Post by TiJiL on Feb 12, 2004 20:41:47 GMT -5
Snodeck Anatomy
Nervous System:
Snodeck nervous systems are nothing of great amazement, except for a few aspects. A nerve cell in a Snodeck is heavily branched and covered in a layer of extremely receptive sensors. These sensors can detect the tiniest concentration changes of the hundreds of chemicals within the Snodeck’s brain and form tiny protein structures in response. These cells are extremely sensitive and therefore are excellent for storing memories. Indeed, Snodeck have, generally, the best memories of any species. Aside from this, the particularly branched cells clump together in thick ‘bunches’ in the brain. These bunches are excellent for storing short-term data, which makes Snodeck excellent at figuring complex problems without computer aid.
Respiratory System:
The Snodeck are believed to have once been plains animals that used noisy bellows to communicate. While not nearly so loud now, they still retain their muscular lungs. Snodeck lungs are particularly tensile. When a Snodeck inhales, their two lungs are filled completely full until they are practically spherical (and would, in theory, bounce). The trachea is closed off for about an erk, giving the body time to absorb as much oxygen as possible from the inhaled gas. The Snodeck exhales all of the air in a powerful blast, rather than a slow steady release. The gas is propelled through the vocal chambers in their face and out of their mouth. Some Snodeck can still create enormously loud trumpeting sounds in this manner.
Circulatory System:
Snodeck circulatory systems are not particularly interesting in any way, save for the rather bizarre vein system. The veins and arteries are arranged in a circular pattern, branching off at even intervals. A spiraling artery and vein runs down each tentacle in a long helix.
Digestive System
Snodeck used to live on a planet of much life and, like the hurks, thus developed to be able to eat a great variety of food. Now, with their commercialization of Decka, their diet has only become more diverse. Snodeck are often very fond of food, purchasing it from all corners of the galaxy to satisfy their pampered palates. They have several different types of teeth, allowing them to efficiently grind their food. The food is then sent into their great fermenting gut. A Snodeck’s stomach is their largest, arguably least efficient organ and the reason they often appear to be fat. Symbiotic bacteria digest the food within it, often taking a full twassecc day to digest a meal. Luckily, Snodeck don’t need to eat nearly so often as other species, though they often eat more at any given time. They simply eat a gigantic meal each day, reserving the rest of the day to allow it to digest.
Endocrine and Immune Systems
The Snodeck have a particularly weak immune system. Their planet has long been free of almost every infectious disease, what with their excellent cleanliness. Without being introduced to many microbes, the Snodeck never develop immunities to diseases. Along with this, they have begun to drop their immune systems in the past million years, as they rarely need them and they are so expensive to create and maintain. Snodeck are easily killed with any sort of biological weapon, fungus, bacteria, or virus. Thus, many of them opt to take all sorts of immunity shots prior to heading off world, often in addition to wearing a specially suited gas-mask that screens what they breathe and slowly releases a fine mist of phagocytes that they will absorb into their bloodstream.
Reproductive System
Snodeck have internal fertilization. The young develop quickly within the womb(s) and are born fairly well developed. This is good for their spread, but takes a great deal out of the mother. While pregnant, the female generally eats nearly twice as much as normal, to support the massive growth rate. A Snodeck female has four wombs. The infant(s) will be fertilized in the first and grow there for about a month and then spend a month in each of the wombs. The final chamber is the largest and the infant experiences the most growth in this stage. The baby is born painlessly, unannounced, and quickly, often while the mother sleeps. Snodeck take about 17 Deckan years to mature physically.
Skeletal and Muscle Systems:
Snodeck are not particularly muscular, except in their neck and tentacles. Their tentacles are really rather strong, but can also be extremely delicate. Each one contains about 10,000 tiny muscles in it. Their neck is also particularly beefy, to hold up their fairly large heads. It is worthy of note that they have no internal skeleton in their legs. Their legs are composed of durable chitin and are completely hollow. Through the contracting and expanding of four chambers on the bottom of the Snodeck the air pressure in the legs is increased or decreased. This causes the leg to flex. Snodeck skeletons are cartilaginous and very limited. They really only possess a skull, several neck and back vertebrae, and a plate across their back for the tentacles to attach to. Their limbs do not require bones.
Sensory Systems:
Snodeck senses are not particularly powerful. Their eyes are fairly large and well developed, however, and are their most attuned sense. The eyes possess, along with an opaque lid, a nictitating eyelid that has developed into a second lens. Normally, the second lens is kept open, hidden within the Snodeck’s skull. However, when the Snodeck wishes to look at a particularly small object, it can close the nictitating eyelid and magnify its vision. Obviously, it does not behoove them to keep the eyelid down while walking. The Snodeck possess no sense of smell and only moderate senses of hearing and touch. However, their sense of taste seems particularly sensitive, though this cannot ever be accurately measured. They just seem to be able to differentiate in the tastes very similar foods.
Vocal Chambers:
Snodeck vocal chambers protrude from either side of their face. These translucent vacuoles contain flaps of fleshy material that can be tightened or loosened to change the frequency at which they vibrate. Exhaled air moves through these chambers, producing a pitch as it moves past the flaps. While it is speculated that Snodeck in the past were far better at this kind of vocalization, many that still exist can produce amazingly loud sounds. It has been said that watching a Snodeck speak is very odd and distracting, as one can watch their vocal cords (sort of) at work.
Nervous System:
Snodeck nervous systems are nothing of great amazement, except for a few aspects. A nerve cell in a Snodeck is heavily branched and covered in a layer of extremely receptive sensors. These sensors can detect the tiniest concentration changes of the hundreds of chemicals within the Snodeck’s brain and form tiny protein structures in response. These cells are extremely sensitive and therefore are excellent for storing memories. Indeed, Snodeck have, generally, the best memories of any species. Aside from this, the particularly branched cells clump together in thick ‘bunches’ in the brain. These bunches are excellent for storing short-term data, which makes Snodeck excellent at figuring complex problems without computer aid.
Respiratory System:
The Snodeck are believed to have once been plains animals that used noisy bellows to communicate. While not nearly so loud now, they still retain their muscular lungs. Snodeck lungs are particularly tensile. When a Snodeck inhales, their two lungs are filled completely full until they are practically spherical (and would, in theory, bounce). The trachea is closed off for about an erk, giving the body time to absorb as much oxygen as possible from the inhaled gas. The Snodeck exhales all of the air in a powerful blast, rather than a slow steady release. The gas is propelled through the vocal chambers in their face and out of their mouth. Some Snodeck can still create enormously loud trumpeting sounds in this manner.
Circulatory System:
Snodeck circulatory systems are not particularly interesting in any way, save for the rather bizarre vein system. The veins and arteries are arranged in a circular pattern, branching off at even intervals. A spiraling artery and vein runs down each tentacle in a long helix.
Digestive System
Snodeck used to live on a planet of much life and, like the hurks, thus developed to be able to eat a great variety of food. Now, with their commercialization of Decka, their diet has only become more diverse. Snodeck are often very fond of food, purchasing it from all corners of the galaxy to satisfy their pampered palates. They have several different types of teeth, allowing them to efficiently grind their food. The food is then sent into their great fermenting gut. A Snodeck’s stomach is their largest, arguably least efficient organ and the reason they often appear to be fat. Symbiotic bacteria digest the food within it, often taking a full twassecc day to digest a meal. Luckily, Snodeck don’t need to eat nearly so often as other species, though they often eat more at any given time. They simply eat a gigantic meal each day, reserving the rest of the day to allow it to digest.
Endocrine and Immune Systems
The Snodeck have a particularly weak immune system. Their planet has long been free of almost every infectious disease, what with their excellent cleanliness. Without being introduced to many microbes, the Snodeck never develop immunities to diseases. Along with this, they have begun to drop their immune systems in the past million years, as they rarely need them and they are so expensive to create and maintain. Snodeck are easily killed with any sort of biological weapon, fungus, bacteria, or virus. Thus, many of them opt to take all sorts of immunity shots prior to heading off world, often in addition to wearing a specially suited gas-mask that screens what they breathe and slowly releases a fine mist of phagocytes that they will absorb into their bloodstream.
Reproductive System
Snodeck have internal fertilization. The young develop quickly within the womb(s) and are born fairly well developed. This is good for their spread, but takes a great deal out of the mother. While pregnant, the female generally eats nearly twice as much as normal, to support the massive growth rate. A Snodeck female has four wombs. The infant(s) will be fertilized in the first and grow there for about a month and then spend a month in each of the wombs. The final chamber is the largest and the infant experiences the most growth in this stage. The baby is born painlessly, unannounced, and quickly, often while the mother sleeps. Snodeck take about 17 Deckan years to mature physically.
Skeletal and Muscle Systems:
Snodeck are not particularly muscular, except in their neck and tentacles. Their tentacles are really rather strong, but can also be extremely delicate. Each one contains about 10,000 tiny muscles in it. Their neck is also particularly beefy, to hold up their fairly large heads. It is worthy of note that they have no internal skeleton in their legs. Their legs are composed of durable chitin and are completely hollow. Through the contracting and expanding of four chambers on the bottom of the Snodeck the air pressure in the legs is increased or decreased. This causes the leg to flex. Snodeck skeletons are cartilaginous and very limited. They really only possess a skull, several neck and back vertebrae, and a plate across their back for the tentacles to attach to. Their limbs do not require bones.
Sensory Systems:
Snodeck senses are not particularly powerful. Their eyes are fairly large and well developed, however, and are their most attuned sense. The eyes possess, along with an opaque lid, a nictitating eyelid that has developed into a second lens. Normally, the second lens is kept open, hidden within the Snodeck’s skull. However, when the Snodeck wishes to look at a particularly small object, it can close the nictitating eyelid and magnify its vision. Obviously, it does not behoove them to keep the eyelid down while walking. The Snodeck possess no sense of smell and only moderate senses of hearing and touch. However, their sense of taste seems particularly sensitive, though this cannot ever be accurately measured. They just seem to be able to differentiate in the tastes very similar foods.
Vocal Chambers:
Snodeck vocal chambers protrude from either side of their face. These translucent vacuoles contain flaps of fleshy material that can be tightened or loosened to change the frequency at which they vibrate. Exhaled air moves through these chambers, producing a pitch as it moves past the flaps. While it is speculated that Snodeck in the past were far better at this kind of vocalization, many that still exist can produce amazingly loud sounds. It has been said that watching a Snodeck speak is very odd and distracting, as one can watch their vocal cords (sort of) at work.
