Nathanites: Physiology, Reproduction, Development
Nathanite Appearance and Physiology
Typical height: 170-200 centimetres
Typical weight: 46-92 kilograms
Nathanites are an all-male species of amphibioid homonids. They are of slender build, with short torsos and long limbs.
Their facial features are different from humans in many ways. Their faces fall low on the head. They have very large eyes, small noses, and full lips. They have deeply sunken cheeks and pronounced cheekbones. Two ribbed ridges rise outward from the tops of their eyes. These ridges continue past the hairline and flare out into the ridges of their ears, which strongly resemble Vorta ears. The lower edges of the ears bear vestiges of their in-ovum gills. Enlarged blood vessels are found near the base of the ears, which aid in respiration via the gills in ovum.
Eyes are humanoid. The hair of the head grows straight or slightly wavy. Nathanites have thin eyebrows. Nathanites have two pigments, cyanin and indein. The result is that Nathanite skin, hair, and eyes come in a wide range of hues, from green through to purple. Nathanites do not grow facial hair. Their only body hair is a usually large mass of pubic hair.
Internal physiology is similar to humans, though there are differences in the circulatory system owing to a three-chambered heart. Testes, though about twice as large as in humans, do not descend; there is no scrotum.
Nathanite Reproduction
Nathanites reproduce asexually. Though Nathanites are all male, they consist of three subsexes, known as the Hlys, the Hrywa, and the Liaru. All three subsexes are necessary for reproduction. Conception occurs through the external admixture of semen from each of the three subsexes. Enzymes from each of the three semen types catalyse in the presence of oxygen to form a flexible, translucent shell around the admixture. The result is an irregularly shaped egg about twice the size of a Terran chicken egg. (Nathanite ejaculate is much more copious than in humans.)
Within the shell, cells resembling spermatozoa in form but not in function stir the contents of the egg until the genetic material within coalesces to form a zygote. Maturation is rapid; within three weeks, eyes, gills, tail, and rudimentary limbs are present. Hatching occurs after about 13 weeks.
Nathanite Development
The newly hatched young are somewhat independent, like Terran ducks, and are able to crawl within a few hours. Like tadpoles, they have a long, broad tail that provides internal nourishment, and gradually shrinks to a nub within two months, by which point he can stand completely upright. (A common Nathanite expression is, "He still has his tail," meaning he is inexperienced or new to a task.) Their gills shrink at about the same rate as the tail, though vestigial traces are evident in adults.
Nathanite physical and psychological development are very rapid. They begin puberty at age 8, and achieve full height by age 12. However, it is very uncommon for a sexually mature Nathanite to seek to reproduce before age 16.
Like Terran turtles, Nathanites do not show physical signs of aging, like greying hair or wrinkles, later in life. Nathanites are able to reproduce throughout their lives. Nathanites have an average lifespan of 175 years.
Typical height: 170-200 centimetres
Typical weight: 46-92 kilograms
Nathanites are an all-male species of amphibioid homonids. They are of slender build, with short torsos and long limbs.
Their facial features are different from humans in many ways. Their faces fall low on the head. They have very large eyes, small noses, and full lips. They have deeply sunken cheeks and pronounced cheekbones. Two ribbed ridges rise outward from the tops of their eyes. These ridges continue past the hairline and flare out into the ridges of their ears, which strongly resemble Vorta ears. The lower edges of the ears bear vestiges of their in-ovum gills. Enlarged blood vessels are found near the base of the ears, which aid in respiration via the gills in ovum.
Eyes are humanoid. The hair of the head grows straight or slightly wavy. Nathanites have thin eyebrows. Nathanites have two pigments, cyanin and indein. The result is that Nathanite skin, hair, and eyes come in a wide range of hues, from green through to purple. Nathanites do not grow facial hair. Their only body hair is a usually large mass of pubic hair.
Internal physiology is similar to humans, though there are differences in the circulatory system owing to a three-chambered heart. Testes, though about twice as large as in humans, do not descend; there is no scrotum.
Nathanite Reproduction
Nathanites reproduce asexually. Though Nathanites are all male, they consist of three subsexes, known as the Hlys, the Hrywa, and the Liaru. All three subsexes are necessary for reproduction. Conception occurs through the external admixture of semen from each of the three subsexes. Enzymes from each of the three semen types catalyse in the presence of oxygen to form a flexible, translucent shell around the admixture. The result is an irregularly shaped egg about twice the size of a Terran chicken egg. (Nathanite ejaculate is much more copious than in humans.)
Within the shell, cells resembling spermatozoa in form but not in function stir the contents of the egg until the genetic material within coalesces to form a zygote. Maturation is rapid; within three weeks, eyes, gills, tail, and rudimentary limbs are present. Hatching occurs after about 13 weeks.
Nathanite Development
The newly hatched young are somewhat independent, like Terran ducks, and are able to crawl within a few hours. Like tadpoles, they have a long, broad tail that provides internal nourishment, and gradually shrinks to a nub within two months, by which point he can stand completely upright. (A common Nathanite expression is, "He still has his tail," meaning he is inexperienced or new to a task.) Their gills shrink at about the same rate as the tail, though vestigial traces are evident in adults.
Nathanite physical and psychological development are very rapid. They begin puberty at age 8, and achieve full height by age 12. However, it is very uncommon for a sexually mature Nathanite to seek to reproduce before age 16.
Like Terran turtles, Nathanites do not show physical signs of aging, like greying hair or wrinkles, later in life. Nathanites are able to reproduce throughout their lives. Nathanites have an average lifespan of 175 years.
