Human (Homo oceaensis)

The *Homo oceaensis* are often referred to as *Atlanteans* and are one of the many species of *Atlanteans*, as it is on the Continent of Atlantis that their first complex society on Earth emerged.

## Atlanteans

### Aliases

Lemurians, Sub-mariners, Sub-Antarcticans, Vodani

## History

### Origins

The "*Homo oceaensis*" are in fact native to the planet Vodan; however, the history of their immigration to Earth, and other related origins, were lost, and unknown even to the likes of the Logomancer, though a few theories (some possibly cumulative) exist:

* **Genetic manipulation:** As the underwater breathing ability was found in both Inhumans and Deviants, it is speculated that it was scientifically bestowed upon humans by Inhuman or Deviant geneticists.
* **Divine intervention:** The Atlanteans credit Neptune who would have transformed them from air- to water-breathers.
* **Natural evolution/adaptation:** It is stated that 10,000 years ago, a genetic offshoot of man, *Homo oceaensis*, evolved the ability to live underwater. The Atlanteans reject violently the theory of natural evolution of their species. A mere fraction of its inhabitants survived after adapting their bodies to live under the sea as water breathers.
* **Magical manipulation:** According to Neptune himself, the few surviving Atlantean sorcerers used their powers to transform the Atlanteans into a water-breathing race.
* **Instantaneous Adaptation:** Another account stated a mere fraction of Atlantis' inhabitants survived after adapting their bodies to life in water, which they came to be able to breathe in the direct aftermaths of Atlantis' destruction.

### The First Atlantis

Atlantis itself had been a small above ground continent with many human settlements, when an event tens-of-thousands of years ago called the "Great Cataclysm" caused it to be submerged into the sea. 2,000 years later, a group of *Homo oceaensis* made the ruins of the human settlements in Atlantis their home and went on to develop a society there using as much of the material as they could scavenge from the wreckage.

For a more complete history of the *Homo oceaensis*, please consult the pages for Atlantean and Lemurian History.

### War with the Great Old Ones

When the humans returned into the oceans as *Homo oceaensis*, they woke up the ancient evil that dwelt there, the first rulers of Earth, hideous things that had built huge cities, worked uncanny magic, enslaved servants that lived and died in their dark glory. This evil had gone for a time when the stars had turned round in the sky.

Using Sh'g'th tissue, a formless substance used to create unholy life, and created the first Aqueos, who went to live in R'llyeh.

The Great Old Ones, and their spawn, the Aqueos, lived (among other cities) in R'llyeh, also known as "the First Atlantis".

### Lemuria

500 years after the settlement of Atlantis, another group of *Homo oceaensis* left Atlantis to found their own city - this time in a part of the ruins of another continent submerged during the Great Cataclysm - Lemuria in the Pacific Ocean.

These "Lemurians" would discover the Serpent Crown in the ruins of their city, and through their leader Naga's exposure and extensive use of the ancient mystical device, they would become more serpent-like in appearance than their Atlantean cousins.

### Modern Age

During the 20th century, the Atlantean race began to come into sustained contact with their human "cousins". These contacts have often been hostile and have included many aborted invasions and even separate occasions when large numbers of *Homo oceaensisi* were rendered comatose or sterilized for periods. During the Second World War the kingdom of Atlantis also fought against the Axis Powers in alliance with the Allied Powers.

However, not all interactions between *Homo sapiens* and *Homo oceaensis* have been hostile: During the 1920s a *Homo oceaensis* female, Princess Fen of Atlantis mated with the human sea captain Leonard McKenzie, a union which produced the first human/Atlantean hybrid: Namor, the Sub-Mariner.

## Attributes

### Powers

* **Amphibious Physiology:** Most *Homo oceaensisni* can only survive out of the water for about 10 minutes without artificial aid.
* **Superhumanly Acute Senses:** Atlanteans are specifically adapted to living in the ocean. Atlanteans' eyes are capable of seeing with perfect clarity, even in the near-total darkness of the ocean floor. They are also able to hear and smell under the water as well as humans do on land.
* **Superhuman Strength:** The average *Homo oceanus* can lift about 4 tons.
* **Superhuman Speed:** *Homo oceaensis* can run and move at speeds greater than the finest human athlete. Their superior speed also extends into swimming and he can reach a top speed of about 30-35 miles per hour.

**Radiation Immunity:** Namor claims that his people are immune to radiation.

## Habitat

### Population

It is not known precisely how many *Homo oceaensis* there are in the world today. The number is believed to be fewer than ten thousand, an extremely small figure when compared to the surface human population of more than six and a half billion. About two thousand live in the capital city of Atlantis and its immediate vicinity. Others live in small enclaves from pole to pole.

In 2022, an estimate circa 12,020 was produced. A less precise statement mentioned 12,000 people as "the vast majority" of the *Homo oceaensis* population.

## Miscellaneous

### Cultural Traits

Most *Homo oceaensis* live in caves on the ocean floor or the submerged portions of coral reefs. The inhabitants of the capital city of Atlantis live in the ruins of the ancient city of surface Atlantis. Because there can be no fire underwater, the *H. oceaensis* have lacked the capacity to forge steel or burn fossil fuel for energy. Because of the aquatic medium in which they live, they were also unable to isolate or mix chemicals. Consequently, the *H. oceaensis* never developed a native technology beyond that of flint tool making. Swords and armaments used in warfare were largely salvaged from the ruins of surface Atlantis or sunken ships of human construction. It is only in the past century, through interaction with scientists of the non-human Deviant race, that any form of advanced technology was developed. Astronomy, chemistry, biology, and physics remain virtually unknown sciences. Medicine has remained primitive, with drugs unheard of and surgery impossible under water. No system of mass communication has ever been developed, nor any means of mass transit.

With Deviant technology, *H. oceaensis* built their first warships at the outbreak of World War II.

Atlantean government has traditionally been tribal, although the citizens of the capital city of Atlantis have adopted the stylings of a monarchistic republic from their long-dead surface predecessors. Besides an ancestral monarch, Atlantis has a Council of Elders, who serves as the judiciary and legislative branch of government. Atlantis has a standing militia who perform police functions in times of peace. Although the monarchy of Atlantis claims all *Homo oceaensis* dwelling in the Atlantic Ocean as its subjects, in actuality the monarchy neither provides services or protection nor demands tribute or recognition from those who live beyond one day swim from the capital city. Most *Homo oceaensis* continue to live tribally. The largest grouping of *H. oceaensis* in the Atlantic Ocean outside the capital city are ruled by the barbarian warlord Attuma.

*Homo oceaensis* subsist on raw fish and seaweed. They are largely a hunter / gatherer society, who have made successful attempts to farm seaweed. In most of the *H. oceaensis* tribes, male hunt for fish and females gather seaweed. In the monarchy of the Atlantean capital, society is stratified so that there is a special guild of hunters and gatherers who provide food for the entire population. This frees the rest of the society for other pursuits, such as the advancement of culture. The culture of the tribal *H. oceaensis* remains primitive, with ritualistic dance and storytelling at its core. The culture of monarchic Atlantis is slightly more sophisticated, with its class or guild of entertainers. The religion of most tribal *H. oceaensis* is pantheistic nature-worship. The state religion of monarchic Atlantis holds in reverence the Greek god of the sea Neptune, who once lived among the Atlanteans some two millennia ago before leaving them. The Atlantean Empire in many ways resemble the ancient Roman Empire at its zenith.

#### Languages

*Homo oceaensis* communicate by means of a limited range of high-pitched vocal sounds and elaborate "signing" gestures. A more varied spoken language is not possible due to the inherent limitations of sound transmission through water.

However, a spoken and written language exist. *Please consult here our Atlantean Dictionary.*

### Representatives

See for all Earth-616 representatives. see Atlanteans (Homo mermanus)/Alternate Realities for a listing of Atlanteans from alternate realities.

## Biology

### Description & special adaptations

*Homo oceaensis* possess twin gills located on their necks near the clavicle bone, which enable them to extract oxygen from the water. They possess physiologies far stronger and more durable than their surface counterparts, which enable them to withstand the vast water pressure at the ocean's bottom as well as the pressure changes encountered traveling from one depth to another. However, their durability to water pressure isn't without limits; normal Atlanteans are incapable of safely traveling to the deep oceanic trenches on their own power. Compared to the average air-breather, the average Atlantean is about ten times stronger. The average *H. oceaensis* can swim at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. *H, oceaensis* are warm-blooded, and their blood circulation is superior to that of land-dwellers, enabling them to withstand the near-freezing temperatures of the ocean depths with minimal discomfort.

*H. oceaensis* have specially-adapted eyes possessing vision more sensitive to the green portion of the spectrum. This enables them to see more acutely in the dimly lit ocean depths.

*Homo oceaensis* need water in order to breath, and will suffocate in open air in about five minutes, though Fen, Namor's mother, used a potion that allowed her to breathe air for five hours, but eventually began to breathe air and underwater permanently.

*H. oceaensis* skin tends to be light blue in color, although certain individuals are darker.

*Homo oceaensis* possess residual body hair primarily on their heads, a holdover from their surface-dwelling ancestry.

Despite their various marine characteristics, *H. oceaensis* are mammals: they bear their young live and care for them during infancy. Although rare, it is possible for an Atlantean (any marine human) and an air breather to mate. The physical characteristics such an offspring will inherit are subject to genetic chance. In the known cases of such matings, the offspring acquired the capacity to breathe in both air *and* underwater.

The life expectancy of a *Homo oceaensis* is about 150 years.

### Reproduction and Cross-breeding

The H. oceaensis, as their mutated cousins the Lemurians, have proved to be fertile with humans, and generate from those unions mutant hybrids, fertile or not.

It was hinted by Steve Rogers that the hybrid combination of a land human and Homo oceaensis led to the power set, immense strength and winged ankles among others, shared by Namora and Namor.

#### Fertility of the Hybrids

As hybrids, *Homo sapien/oceaensis* aren't all able to reproduce: Namora has been unable to reproduce with Talan, a pure-blooded *H. oceaensis*. She is then supposed to be a sterile hybrid, leading to her cloning in order to create a child.

But Namor has been shown in many realities to be able to reproduce with *Homo oceaensis* (Dorma, Abira), mutated H. sapiens (i.e. Susan Storm) or even aliens with the Plodex Marrina. *Full list of known human-Atlantean hybrids*

### Mutants

Many mutants and powered beings are born among the *H. oceaensis*. Their true biological nature is quite unknown, but were stated to be *Homo oceaensis* mutants Crosta by Juston's Sentinel, Attuma (Earth-2189) (by Namora), and Surf members Undertow, Sharkskin and Eel.

* *Full list of known supposed or confirmed mutants*

Those mutants aren't to be confused with the *Homo sapien/oceaensis* hybrid mutants, which their mutancy is supposed or confirmed to came from an X-Gene, developed within the human genetics.

### Sirens

A rare H. oceaensis offshoot or subspecies with the inherent capacity for casting magic through song.

The few of whom to have made appearances to date were largely female. These water-breathers are capable of surviving on dry land without the need of water filtration systems or conversion serum's which have been used to temporarily or permanently transform other mariner races into surface dwellers. *Full list of known Atlantean Sirens*

Their physiologies evidently adapted lungs as well as gills in order to carry their narcolepsy inducing tunes either on dry land or in the depths.

## Atlantean Technology

Vehicles:

* **Patrol Craft:** Two-man, open cockpit, aquatic scout ship used by Attuma's army. Each patrol craft is equipped with an Atlantean Ray Cannon.
* **Pincer Tank:** Two-man, open cockpit, aquatic craft armed with a set of flexible pincer claws that can be used to grapple and entangle opponents. Used by Attuma's army.

Individual weapons and equipment:

* **Body Armor:** *H. oceaensis* soldiers wear body armor.
* **Ray Pistols**
* **Ray Rifles**
* **Heat Ray:** One of Attuma's troops utilized a hand-held heat ray against Iron Man.
* **Power Tridents:** Project stun blasts.
* **Water-Breathing System:** When a non-amphibious *Homo oceaensis* ventures into the surface world, he wears a sealed bubble helmet that covers his head and neck-gills. The helmet is designed to enable the wearer to see normally. A small cylindrical backpack recycles and renews the water. The system enables the wearer to stay away from the water for days before they suffer ill effects.
* **One-Man Propulsion System:** This is a small cylindrical platform that clamps to the user's feet. It is steered by flexing the feet and legs. It can maintain speeds of 75 mph for up to two-thousand miles in the water. Its usefulness in the air is limited to a short hop of 10 to 20 feet (i.e. enough to get onto a dock or the shore).
* **Turtle Transports:** These gigantic turtles are bred to carry troops on their backs across great distances. These turtles are amphibious and can function equally well in or out of the water.
* **Air-Breathing Serum:** Atlanteans have developed a chemical compound that allows normal breathing in air, while turning the flesh from normal blue to human flesh-tones and requires a separate serum to reverse its effects. Variations of this chemical allow air-breathing for 24 hours.

## Notes

* Atlantis and the Atlanteans (as the continuation of ancient Atlantis, a location mentioned within the Cthulhu Mythos:
	+ The Lemurians were of an Atlantean sect worshiping the Elder God Set, that left Atlantis, and founded the kingdom of Lemuria.
	+ The Unforgiven Dead, led by Suma-Ket, worshiped the Old Ones, took control of Atlantis, and sacrificed Atlanteans to their dark gods for further power. They were themselves known as the Old Ones.
	+ The Aqueos, for a part vampirized Atlanteans and Lemurians, were created from Sh'g'th tissue, a formless substance used to create unholy life, by ancient "things", beings from the stars, and lived in R'llyeh, the "First Atlantis", the "Seventh World of the Ancients".

## Trivia

* According to Wolverine *Homo oceaensis* have a unique scent which he describes as being like 'sushi dipped in motor oil', which makes it easy for him to track them on land.