an extended lifespan averaging around 129 years. They notably still do posses the tetrachromatic vision found in their Z'rei relatives as well as the Usprian elves.
Chibian Elves
Chibian elves are native to northeastern Gondwana, believed to have settled around the lakes Nyo and Leopold. They have pointy ears and a brownish muddy skin pigmentation alongside a tendency towards darker hair. They are noticeably shorter than most elves, averaging just below the average human, however they are notable for their rhodopsin, which grants them a considerably better level of night vision than other elves. Their lifespans average to around 90 to 95, though it is argued this is due most to societal factors rather than a natural trait.
Kromma Elves
Kromma elves, also known as Krommosantic elves are native to Alva and Western Yasteria. They bear notably shorter ears and are generally tall yet hardy, living on average 168 years, though not uncommon for some to reach into the 210s. They are generally of fair skin and generally posses a low amount of melanin in their eyes, increasing the commonality of blue, green or grey irises.
Peregrin Elves
Peregrin elves are native to Peregrinia and are similar to Kromma elves with short ears and fair skin. Peregrin elves make up the largest portion of the population in their native country. Their hair and eye color are typically black and brown, respectively, and possess more rounded facial features than other elven subspecies.
Usprian Elves
Usprian elves, native to regions of Aurora that are today part of South Staynes, Rosalica, and Valerica, are largely similar in physical features to other groups of elves, but have vastly extended lifespans. The average lifespan is around 200 with the longest recorded lifespan being with (enter name here) who lived to the age of 243 from 1775 to 2018. Gene mutations linked to DNA repair that increased resistance to aging and cancer as being responsible for Usprian elves longer lifespans. Reproduction also occurs at a remarkably slow pace with couples only able to have children every 60 to 70 years, allowing for couples to have at most two children, rarely three.
Usprian elves, along with Z'rei elves, have tetrachromatic vision which gives them a greater depth of color perception and at times allows their vision to dip into the ultraviolet range. Although they have the ability of long life, Usprian elves are also considered to be less durable physically compared to other species of Urth. Usprian elves tend to be more prone to physical injuries and at times more vulnerable to diseases and illnesses. Despite their slow reproduction and rapid population decline following the conquering of Valeria by the Kingdom of Staynes in the 13th century, Usprian elves make up a significant portion of the remaining indigenous elves on Aurora. They can be found in Rosalica and other nations.
Z'rei Elves
Z'rei elves are native to Borea and display achromatic pigmentation. Z'rei skin is typically chromatic black and their hair ranges from dirty grey to fully white. They have significant populations in Nystatiszna and Gusanaszna.
Dwarves
Dwarves are humanoids with short stature thought to be originated from central Novaris. Averaging a height of four feet, dwarves are shorter than most species on Urth due to their curved spine. Their limbs, compared to other humanoids, are shorter. The same can be observed with their fingers. Their knees and elbows more constrictive, resulting in poorly mobile elbows and bowed legs. Their heads are larger, displaying a larger and higher forehead and flatter nose bridge. Regardless of sex, facial hair grow more rapidly with some dwarven men regrowing shaved beards just under a few days. Despite their stature, dwarves are naturally stronger than their fellow humanoids. Dwarves are able to lift thrice their weight even without exercise. Along with this, dwarves are armed with incredibly long memory.
Nekomimi
Nekomimi are humanoids that feature triangular ears at the top of their heads, similar in shape and expressional ability to those of domestic cats. These are in addition to ears on the sides of their head that are identical to those of humans. They also have cat-like tails. Their cat-like features are an example of convergent evolution, as nekomimi are offshoots of a recent common ancestor with humans and not genetically related to Felines. They are believed to have originally evolved in the islands far to the east of Novaris after a period of isolation from other populations, in particular the island that is today Infinite Loop. Nekomimi populations are known to have migrated to South East Yasteria in antiquity, and today can be found in some capacity on every continent. Significant amounts of nekomimi live in Borea and western Yasteria.
Peregrin Nekomimi
Peregrin Nekomimi are a subspecies, or ethnic group, of nekomimi that inhabit Peregrinia. While it is disputed exactly what classification these nekomimi deserve, it is agreed that they represent a genetically distinct group. Marks of this genetic distinction include fair, almost pale skin, a proclivity for heterochromia, and hair that is often several shades of color from blonde to scarlet.
Orcs
Main article: Orcs
Orcs are humanoids, native to Gondwana but now found on all inhabited continents, featuring green skin, large tusks on the lower mandible, and distinct musculature and a large stature. They share a genus with tieflings, and are capable of reproducing with tieflings and elves. Orcs are, on average, the largest and most massive members of the hominid species group. They are documented in the fossil record as early as 450,000 years before the present; the fossil record indicates that they had expanded beyond Gondwana approximately 200,000 years ago. In addition to generally being larger in size than other species, Orcs are known for having a relatively lower life expectancy (approximately 70 years) due in large part to complications related to child birth. Large orc populations exist in many nations across the world, notably Tavaris.
Tieflings
Tieflings are though to have originated in central Concord and are found in north Gondwana, Borea, and western Yasteria. They possess a variety of colors for their eyes, skin and hair, mostly verging in the standard human tones but also including the red-blue spectrum. Tieflings most notable features are their horns, tails, and teeth. Tiefling horns vary in size depending on environment and typically are shaped similar to ram's horns. Their tails are dexterous and on average are able to be used as an additional manipulating limb. The teeth of tieflings are extremely sharp and indicate a predator-evolution lineage. First appearing in the fossil record around 500,000 years ago, migrations around Concord and to other continents occured as early as 350,000 and as late as 4,000 years ago. Tieflings have a shorter average lifespan than humans, though recent strides in medicine have been mitigating this.
Anthropomorphs
Besides the human group, few other intelligent species have many living contemporaries of the same evolutionary origin; their only shared feature aside from a lack of living relatives is an anthropomorphic body plan.
Ailurines
Ailurines are a species of bipedal omnivores related to the musteloid red panda. Native to northeastern Yasteria, ailurines are small with height ranging from 4 ft 6 in (137 cm) to 5 ft 2 in (158 cm.) Thick fur covered most of their bodies and is most voluminous on the tail which averages a length of 2 ft 6 in (76 cm.) Dimorphism between the sexes is minimal with both males and females possessing similar colorations, patterns, and physioligies. Ailurines possess an excellent sense of smell and decent night vision, though they are primarily diurnal. Ailurine pregnancies last 7.5 months and result in 2-4 cubs. The average lifespan is influenced by environment and lifestyle but is around 80 years old for both gender. The current record for longest-lived ailurine is a female that reached the age of 108 years, 4 months.
Ailurines first appeared in the fossil record around 525,000 years ago and were known to inhabit the lands that today comprise Asendavia and Luthaiya. While distantly related and having evolved at roughly the same time, ailurines have been archeologically and genetically proven to be distinct from ursines. Conflicts with ursines in their early histories resulted in large ailurine migrations north and south as well as east into Novaris. Current ailurine populations are significant in Novaris and northeastern Yasteria, though the species can be found in other regions of colder climate like southern Gondwana.
Aurians
Cava
Main article: Cava
Cava are a species of bipedal therapods resembling corvids native to Aurora. Evolved from an arboreal climbing species of dromaesaur, modern cava first appeared in the fossil record 2 million years ago in the Ethaln Plains and became the dominant Auroran sapients. Cava are digitigrade and tetradactyl, while their hands are ansiodactyl. Cava possess a beak quite similar to corvids as a result of their omnivorous diet. The cavan bone structure is hollow and possesses many interior struts, making them lighter but stronger than other species bones. Cavan speech organs are highly developed but their beaked anatomy prevents them from creating certain sounds. There exists little dimorphism and the species is generally considered to be visually adrogynous. The plumage of cava is entirely black except for colorful crest-feathers on the back of the head. These feathers can reflect UV light, which cava are sensitive to.
Records indicate cava had agricultural societies from 500,000 BCE up to approximately 300,000 BCE, and again around 100,000 BCE with a period of glaciation in between. Cava intermingled with elven immigrants to Aurora around 200,000 years ago but were no longer the dominant sapients in archeological record as of 50,000 BCE. Modern cava populations exist in Aurora, specifically Axdel, with smaller numbers in the southern regions of Arcturia and Yasteria, the states of the Pacific Ocean, and eastern Novaris.
Felines
Lupines
Main article: Lupines
Lupines are a species of large, bipedal canines native to Itur that share a common ancestor with wolves. One of the larger sapient species on Urth, they generally range from 5 ft 10 in (177 cm) to 7 ft 10 in (238 cm). Males average 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) and females 6 ft 3 in (190 cm). Shrinkage of stature may begin in middle age in some individuals but is usually typical in those of advanced age. Males weigh on average 205 lb (93 kg) and females 175 lb (79 kg). Like many conditions, body type and body weight are influenced by both genetics and environment and varies greatly among individuals.
There are several key differences between lupines and their wolf cousins. Lupines evolved to be plantigrade and its molars have a flatter chewing surface, allowing lupines to eat more vegetable matter. They also possess humanlike hands and a thumb as opposed to paws at the end of their arms. The brain size of a lupine is also significantly larger than a wolf’s. They retain several features of their ancestors, including slightly pointed, triangular ears, a muzzle, and a long tail that averages 1.25 feet (40 cm). Lupines can have a wide variety of fur color ranging from pure white to black, but typically are mottled white, brown, gray, and black.
Lupines will typically live between 60 and 75 years old, with the worldwide average at 68.5 years old for males and 73 years for females. Individuals will often attain ages of 80 years and above in developed nations, but it is much rarer for an individual to reach ages above 90 years old.
Itur maintains a sizeable native lupine population with large populations scattered across various continents across Urth, with populations of note located in Volkia and Tennabroch.
Lutrynes
Lutrynes are a species of anthropomorphic humanoids with many recognizable otter-like features and characteristics. Larger than their more primitive counterparts, lutrynes in general have similar fur markings, with brown, black, and white patterns being the most prominent. Their bodies consist of a larger brain capable of more precise and faster execution, when compared to their quadripedal counterpart. The lutryne body is considered rather thin and sleek, a result of their aquatic-based ancestry. Most lutrynes inhabit the region of southwest Gondwana and the southern Pacific Ocean, and other areas in proximity. Lutrynes are believed to have evolved in this region. The race is regarded as generally fast and agile in aquatic environments, with their species typically maintaining a relatively thin layer of fat and a very dense layer of fur. Outside of the water, the lutryne body underperforms, yet still retains its ability to stand upright, walk, and run, among other things. Maintaining an average height of around 5 feet, and weighing in around 120 pounds, Lutrynes are relatively small compared to humans. Lutryne body proportions are almost identical to human proportions by a scale of 3:4. The senses of the species are, for the most part, superior to humans, with the exception being hearing, which was evolutionarily less important than sight and smell.