Espirion

Basic Information

Anatomy

Espiria have two arms and two legs with large, webbed hands and feet, each with 5 digits. They have no hair on their bodies and instead have a smooth skin with scales in some places. The extent of their scales varies from one individual to another. but they are most often scaled on the top of their heads, down their backs and on the outsides of their arms and legs. Espirion scales are something of a natural armour; they are tough enough that, although they may be damage, they cannot be pierced by even a sharp knife.
They have two eyes with too sets of eyelids which they can blink separately, one clear set and one opaque set on each eye. They have slit like nostrils. They tend to have round ears flat against they're head. They have large canines and long tongues. In water, they can use their excellent sense of taste to essentially smell underwater. They can also use their sensitive skin underwater to feel even slight vibrations in the water.
Their eyes are most frequently blue or grey and rarely green or brown. Their skin and scales are typically beige or grey and very rarely faintly violet or blue. Their scales are often more strongly coloured than their skin.
The Espiria are not truly amphibious. They have pseudo-gills on their necks and upper shoulders. They can breath underwater for between 3 and 5 hours without practice but must mostly live on land. In large cities, many Espiria live their entire lives on land.
The Espiria are naturally very strong and typically have muscular physiques. They are naturally fast runners although not known for endurance.

Growth Rate & Stages

Espiria reach sexual maturity by 14 and finish growing by 18 typically. Espiria become infertile around 50 and tend to live to around 70 as long as they are in good health.

Ecology and Habitats

Espiria are adapted to humid, moist terrestrial environments. They live mostly on the coast or at river banks or by lakes. To maintain good health, Espiria must immerse themselves in water multiple times a week. This has limited their ability to settle in drier areas of M'dia. In Cyiros, their average life span is around 55 rather than the more typical 70. This is almost entirely because the climate of Cyiros is fairly dry.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Espiria are omnivorous. In coastal areas they eat a lot of fish. In land, they hunt and farm animals and crops.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Two eyes, round ears, flat against the head, two slit like nostrils, wide mouths with sharp canines and long tongues.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Espirion homeland is in North-East M'dia. There are some communities of Espiria outside M'dia but they are smaller and have been apart from the largest communities of Espirion in the ancestral homeland for hundreds of years.
The Espiria are also found across the northern coast of M'dia and have migrated to a limited extent down the east coast. There a few Espiria living on the west coast of M'dia because the climate there is very dry but there are some coastal settlements
The Espiria are well-suited to sailing and the large north-eastern cities trades with settlements across alter.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

As mentioned above, Espiria have exceptional senses of taste. They are able to use their long sensitive tongues to 'smell' underwater and on land and to detect slight vibrations in water and to a lesser extent in air around them. 
Magic is extraordinarily rare in all the sentient races of Alter. The Espiria are no exception with innate magical ability only apparent in around 1 in 100,000 individuals, many of whom never realise they have any natural ability.

Scientific Name

Marium Sapiens

Lifespan

70

Average Height

1.6m

Average Weight

70kg

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Typically beige or grey, rarely slightly violet or blue with stronger colouration on their scales.