Krshovak
A species of aquatic humanoid with a distinctly alien appearance but no obvious source of genetic splicing, krshovaks are a fairly uncommon sight away from their home planet. They're adapted for a fully aquatic life, but can survive on land as well. Their large tails are easily damaged by this, however, and their uniquely shaped bodies mean that they often need custom-made clothes and gear, which makes things significantly more difficult for them, and for people interested in working with them.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Krshovaks are a species of humanoid adapted to life underwater. They are bipeds with plantigrade feet, though their legs are proportionally slightly shorter than the average human and their toes longer. Their feet are also narrow, and only count three toes in total, each with claw-like nails.
Though their arms are proportionally the same as humans, their fingers are longer, with sharp claw-like nails. Unlike the toes, however, they still count five fingers on each hand, including the thumb. Unusually, the pads on the ends of their fingers count many tiny spines, hard to see but easy to feel, which help them hold on to slippery items like fish. They have no webbing on hands or feet.
Most unusually, and certainly striking when looking at a krshovak from the front, is that their bodies are flattened the wrong way around. While human torsos are wider than they are deep, krshovak torsos are very deep but not very wide, with shoulders and hips (the widest points of the bodies) being sloping to allow for better streamlining.
Krshovaks have flat faces, which are only vaguely human-like. Their eyes are very large, with big pupils (often dilated to appear even larger). They have no external ears, and a flattened nose, leaving only two slits for nostrils, which can be opened when above water. They have gills along their necks, which can be closed when above water to keep them from drying out. Krshovaks are also entirely hairless, and instead grow unusual tendrils on their heads. These long tendrils are not prehensile, and in fact have very limited muscle in general, letting them drift freely in the water. Above water, they hang limply, although they can be puffed up slightly. They have a ragged, kelp-like shape, likely serving as camouflage underwater (visually similar to the oral arms of a jellyfish).
Finally, krshovaks have long, eel-like tails. A continuous dorsal fin runs from the top of their neck all the way across their spine and over either side of their tail, which is flattened the same way as the body is.
Krshovaks have little to no sexual dimorphism, and both sexes are naturally flat-chested. During pregnancy female krshovaks grow breasts, which slim back down again afterwards, although they rarely become fully flat again.
Color-wise, krshovaks can be a few different colors, including green and blue. They often have striped patterns, but variation exists.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Krshovaks are primarily fish eaters, and are primarily ambush hunters, although modern krshovaks also make use of farming and traps to make life easier on themselves. They're not fast, but can rely on their intelligence and natural camouflage to hide themselves.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Krshovaks are a very visually oriented species, with big eyes to make the most of limited light underwater. They have no external ears and only limited hearing. Sense of smell is also limited.
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