Excation Biology

Excation, like all species on Kalem, share some traits with earth life. However it is foolish to assume that they have any real similarities to us, as thier biology has evolved in an entirly different way than that of humans.

## Physiology

Externally, an Excation is about
four and a half feet tall to the crown of their head, though this shortness is
mostly due to posture as attempting to imitate a more strait backed and stiff
legged pose, akin to humans, has shown them as being around five and a half
feet tall.

They have a blunt-ended snout, with a mouth containing twelve sharp teeth that flows into their two large rhomboid ear-like structures, which serve as gas exchange organs. Their lower mandibles are not attached to each other at the centre to form a single lower jaw, allowing them to move separately, with another jaw set far back into their gape. They have large yellow eyes with twin pupils, allowing for a larger range of focused vision

They have a shape that is similar
to a humanoid biped shape, but becomes more unusual if you look at the
specifics. Their limbs are quite long in most cases, but genetic and
environmental effects can alter the relative proportions. They have a peculiar
spine, which is formed of many vertebra, attached to the exoskeleton and each
other to form three stiff rods, normally held so there is a noticeable angle
between the second and third rod, which is a normal relaxed state. The hip
bones seem to protrude quite far, but this is in fact the exoskeleton forming
the shape, behind which sits twin filtration organs.

The excation tail is a long organ used to for grip, social signalling and the storage of fat. It is made of multiple exoskeletal segments that are each quite small, alowing for a more articulate and dexterous limb.

They have three fingers on each
hand, which tapers into a short claw. They also have two toes, which are
equally short and have an underside covered in long hairs for stability on the
sand. There are exposed, muscular joints in places like the elbow and knee, as
well as the face, these joints are covered by a soft and stretchy skin which also sits between all joins in the exoskeleton.

Their hair is short and extremely
soft, with each hair branching at the base into multiple more hairs. They have
a mane of longer and more bristly hair that starts at the top of the head and
ends at the end of the second spinal shaft, and is often styled. The tip of the
tail also has a large brush of the more corse hair.

The Excation body is built almost
like a space suit, with an outer exoskeleton, combined with a number of valves
in the openings, such as ears and throat, and a shield-like covering over the
eyes. The net  result of these
adaptations is that the Excation is environmentally sealed, which keeps fluids
in and dust out. The adaptation has also made them effective at colonising the
space around them, as they never had to develop space suits beyond simple heat
and light regulation.

## Digestive system

Most of the Excation's chest is
filled with a highly efficient digestive system, while their lower body
contains respiratory organs and a heart analogue. The respiratory organs store
oxygen for when the primary gas exchange organs, the Excation's large ear like
structures, cannot be used due to situations like sandstorms. The Excation's
periodically replace the air, every one to two hours, and it is considered very
rude to draw attention to the fact they are doing it.

The exaction digestive system is
extremely efficient but still quite simple. It consists entirely of a stomach,
with no intestines, and only one opening, the mouth. The stomach itself can
expand in size quite readily, able to push down into the lower body should it
be required. The stomach contains numerous short, sharp spines, which secrete
acids and enzymes.

## Circulatory System

The species has a double
circulatory system, seen in many related species. In the cavity between the
exoskeleton and the organs there circulates a slightly yellow, but mostly clear
heamolymph, called 'outer blood'. There is a secondary vascular system that
circulates around the organs and through the bones. This is referred to most
often as 'inner blood'. The basic solvent of the excation's bodily fluids is a
strong alcohol that readily vaporises, giving them the oder of vodka or other
strong spirits.

A peculiarity of excation blood is
that instead of producing scabs, they have a protein system that turn it into
neurotoxin on contact with the air. The exact mechanism and reason is still
unknown, but it has been hypothesised as a defensive mechanism to put predators
off from attacking another member of the species, as any injury bad enough to
puncture the excation resilient exoskeleton is likely to be fatal, so the
neurotoxin makes the best of a bad situation through a form of altruism.

## Senses

Excation vision is a combination
of red and infra red, with a tiny amount of ultraviolet. This suits them perfectly
well on their home planet where the light is filtered by the atmosphere, but
can cause problems in other environments. Most excation who live off-world have
adapted space goggles to allow them to see more easily in brighter
environments.

Hearing is a quite basic affair,
seeming no stronger than a humans, though able to hear higher pitches, at the
expense of lower ones. The large ear like structures do not capture any sound,
instead hearing happens in the patches of skin that litter the excations body,
meaning that sound is felt rather than heard.

## Reproduction

Excation are sequential
hermaphrodites, with two functional reproductive systems, one male and one
female, with hormonal activity changing which of the excation's reproductive
structures are active. Excation couples even have synced reproductive cycles,
meaning that one will be male while the other is female and vis-versa.

Mating procedures are highly
organised, with the egg being taken by the local government and
looked after until it hatches, whereupon it will be looked after by individuals
and couples that have the capability to do so.

This practice appears to a
cultural adaptation of an instinctive behaviour, as similar egg pooling is seen
in a fair few of the excation's closest relatives. Its believed the process
makes the entire previous generation protective of its young, as there is no
way of telling whose offspring is whose. The cultural implications is also that
the excation concept of parent and teacher are identical, biology having little
to no impact on who they see as important figures in their life. The same is
true for siblings, as Excation parents often adopt unrelated children to raise
together.

### Children

Excation childen are better considered Hatchlings or Nymphs, or even possibly Nymphlings. Hatching without legs, Nymphlings do not gain their full adult body structure until their fifth instar, which is at an age of about 10 months or equivilent to a 5 year old human child.

## Mutations

Exaction biology is extremely susceptible to mutations, known as Makol in easkun, and while most mutations are harmless to the species, their physiology being resistant to the changes wrought by the mutation. The kinds of mutations are usually the doubling of features of the excation, such as ears, tails, forearms and eyes.