Human
Biology
Anatomy & Morphology
All humans are vertical bipedal tetrapods, with one set of manipulatory forelimbs at the top of the torso and a pair of hindlimbs at the bottom of the torso used for terrestrial locomotion. Humans have an internal skeleton composed of collagen and calcium phosphate. Their vascular oxygen carrier is haemoglobin, an iron-based protein that turns bright red when oxidized. Though efficient, haemoglobin is easily damaged by carbon monoxide, rendering humans one of only a handful of known sophont species susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning.
True humans lack almost all traces of their ancestral tails, and their recent ancestors' opposable digits only remain functional on the upper limbs. They are almost entirely without fur, with a thin covering of hair across most of the body and a particular concentration of it on the head.
A very confusing aspect of humans is their outrageously varied phenotypical expression. Almost every external feature of humans is variable across the species in an inane number of ways, from their hair to their epidermal shade. The evolutionary radiations of humanity make this variation even more complicated, occasionally involving major changes to a fundamental physiological feature of humanity. Baseline humans are called "statics."
Perception & Sensory Capabilities
Visual
Humans rely most on their visual sense. They are incredibly visual beings, with most of their technology and culture involving crucial optical aspects. Human visual sense is facilitated by a single pair of focal binocular eyes, which are able to pick up motion, definite shape, spatial orientation, and color.
Olfactory
The human olfactory sense is barely more than rudimentary, facilitated by a pyramidine protrusion in the approximate center of their face. This "nose" has a pair of spiracles that lead to a chemosensory chamber connected to the respiratory system.
Auditory
Humans are also quite dependent on their auditory sense, facilitated by a single pair of vaguely dish-like fleshy protrusions, one on each side of their head.
Tactile
The human tactile sense is by far their strongest, though paradoxically they do not utilize it nearly as much as the visual and auditory senses. Their entire epidermis is sensitive to tactile input, though the effect is most intense in the manipulative structures at the ends of the upper limbs. Humans can usually detect the difference of a single molecular layer between two surfaces.
Psionics
In rare cases, humans may have mild to moderate psionic abilities, though the biological and evolutionary origins of this phenomenon are still poorly understood. Most psionic humans have at least limited telepathy, which operates on a similar basis as hyperwave technology. However, a few have exhibited more potent abilities, including telekinesis and even teleportation.Ecology
Geographic Origin & Distribution
Having originated on the planet Earth several hundred thousand years ago, the invention of spaceflight enabled these instinctual wanderers to spread across the stars. Thus, it can safely be said that virtually every inhabited system in known space has at least five humans of some kind; likely many more.
Habitat & Survival Factors
The optimal survival range in a variety of factors for an unequipped human is quite wide to begin with, but given the technology and/or resources to build said technology, humans can eke out a living almost anywhere in the cosmos. Indeed, thanks to genetic engineering, there are now 12 major subspecies of human, each uniquely-suited to a specific kind of planetary environment.
Evolutionary Radiation
Thanks to extensive genetic engineering on top of natural evolution, many different derivative types of human have arisen alongside their baseline human ancestors. These forms are sorted into thirteen clades, which may have disparate origins but are defined by the traits they exhibit:
- Abyssals (adapted for long-term microgravity)
- Gnomes (long-term spacefaring)
- Halflings (post-colonization gnome descendants)
- Elves (lower gravity)
- Dwarves (higher gravity)
- Firbolgs (extreme cold)
- Orcs (extreme heat and radiation)
- Nereids (semiaquatic)
- Goliaths (enhanced strength)
- Dryads (plant endosymbiosis)
- Tieflings (extreme cosmetic modification)
- Seraphim (winged flight)
- Therians (human-animal hybrids)
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