Beastfolk Beastfolk or Beastmen ( Aldmeris : Betmer , " beast mer " ) is the collective term used to refer to bestial race s . Drastically different , culturally and physiologically , from men and mer , the Beastfolk possess different skeletal structures and metabolic processes ( even amongst themselves . ) While rumors of interbreeding with men and beastfolk exist , none have been proven . Beastfolk come in a variety of colors and body structures , and are not sub - species of the same proto - race like men and mer . Included in this category are the Khajiit and Argonian s . Origins . Vvardenfell savant , Okan - Shei , professed that Betmeri , or " Beastmen , " were the aboriginal inhabitants of Tamriel . Each bestial race reports differently in Mythic Era history , before the Invasions of men and mer . The origins of Beastfolk , unlike mer and men , vary from race to race . Though the Beastfolk were the first inhabitants of Tamriel , they did not create written records until the empire of Tiber Septim , making it difficult to determine how long the Beastmen were in Tamriel before the first mer . Physiology . The most significant difference between the beastfolk and the other races is physical , with far more differences than those between men and mer . The races of beastfolk are also far more different from one another than any two races of men or mer . The physical appearance of Beastfolk range from being humanoid in appearance , to more beast - like , to plants . No official information has been released about the lifespans of the playable Beastfolk . The only Beastfolk with a known lifespan are the dragons , which are immortal . Tamrielic beastial races . Argonians . The Argonians are a race of reptilian creatures native to Black Marsh . They are highly resistant to disease and can breathe underwater , as well as the only race of Tamriel that are completely unrelated to men and mer , having descended from a race of sentient trees known as Hist . Argonians possess tails , the only playable race besides the Khajiit to do so . When swimming , they use their tails to propel themselves as they glide through the water . Both male and female Argonians exhibit sexual qualities similar to men and mer , but no well - documented cross - breed offspring have been discovered , possibly because Argonians are egg - layers . Dragon . Dragons ( or Dovah ; " Dov " refers to Dragons as a race ) are a reptilian race originally native to Akavir that were once widespread throughout Tamriel . Despite their bestial appearance , they are known as much for their intelligence and wisdom as they are for their raw , uncontrolled power . They possess their own spoken and written language , and are capable of comprehending other languages . They , for the most part , consider non - Dovah to be weak minded . Some words in their spoken language can be projected into a powerful magic known as the Thu ' um ( literally " Storm Voice " ) which is known to some simply as " The Voice , " but widely known as " Shouts . " They were nearly driven to extinction , and were widely believed to be until 4E 201 when they resurfaced in Skyrim with the return of Alduin . Dreugh . The Dreugh or Dreughs are a Tamriel ic race of powerful aquatic creatures observed primarily in Morrowind ( especially the Inner Sea ) , the Illiac Bay , the Abecean Sea , Black Marsh and Cyrodiil . They are often hunted for their wax and hide . Once common throughout Vvardenfell , Ebonheart , and the surrounding waters , they have been driven into isolated pockets in more recent times . There is some doubt on whether they shouldn ' t be classified along with Argonian s , for their semi - aquatic nature and " troglophiliac " human oid form . According to legend , the Dreugh devolved from a much more intelligent and civilized race due to conflict with the Dunmer ( who used their hides and wax ) , and powerful , tyrannic Dreugh kingdoms are reported by Mankar Camoran in his Mythic Dawn Commentaries , even going as far as to state they once ruled the world . That notion is explored in Vivec ' s lessons , where it is stated that , " when the dreughs ruled the world , the Daedroth Prince Molag Bal had been their chief . " The sermon gives details of the form Bal took at the time , describing it as " spiny and armored and made for the sea . " Giants . Giants are a race of gargantuan humanoids found in the wilderness of Skyrim and High Rock . Infamous for their colossal height and immense strength , giants share little civil interaction with humanoids , if in fact any . Culturally , giants herd Mammoth s , processing their milk into cheese , and complementing their omnivorous diet with the cooked meat of skeever . Seemingly nomadic , giants travel with their herds , setting up camps across Skyrim and High Rock . Invaders are attacked with the massive clubs forged by the giants that look like they have been made out of tree trunks and large rocks . Their physical similarities with Orc s — jutting lower canines , tapered ears and the presence of stumpy horns on the temples ( much diminished in giants ) — serve as possible evidence of some loose relation to the mer . Goblins . Goblins are small but tough two - legged creatures found in Cyrodiil . They are a bit shorter in size than the average mer . Goblins have blue or green - hued skin , and bulbous eyes . Most goblins are part of a goblin clan that congregates around a certain location , particularly caves and mines , but also may be found living in sewers or various ruins . They are thought to be extinct since the Third Era . It has been suggested that Goblins are not sentient . This is not necessarily true , however , as there is much evidence of animal domestication and social structure with ranks among those in a particular group . Hist . Relatively little is known about the Hist . They are sentient trees that are native to Black Marsh . It is also believed that Hist trees are intelligent and have a conscience , and their roots are buried in the " soft white stone of the marsh . " The Hist are thought to share a mind or have a hive mind ability . Though they share a mind , it is possible for one to " go rogue " and " escape itself . " In such instances , the Hist purge the rogue tree . This last happened to a tree in Lilmoth over 300 years ago . The current Lilmoth Hist grows from part of its root . Imga . The Great Apes , or Imga , reside in the Imperial province of Valenwood and idolize the Altmer of the Summerset Isles , with some going so far as to shave themselves and powder their skin so as to better emulate their appearance . Khajiit . The Khajiit are a feline race native to Elsweyr , with superb inherent nocturnal vision and pointed ears that have led some to believe their phylum contains mer blood . The " breed " of each Khajiit is determined by the position of the moon during their birth ; there are supposedly more than 20 breeds of Khajiit , but only 17 have been verified . The most common breed is the Cathay . Khajiit are known for their natural agility , stealth and fondness for Moon Sugar / Skooma . Khajiit typically refer to themselves in the third person , unless provoked by a hostile . Lilmothiit . The Lilmothiit are a fox - like beast race who once inhabited the Black Marsh . They were a tribal race and they may have been related to Khajiit of Elsweyr . Nymphs . Nymphs are a mysterious and rare race that resides on the continent of Tamriel . All of the species seem to be female and are described as beautiful , naked women who like to have indiscriminate sex by the common folk and even scholars . Riekling . Rieklings are small goblin - like creatures found on the island of Solstheim . They tend to live in small tribes in caves , ancient ruins and even mountain peaks . They are hostile in nature , but individually pose little threat . They typically rely on strength in numbers and a small group can quickly overwhelm an enemy . Riekling settlements give insight into their level of intelligence , which corresponds roughly to a stone age society : they have developed simple tool - crafting and elements of rudimentary language and religion , and have domesticated Bristleback , which they raise for food and use as mounts . Characteristics of Riekling religion include the " Godspeak Song " and the construction of shrines , but there does not appear to be any shamans or other religious leaders . At least one Riekling is known to have learned to speak intelligently . Other beast races . Sload . For millennia , these hulking , slug - like creatures , notorious for their necromantic mastery , terrorized the Altmer , conjuring sea monsters along the coast and laying siege to Skywatch . They are said to operate airships , and to live on the semi - submerged continent of Thras . It is unknown exactly how Sload reproduce . Adult Sload have never been seen to involve themselves in such things , and seemingly have no interest in the fate of the young . Sload begin their lives as " disgusting little amorphous grubs . " As they age , these grow into a purely aquatic stage that is described as " soft , " " squishy , " and " octopus - like . " Upon reaching adulthood the Sload becomes amphibious and have an appearance similar to a large slug . Tsaesci . Even though the Tsaesci are the best known of Akavir ' s inhabitants , very little is known about them , and much of it is contradictory or cryptic . Within the current lore of Tamriel , there are two quite different depictions of the Tsaesci . Some evidence seems to indicate that they are humans . Other evidence , however , paints a much stranger picture , as vampiric snake - like creatures that feed on humans . To date , there has not been sufficient evidence gathered to conclusively prove or disprove either , or both , of these depictions . Early depictions of the Tsaesci almost invariably describe them as having the upper body of a man but the lower body of a snake . The most direct evidence of these " snake folk " comes from " Mysterious Akavir " , which claims that the vampire snakes of Tsaesci ate all of the humans that once lived on Akavir . The reputability of this book is frequently questioned , however , as few of its other claims have been independently verified . Tang Mo . Tang Mo means " Thousand Monkey Isles " in Akaviri . It is also the name that the inhabitants of this land use to refer to themselves . The Monkey People of Tang Mo are described as being - like . The Tang Mo have had to defend their nation over the eras from all of the other nations of Akavir , specifically from the snow demons , " Kamal . " It is believed that the Tang Mo have created an alliance with the Ka Po ' Tun . Ka Po ' Tun . The Ka ' Po ' Tun are a race present on the continent of Akavir . They are described as being tiger - like cat folk , possibly similar in appearance to the Khajiit . They are led by the mighty Tosh Raka . Under his leadership the Po ' Tun changed their species ' name to the Ka ' Po ' Tun .