[Species] Saa-kru

[Cirrial]

Type:
Alien


Place of Origin:
Homeworld Keo-te-ka, Floating Arm galaxy, universe 128 on Bluespace-Relative scale


Biologically granted Abilities:
Enhanced colour perception, ease of transport across large bodies of water


Diseases Genetically Prone to:
Several, but only native to Keo-te-ka. Most bacteria and viruses are swiftly felled by their immune system.


Technological Status:
Spacefaring civilisation


Description:
(Here are some pictures for guidance)

Exterior physiology

The saa-kru would at first glance appear to be somewhat insectoid in appearance. Their head seems to support this theory.
The saa-kru head has two large eyes on either side of the head, which change colour constantly and are slightly luminescent in pitch black conditions. The saa-kru would have almost complete 360 degree vision, but they cannot see directly behind them, and can only focus on certain areas of their range of vision.
On the top of the saa-kru head are two long, flexible attennae, which pick up vibrations in the air. They also have two prominent mandibles on either side of their comparatively small mouth, which twitch when speaking, and the variable clacking noises produced by the mandibles features prominently in saa-kru native languages.
However, their bodies aren't divided into segments. Instead, their body consists of what could be considered to be two torsos seamlessly blending into each other, to form an L shape. One half of the body of a standing saa-kru is vertical, and the lower half is horizontal. The body ends and forms what could be considered a rounded stump , and is the closest thing to a tail that the saa-kru have. Their torsos are somewhat dull but smooth to the touch, and are black for males and a light grey for females, the only visible sexual dimorphism there is to non-saa-kru.
Saa-kru have six greyish limbs, two just a little lower where human arms would be, two at the bend between torsos, and two near the end of their lower torso. While all six limbs can function as arms or legs, saa-kru tend to walk on four legs and use their two free limbs as arms. With especially honed balance, some saa-kru can stand on two limbs and use their remaining four limbs for any specific task. All limbs are double-jointed. The gait of a saa-kru is largely culturally influenced, rather than biological.
At the end of each limb is a hand, with three radial digits, each tapering to a point. Each digit also three joints, much as a human finger - one at the base, two along the inside of the digit. These radial hands mean that saa-kru have a hard time using technology made for different types of hand.
The back of the upper torso of a saa-kru has two barely visible slits for wings, but due to reasons which will be talked about later, these wings are rarely ever seen. The top of the lower torso also has six heavily filtered holes for breathing when the saa-kru can't breath through their mouths.

Interior physiology

To begin with, the saa-kru circulatory system differs greatly from most sophonts in that the saa-kru have grey, almost oily blood, with traces of silicates, and no hearts. Instead, throughout a saa-kru's body are many tens of vascular bulges referred to as "nodes", and the efforts of each node contracting in synchronisation with the other nodes gives the same effect as a beating heart. However, this also means saa-kru have much higher blood pressure, and bleeding to death from wounds that other sophonts may have just survived from is not uncommon.
Saa-kru are oxygen breathers. However, their lungs also differ from human lungs. Instead of two lungs, saa-kru have four relatively smaller lungs in their lower torso. With a full breath of air, an average saa-kru can stay underwater for a good ten minutes - but with a full breath of air, a saa-kru will have difficulty sinking underwater in the first place. These make it easier for saa-kru to catch shallows-dwelling fish and other aquatic creatures native to their planet.
The saa-kru mouthparts are, aside from the mostly useless mandibles, all interior, and are two vertical sharp plates, with the saa-kru tongue resting directly under in a small groove away from where the plates meet. Otherwise, the saa-kru digestive system is mostly similar to the human digestive system.
As well as these, there are also other unique organs and glands possessed by the saa-kru, most with functions roughly analogous to human organs, but some of a saa-kru's internal biochemistry is apparently silicon-based. Of particular note is a small gland that produces what are apparently nanomachines, consisting of both carbon and silicon, which act as a complement to their immune system, and also heal penetrative wounds at an increased rate.
While a saa-kru can survive without this mystery organ, those who possess it seem to recover from trauma and illness much more easily. Its evolutionary point of origin is unclear, as it may be an example of genetic engineering that became the norm for all saa-kru, or there may be another reason.


Culture:

Saa-kru history is long and complicated, as it is for all sapient species. However, saa-kru history is particularly notable in the fact that petty skirmishes far outnumber any actual wars. While the saa-kru are by no means a completely pacifistic species, they are by far a mild and tolerant species. The saa-kru possess a curiosity as great as many sophonts, and certainly possess ambitions, but the saa-kru are far more likely overall to help rather than harm another saa-kru. The exact reason as to why this is so is unknown, and many sophonts, including saa-kru, are currently involved in scientific studies to see why this is. ((There's a reason alright, but not one that'll make itself evident any time soon <_<))
A major and universal aspect of saa-kru culture is the relevance and significance attached to the visible colour spectrum. Saa-kru see roughly the same spectrum as humans, with a slight inability to see some extreme shades of red and purple. However, they see colours in much greater detail than the human eye, and colours are directly matched to specific emotions and concepts. Some colours are so culturally engrained, saa-kru will feel the emotion a colour represents upon seeing it. Many saa-kru forms of media put strong emphasis on colour, and even self-respecting authors would use at least forty hues in a single piece of text.
Notable colours that are designated to have a standard meaning across nations and planets are a slightly orangey red for warfare and military (just because there aren't many wars doesn't mean the saa-kru can't protect themselves from other species), a lightish blue for science and knowledge, and several shades of green for labour and menial tasks. Emotional colours vary between cultures.
Maratix, staffed mostly by saa-kru, uses a shade of lightish blue as its trademark colour, as it is associated with being a "smart" colour by most saa-kru.
Finally, although most saa-kru have wings, they will almost never show them in public, unless the individual is particularly lewd. Saa-kru wings are vibrantly coloured with intricate swirls and fractal patterns on them, and are useless for flight. However, they're used for the purposes of attracting mates, hence the stigma associated with baring them in public.

[Treesprite]

[Cirrial]

Very good point. Edited accordingly. Next time, I need proof read things more thoroughly. >_>

[Treesprite]

Glad to be of help!