Chimera

Chimera, by definition are hybrids of two different animate.
== Chimera mechanics ==
In Welt, most animates are unisex and sexually compatible with each other. This means that a great diversity of chimera are theoretically possible. Size is an evident issue, as creatures from the gargantuan gigacetidae to the minute mice of Welt are compatible for reproduction as such, at the moment of conception the larger animal by default becomes the incubator for the brood.
=== Reproductivity of the chimeric offspring ===
Chimeras are not a common occurrence. In the wild animals from different genotypes will not actively seek to mate. When such a union does take place, the chances of creating a chimera are generally between 0,3 and 0,4%. This makes every chimeric offspring a rare individual indeed. However, if several offspring are created, there is a chance that they will reproduce and perpetuate the species. Should the chimera mate with a creature, the same rules apply, though the offspring will mostly resemble the non chimeric parent, sometimes the offspring will be a naturally born clone of the non chimeric parent and vice versa. 
=== Reproductive mechanics ===
At the cellular level, sexual cells of weltan biology possess both alleles. During coitus between different species, the incubator and non incubator releases an ovule and spermatozoids at the same time. Once there is a (or several) successful fecundation(s), the newly formed egg cell(s) sends out acids that kill the other sexual cells present in the womb. Thus there is a chance that either the newborn is a clone (with different genes expressing themselves) or a clone of the non incubator parent hybrid of both parents. When hybridization occurs, usually the newborn exhibits precociality to make up for the fact that its parents will not always recognize it as its offspring.
=== Examples of chimeric mechanics ===
The name of a hybrid is applied to all offspring of interbreeding members of a taxonomic order.
First generation chimeric minotaurs are always the anthroidic product of an anthropomorph and a bovine, even if the resulting offspring doesn't have the head of a bull but instead has the head of a bison, cattle, buffalo or even of an antelope. 
Another example, first generation chimeric Polkans are always the product of the union of a feline and a horse (with either parent having an anthropomorph ancestor) even if the offspring has zebra stripes, the head of a smilodon and the torso and arms of an ogre. 
Chimeric lamia and medusa are always the product of an anthropomorph and a snake. 
As the example of polkan provides, having a chimeric ancestor can cause future generations to birth hybrids, even if both parents weren't. For example, a minotaur can produce human offspring, who only mate with humans and birth cattle several generations later.
=== Stable chimera ===
Chimeras are considered stable when a species of animate, while possibly the offspring of two different species, are sufficiently numerous in Welt to be considered a seperate species rather than the random progeny of two different animates in the wild.
Examples of stable chimera include Minotaurs, Gryphons and Hippogriffs. In these cases, the resulting offspring of two different animates are considered chimeric.
=== Chimeric distribution and habitat ===
Chimerism is a rare occurrence in itself. Chimera and hybrids are rare in the wild as they tend to not be recognized and killed by their parents, especially in species with low parental bonds. Those that do survive tend to live alone as creatures in the wild, whereas those born in other race societies only tend to be ostracized save for those fortunate to be born within cosmopolitan societies where they are usually tolerated or even accepted. 
Chimera sometimes create herds of other similarly hybridized people and sometimes develop societies and sedentary settlements.
Some chimera are more common than others, mostly among species who display precociality (able to act independently immediately after birth) and whose population size is large enough to develop into an entirely new species. Minotaurs, Polkan, and Lamia are examples of this trait, and, while still considered chimera, are also considered their own separate species.
== Chimera anatomical terms ==
To aid in chimera classification, anatomical terms help define what the animate looks like. As a rule, the term is always attached to the concerned animate. In the case of binary hybrids, the main body is always left undefined. Example: A centaur is considered half and half, and so its scientific name is Anthrocephalothorax Equusthoraxcrus, as it is an animate with a human head and torso, and the hindquarters and thorax of a horse.
Dominant animate: refers to chimera that aren't half and half, but rather the majority of the body belonging to one animate and a body part belonging to another. Usually the dominant animate is at the end of the scientific name of the chimera. Example: A Daksha is considered an anthro dominant chimera, as apart from its head, the rest of its body is that of an anthroid, and so its scientific name is Anthrocephali Caprinae. 
Binary Chimera: Refers to the fact that the hybrid is a melange of two distinct animates. Non binary implies a minimum of three distinct animates. 
Cephali: Hybrids with the body of one animate and a different head usually have the suffix "cephali ''. Example: Cynocephali, dog headed anthroids. The scientific name is Cynocephalis simian 
Thorax: Hybrids with the body of one animate and a different torso usually have the word "thorax". Example: Minotaur, an ox with the arms and torso of an anthroid. The scientific name is Taurus simiathorax
Crus: Hybrids with the body of one animate and different hindquarters usually have the word "crus". Example: Ophiotaurus, an ox with the hindquarters of a snake.
Alis: Hybrids with the body of one animate and different hindquarters usually have the word "alis". Example: Peryton, a stag with the wings of a bird. 
Caudam: Hybrids with the body of one animate and the tail of another usually have the word "caudam". Example: Manticores are anthroid headed lions with scorpion tails. The scientific name is Anthrocephali Scorpiocaudam Leo.
Variis: Also called added parts, refers to hybrids with various body parts of other animates that do not fall into former categories. 
The terminology is important, as several hybrids can be described, yet confused with each other as the parts that compose them come from the same animates. Example: A sphinx is known as Anthrocephali Catus Felis, because it is the body of a cat and the head of an anthroid. A Bast however is known as Catus Felicephali Anthro because it is the body of an anthropomorph with the head of a cat. This also helps when species of the same name have different morphologies. 
The longstanding feud between Capucine and the Capricorn factions stem from this distinction, as the former is anthro dominant and the other caprid dominant.
==Plant/Animal Chimera==
Plant animals, also known as non sedentary beings who can photosynthesize are known to populate welt, though they are more symbiotes than true chimera.
An interesting occurrence of symbiosis between the local infected “bulb saurus” and “dashing radish” occurred shortly after the chemical attacks. the saurus, previously an infected amphibian that would cultivate local areas of vegetation, were susceptible to the plants gene, and a symbiosis occurred. Curiously, the local plant-based infected radish were found to absorb poison and, through a nearly fungal ingraining process, instigated a large scale co-dependency with the surviving saurus population. When the infected breed, they breed with genes of both infected types separate, but in tandem, creating offspring with the ingrained plant present at birth.
==Demonic Chimerism==
A common way of making monsters or fantastic creatures is to simply take existing animals and combine them through demonic magic. For instance, the namesake of the biological supergroup the Chimera is a mix of a lion head, goat body, snake tail, the Minotaur is a mix of a bull head, and human body. Also common is to simply take an existing animal and vary it a simple way Pegasus is a horse but with wings, hippocampi have the heads and front bodies of horses but the tails of fish, etc.
==Anthroids==
Main Article: Anthroids
Anthroids are chimera of animals and anthropomorphs.
==Anthropomorpher==
Main Article: Anthropomorpher
The Anthropomorphers were a Dalmer experiment to understand the creation of beasts in nature. The plan failed, but led to the recreation of many creatures such as Gorgons, Minotaurs, Werewolves, Sphinxes and Cyclops. The species created were genetically identical to their wild counterparts. The experiments were considered illegal and Anthropomorphers deemed forbidden weapons. The anthropomorphers themselves are keys to open the laboratories where the experiments were taken.
==Species==
Minotaurs are a prominent species of half humans who are universally recognized as a distinct race unto themselves. They have quite a few variations who are the fruit of interaction with other creatures. For example, the Cytaur and Ghortaur.
* The Cytaur is the fruit of a cyclops and a minotaur, the result is a single eyed bull headed giant.
* A creature of unique birth, the Ghortaur is the fruit of a cannibalistic minotaur that mated with a gorgon. The result is a giant-sized, four-armed beast with a head full of snake hair from which two massive horns emerge. The birth of a Ghortaur, requires the mating of a gorgon and a minotaur, whose progeny is birthed into an active volcano. The babe develops in the volcano until it blocks up the magma chamber due to its size. The inevitable explosion causes debris to be blown up to 3km high. The fully grown Ghortaur then goes on a rampage to feed its monstrous appetite. Communities near the active volcano are invariably scenes of carnage, buildings are torn down, the streets littered with petrified civilians foolish enough to look at the creature. Despite the danger inherent to living near volcanoes, the high yields of crops inevitably causes the pregnant parent to have several choices for where to birth its young. This leads to Ghortaurs often appearing on tropical islands created by recent volcanoes. Ghortaur cannot be expelled until it is in the right conditions, leading to pregnancies that can last years, and aborting is incredibly dangerous for the parent. For this reason, the parent will actively seek out active volcanoes to birth the child. They have a unique weakness of swallowing things whole, which makes feeding it explosives until it is sated and detonating them a viable tactic.
== Relation to Changelings ==
It is unknown if the changeling phenomenon is a form of late stage chimerism, caused by latent genes found within the individual that undergoes such a sudden transformation in life.
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