The Mahigan

Attributes

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  Mahigan physical attributes come in a wide range and variety. The pelts of a mahigan come in a varying range as well as many difference in fin colors. Every characteristic of the mahigan is specifically unique and no two are alike.

  

  Body The bodies of the mahigan are that of a bipedal, maned wolf. However, along the back of the mahigan there is a dense ridge of flesh that protrudes from the fur and acts as protection for the mahigan's spine and also holds the rays that extend for the individual's dorsal fin. This runs from the neck all the way to the tailbone and is often obscured by fur. The large dorsal fin is midway down their back that collapses when not in use. The dorsal fin may appear when the mahigan becomes agitated, angry or nervous just how any other animal's fur may stand on end during such stressful events. Like a typical wolf, the mane will also stand on end with the combination of integrated rays to make the mahigan appear larger and more intimidating. Female Body Reference Notable Body Attributes Females, unless a brood mother of a pack, tend to have flatter chests and brood mothers have less effective tails that resemble that of a thresher shark.

  Abilities The mahigan use echolocation and sonar. These are two things that the mahigan use while hunting under water and on land to easily track down prey. The use of loud, underwater howls akin to the calls of other underwater species can often be heard from great distances. This allows the mahigan to communicate through vastly open bodies of water. The mahigan sense of smell is also very acute and can detect specific things both on land and in the ocean.

  Tail The mahigan's tail is generally four to six feet in length with a prehensile tip that can split open at will and reveal a large, shark like fin with a vaste array of colors. The tail is dense with muscles as this acts as the main propulsion for which a mahigan will use when swimming under water. The length of the tail and how muscular it is along with the overall mahigan determines how quickly the individual can swim. Additionally, all tails are a representation of a sharks with a main caudal fin and various fins to assist in stability. The mahigan's tail, like a wolf, is known to be very bushy, this also assists in concealing the dorsal and caudal fins. Thankfully due to the natural oils of their fur; their fur is relatively waterproof.

  Mane Instead of human-like hair, all mahigans have a mane and little else though it is not unheard of for tame or even domesticated females and males to have long hair. The mane of the mahigan serves no other purpose then to be protection for the neck, head and gills. The hair surrounding the main is a combination of disjointed rays that are similar to the rays seen within the mahigan's fins. These spine-like hairs are hidden within the dense, erectile coat that is often used to enlarge the mahigan's profile when threatened or displaying aggression.

  Skin The mahigan's skin is divided into two primary layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is a range of epithelial cells arranged one above the other. The epithelial cells are constantly shed and replaced with new ones. Between the epithelial cells lie slime cells that produce specific secretions that form a protective covering known as the slime coat. The dermis lays beneath the epidermis. This is where the mahigan's tough, longer fur sprouts from pore-like pockets that all house castor glands that excrete a small amount of oil over the fur.

  Fins Every mahigan's tail has a unique mutation on their collapsable fins. These fins are made up of stiff rays covered by skin, some rays are known to be bony, stiff and unjointed which are referred to as spines. The dorsal fins located on their backs and tails, as well as the prominent caudal fin on their tail all share hereditary color characteristics from the mahigan's parents, however, all mahigan tails are unique in design. Every mahigan fin is different and no two are known to be alike. The fins of the mahigan are an evolutionary masterpiece. They share all characteristics of a sharks fins with the only major difference being the skin that covers them, and that they are more pliable to movement. The dorsal fins are used for general stability when swimming, while the caudal fin on the tail is used for underwater propulsion. Caudal fin examples

  Gills Respiration is carried out by means of the mahigan drawing in water through their mouths to be expelled through the gills where the gaseous exchange takes place. The gills are located under what is called gill covers on the mahigan's neck. The walls of a mahigan's pharynx are specially evolved so that they are perforated by three slit-like openings. The tissue between the slits is called the gill arch. At the edge of such arches are the gills themselves where the gaseous exchange takes place and allows the mahigan to breath under water. These gills are often obscured by the mahigan's mane, though some can be visible. The gills themselves are often colored the same as the fins. Some wonder how the dense manes that surround the gills do not effect the breathing underwater. That is because water is exhaled from the gills, not inhaled. e.g. How Gills Work

  Teeth The mahigan have two rows of teeth; the interior row and the exterior row. The interior are canine all around and primarily for mastication but the exterior row are the more prominent and visible teeth that are each pointed like a shark. This row is typically used for ripping and tearing at the flesh of their prey. It is unusual for a mahigan to chew, but instead swallow their food in chunks.

  Eyes Mahigan eyes are most brown or blue, but there are some known cases when the aquatic species are known to have genetically rarer eye colors such as green, silver, gold and orange.

  Fur The mahigan fur is comprised of two major layers; short fine hairs for warmth and longer hairs for waterproofing. Just below their wrists the mahigan have castor glands that excrete and oily substance that is used during the grooming process for their fur, as well as to mark their mates and pack territory. Typically a male will tend to a females coat in a pairing.

  Genitalia The mahigan genitalia is relatively human, however, the male phallus is strictly canine.

  Reproduction The Mahigan can only breed with other mahigan due to their genetic complexity.

  Height Females can range from 5' to 7' when fully matured Males can range from 5'5 to 7'5 when fully matured Note: There are some instances when a mahigan has either been smaller, or larger than the typical range. However, the larger the mahigan the more likely survival in the wild.

  Lifespan The mahigan have a normal lifespan and are susceptible to death on nearly a daily basis. The typical age of death of the average mahigan is 60 years old with brood mothers living the longest. See more

  Weight Males and Females have a wide range of sizes. They can be lithe, brawny, curvy or even overweight. However, in the wild the strongest among the pack are often strongest and most dominant.

  

  Coat Variations