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Species Name: Calyrae (Singular, Calyra)
Language: Calyraen, Standard Basic
Appearance: Very similar to humans with evolutionary adaptations; they are always pale, ranging in skin tone between milk and pale grey; they possess fanged incisors.
Home World: Calyra
Adaptable?: They're a determined species - it comes from their shared ancestry with humanity. Still, worlds with high levels of specific radiations are quickly fatal to this species.


Detailed Information:
Calyrae are as varied as humanity, with all manner of creeds and belief systems. Extensive genetic and medical surveys have proven definitively that the modern race, though now quite distinct, is descended from the human survivors of the Tetrad, a ship long thought lost to the wastes of AM space.

They tend to be lithe of form and are somewhat less frail than they appear, hiding a surprising strength and speed. They share a similar dentition to humanity, with the notable exception of a pair of elongated and very sharp canines, an adaptation facilitating their unique diet.

Studies have shown that Calyrae maintain vision at nearly pitch black and have a body temperature around 88 degrees Fahrenheit. It is hypothesized that their low body temperature may be the cause of their apparent immunity to many (but not all) human diseases, as the vast majority cannot undergo the protein synthesis reactions required for infection without higher body temps.

They have developed and require a unique diet, as their bodies do not produce heme, the vital iron-based molecule required in hemoglobin. It has been hypothesized that this may be an adaptation to the curiously low iron content of their home planet. Nevertheless, their respiratory systems still require hemoglobin to function - they are, in fact, haemophagic, and their specialized digestions make use of the ingested hemoglobin in ways that are not well understood medically.

A side effect of their lack of hemoglobin production involves the buildup of toxins in their skin which makes them exceptionally allergic to full-spectrum radiation, as from a natural yellow sun; it is a clear maladaptation from their evolution on Calyrae, which is a twilight world. A well-fed Calyra may not display symptoms at all, but as they metabolize this allergy can manifest swiftly and may result in rapid onset of death. Known treatments are rapid blood transfusion and treatment with short term steroids to control swelling and edema.

Uniquely, they also display a mild allergy to elemental silver, which causes a short term but quite uncomfortable rash on dermal contact.

They reproduce sexually.

Logged by: Professor Alabriem Calatrin, GEM exobiologist. Additional data provided by Aimee Beauchene.