Speluvi

Basic Information

Anatomy

Speluvi are a bipedal, eyeless species that live in caves. Their bodies are covered in small scales, fine hair on their head and the palms of their hands and feet. This hairs allows them to stick to rough surfaces such as cave walls and gives then a very sensitive sense of touch. Speluvi also have very large ears that allow them to navigate by echolocation. In addition, Speluvi have high concentrations of mercury in their blood and on their planet, and they thus have a resistance to the fumes that most other species do not have. This also gives their blood a silver color and makes them poisonous to most non-native species.

Speluvi have a natural weapon in the form of a tail with a stinger on the end, originally used for hunting. The poison in their tails is paralytic, though it is not usually lethal.

In terms of sexes, Speluvi have three: male, female, and danam. Female and danam Speluvi have wider hips then males, and females have smaller and less hairy ears then males and danam. Female and danam Speluvi also have a pouch on their torso for holding developing young.

Genetics and Reproduction

Sepluvi reproduce sexually, the parent combination to produce viable offspring being either one male and one female, one male/female and a danam, or two danams. After fertilization, the embryo develops inside the mother's pouch, which is sealed for four standard months. After that, the young is developed enough to stick its head out and expose itself, bit by bit, to the outside world. It is at this point that the cub is officially "born". By nine standard months of development, the cub is able to walk around outside the pouch for limited periods, and after two standard years, it has left the pouch entirely, at which point the pouch seals up and the mother is able to reproduce again.

Ecology and Habitats

Speluvi mostly live underground in the caves of the planet Chambre, the second planet in the Veris system. Over many thousands of years, they have expanded their native tunnels so that all the major cave systems on the planet are connected by underground trains. They can live on the surface, but due to their underground evolution, this usually requires copious amounts of sun protection in the form of clothes or ointment, and thus most surface "settlements" are actually the highest levels of underground buildings.

photo credit: Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico by psyberartist via photopin

Dietary Needs and Habits

The main part of a Speluvi's diet is meat that comes from subterranean animals, such as cave salamanders, fish, and large bugs.

Speluvi consume mushrooms, root plants, and algae for their fiber, and can also feed on the nectar of the Hemorchid, which can provide a quick boost of energy. However, due to the high sugar content, feeding on the orchid's nectar for long periods can cause undesirable side effects, such as lethargy and obesity. It is also quite addictive

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

While the Speluvi are blind, their hearing is more then enough to make up for it. With their large ears, they are able to echolocate their way around unfamiliar environments, and are even able to avoid relatively small obstacles such as tree roots or uneven flooring. They also have the ability to recognize when vocal audio has been distorted and are able to recognize voices they know through this distortion. They also have an incredible sense of touch, able to read inked letters on paper just by running their fingers over it (provided they know the language).

Civilization and Culture

Average Technological Level

Like all members of the CUPK, the Speluvi are a space-faring race with the ability to use Warps. Out of all space-faring races, the Speluvi have the most advanced text-to-speech and speech-to-text technology, with almost all of their technology having some level of voice command. There are also efforts to create a type of device with a screen that changes its texture depending on the letters written on it so Speluvi can use foreign technology that isn't voice-activated, but this technology is still very much in development.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

For Speluvi, intellect is the most prized trait one can have. Specifically, people who are quick to learn from their mistakes and adapt are seen as the most highly capable in Speluvi society. Mistakes are not seen as something horrible, but something to learn from so one can do better next time. Speluvi are especially fond of trivia games and improvisational theater, as both of them require quick thinking under pressure. They believe these activities test the limits of one's brainpower.

Historical Figures

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Due to being of the five founding members of the CUPK, Speluvi are viewed by most other species as trustworthy and intelligent, though they are occasionally underestimated due to their short height and lack of vision.

A young adult Speluvi male

Lifespan

130 Standard Years (135.5 Human Years)

Average Height

Male: 1'2" (.35 m) Female: 1'0" (.3 m) Danam: 11" (.28 m)

Average Weight

Male: 3.6 oz. (102.1 g) Female: 3.4 oz. (96.4 g) Danam: 4 oz. (113.3 g)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Skin Colors:

• White
• Grey
• Pink (rare)

Hair Colors:

• Silver
• White
• Light blue
• Gold (rare)