"Six DNA letters. Three sapient species. One world."
— Institute of Xenobiology, +3,000 Y.E.
The three sapient species of Théxar are adapted to different environments. Those differences do not eliminate shared interests or disputes: ocean currents, mineral deposits, water supplies and pollution connect their territories.
Cultures in the biology laboratory
04.1 Three Sapient Species
Parameter
Xha'Ruun
Kel'vash
Moryn
Biochemistry
Carbon + H₂O
Silicon + H₂SO₄
Carbon + H₂O
Habitat
Land, 0–3,000 m ASL
Highlands >1,500 m, deserts
Ocean, 1,200–3,000 m depth
Thermal physiology
Endothermy and skin thermoregulation
180–220 °X
2–8 °X
Pressure optimum
0.8–1.2 atm
0.5–0.7 atm
120–300 atm
Metabolism
Aerobic
Chemoautotrophic
Aerobic (slow)
Respiration
O₂
Sulfur compounds
O₂ (dissolved)
Lifespan
150–200 local years
200–400 local years
150–300 local years
Reproduction
Egg-laying; shared family care
Division and exchange of hereditary material
Spawning
Communication
Vocal (air)
Vibrational (crystals)
Bioluminescent
Population (~+4,000 Y.E.)
3.8 billion
120 million
18 million
Planetary share (territory)
34% of land
8% of land
12% of ocean
Confirmed contact
—
−2,400 Y.E.
−1,200 Y.E.
04.2 Class Thermochromadae (Six-Letter DNA)
Trait
Description
Base pairs
G–C, A–T, P–X
Additional pair
P–X; three hydrogen bonds
Codons
216 possible three-letter combinations
Proteins
24 proteinogenic amino acids
Repair
Cellular enzyme systems repair molecular damage
04.3 Xha'ruun Physiology
Trait
Description
Adult height
2.3–3.3 sha
Limbs
Two legs, two lower arms, two upper membranous vex arms
Eyes and ears
Three eyes; four ears
Skin
Bronze, chromatophoric
Hearts
Two; resting rates 35–50 and 28–42 beats per minute
Lungs
Four; total capacity approximately 14 litres
Breathing
8–12 breaths per minute at rest
Blood
Approximately 12 litres; blue-green, hemocyanin
Vision
Tetrachromatic with a UV channel
Hearing
8 Hz–42 kHz
Sexual maturity
Approximately 25–30 local years
Reproduction
Egg formation 60–70 days; external incubation 180–200 days
Vex arms
Display and thermoregulation
04.4 Kel'vash Physiology
Parameter
Value
Mean height
140 cm
Mean mass
95 kg (high density)
Respiratory rate
2–4/min (chemosynthesis)
Resting pulse
18 bpm
Body temperature
180–220 °X
Blood
silicon-based + sulfur
Color vision
infrared
Auditory range
vibration 1–500 Hz
Sleep duration
2 h/day
Sexual maturity
80 mormor
Fission
once per 50 mormor
Fusion (reproduction)
once per 200 mormor
04.5 Moryn Physiology
Parameter
Value
Mean length
2.8 m
Mean mass
120 kg
Respiratory rate
4–6/min
Resting pulse
28 bpm
Body temperature
2–8 °X
Hemoglobin
copper-organic
Color vision
full visible spectrum + deep blue
Auditory range
2–8,000 Hz + electroreception
Sleep duration
none (30-min meditative cycles)
Sexual maturity
40 mormor
Spawning
once per 20 mormor
Larval stage duration
8 mormor
04.6 Flora (Principal Classes)
Class
Species
Habitat
Feature
Khel-xa (trees)
~8,200
land, 0–2,000 m
photosynthesis
Ven-xa (shrubs)
~14,000
land
P-X-stabilized DNA
Thal-xa (algae)
~22,000
ocean 0–200 m
symbiosis with Thermochromadae
Tor-xa (lichens)
~3,600
highlands
UV resistance
Moryn-xa (deep-water)
~1,800
ocean >1,200 m
bioluminescence
04.7 Fauna (Principal Classes)
Class
Species
Habitat
Feature
Xhari-xa (mammal analogues)
~4,200
land
warm-blooded, viviparity
Khal-xa (bird analogues)
~9,800
land, air
flight, egg-laying
Thal-xa (fish)
~18,000
ocean
gill respiration
Vex-xa (insect analogues)
~124,000
land, air
exoskeleton, 6 limbs
Gharra-xa (deep-sea)
~2,400
ocean >1,200 m
bioluminescence, pressure
04.8 Summary
The three sapient species of Théxar are adapted to different environments. Those differences do not eliminate shared interests or disputes: ocean currents, mineral deposits, water supplies and pollution connect their territories.
Ruun Ven
Three species, three biochemistries: carbon-water, silicon-acid, carbon-water-depth.
Thermochromadae use six-letter DNA with the additional P–X pair.
