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Biology of The Rulzea
Rulzea
(Rulz)
A Female Northern Burrower of The UCBR Armed Forces
Stands at 183 CM
Home Planet | Atis |
Endangerment | Least Concern |
Population | Roughly 16,000,000,000 |
Rulzea
Rulzea are a species of highly intelligent leporids. They consist of several members of the Genus Rulz, which are characterized by their bipedal gait, long digitigrade legs, high manual dexterity, proficiency in tool use and underground excavation, and their complex language system. They were the dominant species of the planet Atis before its destruction, and are now the dominant species on Homeworld, Bunt, and Junandee. They are well known for their massive underground complexes and complex tight knit communities, which define most of their biological processes.
Rulzean populations have dotted the planet for well over 500,000 years, due to the lack of any natural major water barriers to prevent them from spreading early in their history. The modern tendencies of the various Rulzean species are thought to have began roughly 250,000 years ago, with the first evidences of unified burrow communities and shared gathered vegetation. Though their adaptive nature allowed them to expand over the entirety of the planet rather early in their existence, their tendency to build exclusively underground and their entirely herbivorous diet led to minimal impact on their adopted environment. Rather, most Rulzea adapted rather quickly to better suit their environments, leading to the various different species that make up the race as a whole.
Rulzea use a unique combination of both verbal and body cues for their language, as well as a complex series of patterns capable of being shown using bioluminescence. Like most life from the planet of Atis, Rulzea are fully capable of controlling the color and brightness of the glow on their body, and often use it to highlight emotion, tone, and quality of health through their communication.
Rulzea have a highly complex social system, consisting of many familial units made up of parents and children, who gather together as a large community, typically in a single underground burrow, to co-operate. These communities typically have a very tight bond with one another, almost as tight as those between the familial units themselves. These tight knit communities have led to a large number of cultural norms and practices relating to protecting one's burrow as well as themselves. Familial units themselves are typically polygynandrous, without major prevalence of the nuclear style family seen in human society.
Though most of Rulzean history has been categorized by smaller burrows striving to gather enough vegetation to survive from day to day, most cultures transitioned to an agricultural model following the mutual domestication of the Sarates. Using their new insectoid partners, for the first time on Atis regular agriculture was possible, massively inflating the national population. The race rather quickly developed technological advancement, a primarily peaceful nature making warfare more small in scale for a majority of their history. The eventual arrival of electricity, computing, and wireless communication brought the planet into a somewhat steady international alliance, which stayed solid into the space age.
Approximately four thousand years ago the Rulzea reached the level of technological advancement to develop Faster than Light travel, and quickly colonized their neighboring systems. These colonies were organized under this civilization's various governments, and all looked well for the fledgeling colonies. However, this civilization was destroyed in the Great Invasion of Atis, leading to the great diaspora of the Rulzean peoples from their native homelands, and the fall of the previous colonies from full fledged nations to pre-industrial ruins.
Despite four thousand years of development on the colonies, and three hundred years on the chlorinated planet of Homeworld, the species has remained primarily identical to their pre collapse counterparts in terms of subspecies and development. Some Rulzepologists argue that the Rulzea native to the planet of Junandee, dubbed 'Duners' by the scientific community, qualify as a new species in the Rulzean family, though this decision is controversial, and will not be discussed in this article. Read 'Planet of Junandee'[Unfinished] for further information on Duners and their biological adaptations.
Etymology and Definition
In common usage the name Rulzea can refer to any member of the Rulz Genus. Though genetically and physiologically these races are different enough to be considered separate species, due to their ability to interbreed with minimal physical or genetic issues, they are lumped into a single unified race. Most Rulzepologists argue that the Rulzea have always been genetically diverse, and that the many separate regions of the planet have been home to their peoples for hundreds of thousands of years. Some Rulzepologists argue that the various different forms of Rulzea are a recent divergence however, and that before the apocalypse, the Rulzea were a more genetically unified race.
The origin of the term 'Rulzea' is currently unknown, but Rulzepologists believe it to be an archaic term stemming back to the ancient origin of their race in the equatorial belt of their planet. Before the lingual unification of their planet, the various nations typically shared this term, or similar variations of it, leading most to recognize it as an ancient term, or one that was shared between the prehistoric communities of the planet. Some hypotheses to the meaning include, but are not limited to: 'People of the River', 'The People', 'Long Ears', or quite simply 'us'. No matter the origin of the term, it has come to represent their race across all lines.
Evolution
The Rulz Genome are the last living members of the Ral'keen (Long Ears) Order, and are believed to have diverged from their other relatives approximately 9.8 million years ago. The Ral'keen order had taken up the niche of large but mobile scavenging herbivores, preferring to flee and avoid possible predators rather than fight back. It is believed that the common ancestor of all Rulzea survived due to their burrowing tendencies, which allowed them to survive a currently unknown natural disaster which lead to a mass extinction event during the time. (See: The Native Biology of Atis[NOT YET PUBLISHED])
The relatively well preserved fossil lineage of the Ral'keen Order have allowed Rulzepologists to determine that due to their lack of natural predators, the various precursors to the Rulzea were gradually able to increase in size. This increase allowed for far more complex burrow systems, and a more stable method of preserving food. With a stable diet obtained, the development of more complex cranial structures followed, which saw the transference from animalistic survivalism to primitive culture building.
Using this increased intelligence and the tool use that soon came with it, Rulzea spread across a majority of their planet's surface, eventually regularly inhabiting all ecosystems other than the poles. From this point the precursor race slowly diverged into several subspecies that eventually made up the various native cultures across the planet.
The first cranial structures determined to be capable of sentient thought have been found in the equatorial mesa region, leading most Rulzepologists to agree that the equator is the evolutionary home of their race. Other factors to support this were the easily accessible large caves in the region, as well as the many rooty tubers that would have served as an adequate food source.
According to genetic and skeletal research, Rulzepologists have determined that some form of genetic divergence has existed in the various regions of Atis for well over one million years, though it is disputed if these were diverse enough to be compared to the modern Rulzean species, or simply a somewhat diverse singular race. Nonetheless, these early ancestors quickly took a hold of their new environments, their biological tendency to settle making it incredibly to change their agriculture and lifestyle to fit their new homes.
Habitat and Population
Early Rulzea settlements were incredibly dependent on either access to deep caves, or access to nearby freshwater water sources, like rivers. Due to the regionally dependent nature of Atis' rain, the growth of food either requires access to an aquifer of the complex underground water systems on Atis, or a regular source of surface level water. The development of tools, and most importantly, the primitive Pickaxe, allowed Rulzea to shift away from this dependence on natural structures, giving them the capability to dig downwards to the many aquifers on the planet, and set up colonies in most regions of the planet.
The ability of the Rulzean body to quickly adapt to fit and hide in a new environment is a constant theme of their species, with most members able to 'feel the strength of the ground' off digging alone, basing their burrow structures on what would be the most suitable for the ground composition. As such, deep Rulzea burrows have popped up in even the most extreme biomes of the planet, and often can survive there for extended periods of time.
It is believed that before the destruction of the precursor Rulzean civilizations, the planet Atis had roughly 7 billion Rulzea. It is unknown if any of these 7 billion survived the great atomic cataclysm, though the entirety of the modern population is made up of survivors from the two colonies of the planet, and of the descendants of the great colony ship known as the Cirtae. If there are any survivors left on their homeworld, their numbers and cultures are unknown, due to the shroud of metalic debris from the ruined Project Dawn[ENTREE INCOMPLETE] preventing regular entry and return from the planet's surface .
Biology
In most external aspects Rulzea are analogous to Earth mammalians, especially members of Leporidae.Members of the race are adapted both for rapid movement and for burrowing, with long energetic legs paired with shorter, but more dexterous front limbs. Their small feet have five toes each, while their hands consist of six fingers, one of which being a single opposable thumb. Rulzea have elongated mobile ears, which can both be raised for more precise hearing, or left to hang. When the ears rest on a Rulzea, their tips can rest below the shoulder line, though are occasionally shorter depending on species. Their eyes are large, and they have incredibly effective low light vision, primarily due to their subterranean, and historically crepuscular living standards. Uniquely even on their planet, the Rulzea posses two hearts in their cardiovascular system, which are located roughly where the kidneys are in a human, though they are surrounded by the ribcage in Rulzea.
Rulzea range in size from the Northern Burrower, with an average height of 180 to 190 centimetres (5'10-6'3 feet), and an average weight of around 80 kilograms (176 Lbs), to the Seltran (Also called the Plainwalkers), with an average height of 260 to 270 centimetres (8'6-8'10 Feet), and an average weight of 130 kilograms (286 Lbs). Females and males are both of a similar height and stature, with a notable lack of dimorphism in most non-genital structures.
Rulzea are near-exclusively herbivorous, feeding primarily on root tubers and leafy plants, though they also often consume fruits, seeds, and many herbs. They lack canines of any form, though they do posses molars and a digestive system required for consuming large amounts of raw plants, even if they cook their food in the modern era.
They are capable of rapid adaptability due to their permanent burrow structures, giving them shelter and security even in environments they are not typically accustomed to. The historical structure of these burrows varied depending both on species and ground composition, but their existence is common among all species.
Rulzea posses rudimentary night vision in the form of primitive infrared sight. When in very dark situations, using either natural infrared light or reflections from their natural bioluminescence, Rulzea are capable of detecting infrared reflections off of objects and creatures alike. This gives them some amount of sight even in totally black environments, even if they operate better in the light.
The Rulzean brain structure is unique among members of the race, with all member species possessing high brain to body ratio, developed structures devoted to understanding the world around them, and a large number of neurons and connections between them. The mental capacity of Rulzea is unique among their race, with most other creatures on the planet either living grazing type lifestyles, or eusocial colonistic animals. It is believed this brain power was evolved to better create their complex burrow systems, which were what allowed them to expand over the surface of the planet.
Rulzea have a layer of dense fur across their entire body. This fur typically is either tan or grey, though occasionally white, light red, and black colorations can arise. Their fur is typically either uniform across their body, or a lighter shade on the front half of their body, but spots can also arise rarely. These hairs do not posses major sweat glands, except for on their long ears, which take on the main role of cooling down the body. The long endurance based activities that are required for their homebuilding is thought to be the origin for this adaptation.
Biological Chemistry
Chemically the Rulzea, and most Atis creatures, are separate from Earth counterparts. The chemical and structural nature of these parts display an evolutionary process majorly divergent from that of Earth, most often due to the planet's alternate chemical, gravitational, and ecological structure. Though the planet of Atis has since ceased to be habitable, the unique adaptations to their biochemistry has suited them well in the space age.
Most creatures from Atis, and in turn the Rulzea, posses a dual method of Oxygen Transportation. Rulzean blood cells utelize a form of cooperative bonding form of hemerythrin as their transport method. This chemical is less effective than hemoglobin at its job, though it has other benefits including the promotion of cell growth unlike hemoglobin, as well as a total immunity to carbon monoxide poisoning in their structures.
Rulzean blood also possesses free floating chlorocruorin molecules in the plasma of its blood. These molecules have the benefit of mitigating the more ineffective nature of hemerythrin, at the expense of making the blood marginally more difficult to produce, with both cells and plasma requiring a large amount of complex chemical structures. Because of this, blood loss can both be far more devastating for Atis creatures, as well as requiring more time to recover from. Rulzean blood is faintly green when deoxygenated, and a deep purple when oxygenated.
It is believed that this form of blood composition evolved early in Atis' history, following a period in which many naturally flammable compounds in the planet's crust combusted by several means, leading to a rapid increase in the planet's carbon monoxide levels. (See: The Native Biology of Atis[NOT YET PUBLISHED])
As most methods of fermentation on Atis do not produce alcohol, Rulzea do not respond to it in a similar manner to human beings. Rulzea, when exposed to an amount of alcohol their body cannot easily break down, develop intense nausea, and an intense desire to sleep, as to allow their body to purge the chemical more easily. They can also experience extreme pain, muscle spasms, and temporary muscle paralysis. As such, races that consume alcohol for recreation are suggested to recognize Rulzean incompatibility before sharing drinks, or else risk a medical emergency or possible death.
Bioluminescence
Rulzea, like most races on Atis, posses full body polychromatic luminescence. This ability allows them to glow any combination of colors both at will and instinctual, depending on emotional state and conversational tone. Like most creatures on the planet, the Rulzea have a set of instinctual colors with emotional connotations attached to them. Those colors are as follows:
PURPLE: Purple in Atisian Color Communication (ACC) represents strength, resilience, challenge, and focus. It is a relatively common color among all species, being the primary chosen color on confrontations relating to strength and defense. It is notable that this color does not inherently signal aggression; it is a marker for the capability of self defense and a marker of strength.
YELLOW: Yellow is a representation of calmness, acceptance, growth, comfort, and general positivity. While not a sign of weakness, the color is seen as one to mark a lack of hostilities, or intention for combat. Often being shown in greetings and confirmations, the color describes unity and general contentedness. In terms of love and intimacy, the color has a unique relation and connection with the color Red, which will be described below.
RED: Red is the definite color for weakness, submission, fear, and subservience. The color is an unusual one in terms of communication. The lack of any major predators native to Atis lead to a unique system of interspecies challenges, in which combat between animals often ended with one simply submitting and backing off from its competitor, rather than the goring and death common to other ecosystems. This leads to most challenges of strength ending when one species simply 'gives up', turning a shade of scarlet and fleeing the scene. In terms of said color in Rulzean communication, it also takes on a unique role in the form of social dynamics. Fluster, intimacy, and most subvert social intimacy can be seen in the race by a glow red, particularly in the facial area.
BLUE: Blue is a color that is also somewhat rare in terms of typical communication, though it is likely the second most potent. A color of mourning, despair, loss, and general sadness. Grief is not often an emotion that most species apply to animals, though Rulzea have had the unique opportunity to recognize the universal emotion of sadness among all living things. Loss of life is a sadness in their society, and is rarely ever seen as a triumph, even in the case of enemies. This adaptation likely is one of the core reasons that the preservation of an ecosystem is seen as a common core tenant in their ideologies, and even the primary core tenant in some.
GREEN: Green is the final in the set of universal colors among Atisian species, and easily the most potent. The color of sickness, and of death and disease. Originally developed by decomposers to self identify, the color evolved to be common among almost all species, with the same core meaning. With disease being the main cause of death on Atis, this color became a potent marker for all things that kill via biological means. In communication between living beings, it is used as a marker of biological disgust. This does not include social disgust, which is commonly taken by purple or blue instead.
Life Cycle
Like most Animalistic life native to Atis, Rulzean reproduction takes place by internal fertilization via sexual intercourse. Typically gestation lasts 4 Atis Months, or 27.2 Earth Months. Rulzea give birth in litters of 4 children on average, with 2 being considered the healthy minimum, and are typically fraternal.
Rulzean children are born more developed than Human children, typically capable of basic locomotion days after birth, and small levels of manual dexterity within the first few dozen days of life. They are born with a thin layer of fur typically, which thickens into the race's more typical length over the course of roughly 1 Atis month.
The Rulzean adolessence typically lasts 16 Atis years, after which the Rulzeans are physically fully developed, though they often stay with their family for an extra 4-8 Atis years for more educational development along the way. Rulzeans experience growth typically in large spurts across these 16 years, with rapid periods of growth followed by general stagnation until their final size is reached.
The average lifespan of a Rulzea is roughly 140 Atis years, or roughly 238.5 Earth years. Rulzea experience minimal visible signs of aging for a majority of their life, though typically they undergo a rapid dedregation of physical capability over the last 2-4 years of their lifespan. This is due to the fact that Rulzean biology is incredibly compitent at repairing DNA damage over time, allowing Humanoid aging to be staved off, though eventual malfunction of their internal organs does eventually lead to their death.
Rulzean Species
NORTHERN BURROWERS:
Northern Burrowers are the most common species in the Rulzean race. Hailing from a majority of all land North of the equator, the inhabited area dominated by this people is massive, by far the biggest region of all the species. They have an average height of 180 to 190 centimetres (5'10-6'3 feet), and an average weight of around 80 kilograms (176 Lbs), making them the smallest of all Rulzea. This size is primarily due to the race's tendancy to burrow incredibly deep, and a more subterranean lifestyle overall. This adaptation has conversely shifted into their role on the planet of Homeworld, with the race most often being densely clustered in the caves deep under the chlorinated surface, so long as they have been pumped free of the dangerous chemicals and life from the surface.RESTONE:
Restone, also known sometimes as People of the Mesa, are the second most common species in the Rulzean race. Inhabiting the river regions connecting Atis' two seas, the Restone inhabit the almost unbroken mesa region of the planet. With an average height of 240 to 250 centimetres (7'10-8'2 Feet), and an average weight of 120 kilograms (264 Lbs), they are the second largest population in the race. The Restone tend to be a more patriotic people, as their ancient maritime republics were the founding home of the Allfather. Their size comes from their need to walk great distances to locate their waterborn food, and carry it back in bulk. Though waterborne tasks have become next to impossible on the planet of homeworld, due to the chlorinated atmosphere turning water into mild acids and bleaches, their average size, disposition, and activity makes them effective all rounders in terms of physical capability. Notably, this species has seen immense success on the water planet of Bunt; aquatic tendencies making them the most suited to the mountain sized waves that splash across a world sized puddle.THE SOWERS:
The Sowers are one of the species classified as Rulzea. They inhabit the coastal regions of Atis' freshwater seas, and the small rivers and floodplains that surround them. Their average height is 220 to 230 centimetres (7'2-7'6 Feet), and their average weight is 100 kilograms (220 Lbs), they are rather typical in terms of size. The Sowers, as their name would suggest, have historically been the most successful farmers on Atis, their arid lands allowing them to produce massive amounts of food, which were often traded to their neigbors. Though smaller than their Restone cousins, their natural affinity for plant life makes them a marginally more effective species when it comes to plant domestication. They also have a particular affinity with the Sarates, which some Rulzepologists believe to be due to more compatible pheromones, which only further intensifies their natural ability to work with plantlife. This notably does not apply to the living plants native to Homeworld, which can be read about here[DOCUMENT INCOMPLETE].SELTRAN
Seltran, or the Plainwalkers, are the rarest of the Rulzean species. They inhabit the Southern forests, plains, and tundras of the planet, living sparsely across this region. With an average height of 260 to 270 centimetres (8'6-8'10 Feet), and an average weight of 130 kilograms (286 Lbs), this population looms over other Rulzea, the largest by far. Seltran size is primarily due to the rarity of food in the region, requiring long treks in order to store enough food to survive for extended periods. As a side effect of their size, Seltran are the only Rulzean group to build only partially underground, as most of the few Atis predatory species were incapable of damaging them. Sadly, their larger size has only intensified their rarity. The underground life of Homeworld, the aquatic life of Bunt, and the intense eternal twilight desert of Junandee are all inhospitable to their kind. However, Seltran, though far from prevalent, have kept their tenacity, and are still a well recognized member of the Race.
Original template by The brytish isles. Template is found
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