Maligmari

## Statistics

**Maligmari** /ˌmalɪgˈmɑrɪ/, shortened as **Malig**, are a sapient race of molluscoid appearance. They hail from Kalamos, fourth planet of the Lamar system. They are characterized by their six long appendages, color-changing capabilities and very malleable anatomy, with a decentralized nervous system.

Malig is both the singular and plural. It is self-assigned and comes from Tethonian, language largely spoken by the malig. A group of malig is called a clatter.

## Biology

### Physiology

The malig body consists of the legs, arms, torso, and head. It is bilaterally symmetrical along the dorso-ventral axis. The head is attached to one end of the elongated body, with no visible neck, while the legs and arms extend from the torso at the other end. The torso is supported by a hydrostatic skeleton made of many fluid-filled cavities, with the vital organs protected by a cartilaginous structure analogous to a rib cage. Similarly, the brain is contained within a cartilaginous cranium. The legs and arms lack skeletal support and work as muscular hydrostats. They generally walk with all of their four legs, but will occasionally use their front-most legs for manipulation, to pick something near the ground, or alongside their arms for better leverage. Most of the body is made of soft tissue allowing them to squeeze through small gaps; if the head fits, the torso and limbs will follow.

The nervous system is highly complex and only partly localized in the brain. Over two-thirds of the neurons are in nerve cords in the limbs, making them capable of complex reflexes without input from the brain.

### Mouth

The mouth has a two-part chitinous beak in the shape of a sickle. The upper mandible is prominent, curves downward, and comes to a point. The lower mandible is shorter, with a sharp, upward-facing cutting edge. The lower mandible fits into the upper mandible and together they function in a scissor-like fashion. The beak is remarkably hard (difficult to dent or scratch), stiff (difficult to bend out of shape) and tough (resistant to fractures), and contains no minerals or metals, made up solely of organic chemicals. They eat a variety of foods including fruits, flowers, leaves, stems, vegetables, and also nuts and seeds, crushing hard-shelled ones open with their beaks.

### Skin

Their dermal tissue responds to light through the use of photosensitive chromatophores. These colored pigment cells expand and contract to produce different colors and patterns that can change in a matter of milliseconds. Color changes can happen independently from visual input, as these skin cells detect light and adjust to light conditions independently of the eyes. The chromatophores are found everywhere throughout the body and are controlled by nerves through muscles, which allows them to change hue as rapidly as they do. Malig are known to repeatedly change skin color during REM sleep. Skin color is used for non-verbal communication and emotional display, like humans use facial expression.

### Life Cycle

Each individual malig is part of one of three mating types. Though gamets can't fuse with the same type, the three types are
Each individual malig is part of one of three mating types based on what type of gamets they produce: x, y or z. The three types are identical in every other aspect but gamets of the same type can't fuse, so two different types are required to make a baby.

When ready for a baby, a malig will deposit their gametes by the use of a special organ into the one who will carry the embryo. Any mating type can fulfill either role.

Oviviparity.

## Psychology

Malig are highly social and intelligent, though are very obsessive creatures. They have a psychological need for change and variation. When failed to be met, they become unmotivated and depressed. They tend to be impulsive. Malig are highly social.

Malig are very loud in their speech and exaggerated in their movement and body language. They seem to never stay still, and even when idle, they move rhythmically in a distinct swaying motion.

## Culture

Malig are very prone to boredom and need variation for their mental well-being, which might explain the significance of puzzles, riddles and games in their cultures. Pranks are also prevalent.

## Society

The biggest malig governing body is a buorocracy with no actual person as a ruler, only a set of ever expanding laws and regulations.