by Max Barry

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by The Sovereign Kingdom of Ilthenia. . 21 reads.

The Ilthenese Race


“Puero” A male Calameri

Artist Credit: Ryochang2

Faceclaim: “Anthropomorphic Namielle”

*This is nothing more than an interpretation of an image into a race of creatures,
I do not mean to claim that the image is of my creation.*

General Overview

Calameri, known in the international world as “Ilthenese" due to their country’s name, are a race of small, amphibious wyvernfolk that evolved in hot, moist coastal regions with connection to the sea. Said coastal regions make up a sizable majority of the landmass of their nation, which is situated on a landmass bordering two bodies of water, Lake Altran to the south, and the Turbinid Sea to the north. Calamari are easily identifiable by their multicolored skin, bioluminescent properties, and short, somewhat wide stature.

Calameri evolved somewhat isolated from other sapient races due to the distance their birthplace sits from other nations, as a result, Calameri are specialized to the region and climate they live in, and have a hard time adapting in other climates. It is believed that their ancient ancestors were a kind of prehistoric salamander that had bioluminescent properties.

Habitat

Calameri primarily live in hot, coastal regions, usually consisting of swamps, rainforests, and beaches that border oceans and/or lakes. Well adapted to these regions, Calameri primarily live in large, walled cities or small towns in these areas, wherein most will inhabit small housing that fits their basic needs. With the advent of new technology, Calameri are capable of living in more temperate regions, but they are less populated due to their natural adherence to warm climates.

Biology

Appearance

Calameri take appearance from both reptilians, primates, and aquatic animals such as eels. They stand normally at 162.6-170.2cm (~5’4”-5’7”), and weigh 61.2-77.1kg (~135-170lbs) on average. Calamari display multicolored skin, with red faces, primarily blue-gray bodies, a jet black backside, and multiple shades of orange, red, and purple on the interior of their “Mantles”. Calameri display minor sexual dimorphism, with females on average being taller, heavier, and possessing more vibrant colors than their male counterparts.

Calameri have 2 forelimbs and 2 backlimbs, called “Arms" and “Legs", their arms end in 4 digited “Paws' ' that are thick and large, ending in needle-like claws. Their legs end in wide, 4 toed plantigrade feet with similar claws to their paws. Being primarily bipedal, Calameri rely on their wide feet to dig into soft mud, sand, and soil, allowing them to move in their often slippery habitats. Calamari have thick, rubbery skin that allows them to navigate their environment without fear of scrapes.

Adaptations

Climate and Habitat

Calameri possess a “Mantle” on their backs, which has a similar appearance to wings. Made out of thinly stretched skin, the primary purpose of the mantle is for easy navigation underwater. Combined with webbing on their feet and paws, a long, muscular tail, and thick outreaches of skin on their calves and forearms, Calameri are capable of efficient movement through water at an average speed of 22.4kmph (~14mph). The mantle also serves as a form of temperature regulation. Calameri are cold blooded, and use their mantles to vent excess heat, in addition to warming their bodies. Calameri undergo brumation during the winter, lowering their metabolism significantly, and entering long periods of inactivity to conserve energy.

Adapted to semi permanent living underwater, Calameri possess the ability to breathe both air and water, using a combination of gills on their cheeks and throat and a pair of lungs to perform this feat. Calameri do not drink in the conventional sense, rather, they use mucus generated on their skin to absorb water, which is then absorbed into their skin throughout the course of the day. The mucus also serves as a form of sunscreen, protecting them from sunburn. Underwater, this mucus serves to protect them from scrapes as they navigate coral reefs and muddy rivers. Calamari are capable of living both in salt and fresh water, as their skin is capable of filtering salt from the water to prevent dehydration.

Calameri possess a pair of “horns” on their head, in addition to a natural helmet of hard scales known as a “crown”. Their horns, made from flexible cartilage, hold electroreceptive organs, allowing for electroreception, while their crown serves to protect their head from trauma.

Diet

Calameri are obligate carnivores, with around 90% of their diet being meat. Calameri are predators, and as such have a digestive system adapted to breaking down bones, fat, and meat. Calameri primarily hunted tough prey, such as crocodilians, crustaceans, and molluscs, and have adapted a “Beak” made from two separate, bony plates. Their beak is triangular and razor sharp, allowing the Calameri to rip through tough skin, slice meat, and crack hard shells. Calameri also possess powerful jaws, capable of delivering a bite force of 171kgsi (~377psi).

In order to better consume small prey, Calamari have developed a long, prehensile tongue with an arrow shape at the end. This tongue, often reaching lengths of 60.9cm (~2’), is often used to dig mollusks out of their shells, lap meat out of crustaceans, and wrap around small fish for swallowing whole.

Prehistoric and modern Calameri often employed hypnosis to lure and capture prey. They do this through bioluminescent cells on the interior of their mantle, in their whiskers, and on frills in the side of their head. Calameri have a fine degree of control over their bioluminescence, and are capable of freely changing their brightness and color.

Self Defense

Calameri, despite being predators themselves, are preyed on by other animals. As a result, they have developed various defenses to prevent predation.

For one, Calameri employ their bioluminescence for more than hunting, it can act as a form of intimidation, using the bright lights to appear larger, and stun their attacker with bright flashes. Calamari are also capable of voluntarily ejecting their stomach contents, drenching an attacker in pungent fluids. Calameri can employ their claws and beak to attack predators, and their thick skin serves as a form of armor against bites and scratches. Their head and skull are protected from blunt trauma by their crown, and they have the ability to regenerate lost limbs.

Calameri have an incredible sense of smell, and use it in replacement of their sight, which is moderately poor. Combined with their electroreception, they are capable of detecting an oncoming threat before they are in true danger, giving them time to act accordingly.

Communication

The colors on their skin are used as a passive form of communicating health, as a dehydrated or sick Calameri will have duller skin tones than a healthy one. Calameri use their mantles and frills to communicate their emotions, and often involuntarily emit vocalizations in reaction to surprise. Calameri possess deep black markings on their limbs and bellies. Known as their “Spiki”, its primary purpose is, along with their skin, to communicate their health, often turning a dull gray when sick. In females, their spiki is capable of turning bright white to communicate pregnancy.

In addition to visual and audial communication, Calameri use smell to a great degree. Calameri possess glands at the base of their tails that produce a thin, pungent fluid. This mixes with mucus to form a thick, sticky material that is often rubbed on their place of stay, and is used to identify each other. Calameri detect smells through their tongues, and olfactory nerves situated in and around their gills.

Mating Habits and Life Cycle

Calameri typically breed in the early spring, and reproduce via internal fertilization, wherein an egg is fertilized internally by sperm delivered by a male member of the species. From fertilization to birth, Calameri have a gestation period of around 45 days. Calameri often lay 2-4 eggs during birth, which are around the size of two human fists, and have a thick, leathery, somewhat pliable shell as opposed to a hard shell. Once laid, Calameri eggs will mature over the course of 6 months, usually hatching in the late summer. The biological sex of a Calameri upon hatching is determined by the temperature of the area they were laid in during the last month of development, where temperatures warmer than 35.5C (~96F) will yield females, while temperatures below that threshold will yield males. Magic and recent technology has allowed Calameri parents to determine the gender of their child through artificial incubation.

Upon hatching, a Calameri is almost fully independent of their parents and only needs to grow and mature. Calameri typically take 18 years to reach full sexual maturity, and are considered fully developed by 24 years. Currently Calameri have an average life expectancy of 56 years, but are capable of living for up to 103 years. Calameri display zero visual signs of aging throughout their lifespan, but age gradually, retaining their physical prime for around 30 years after reaching it, before physically degrading at a slow rate. If not killed by predators, disease, or external factors, Calameri will typically die of organ failure as a result of age.

The Sovereign Kingdom of Ilthenia

Edited:

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