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Description

Wheezers are a species of warm-blooded raptiloid sophonts from a geologically hyper-active planet. Volcanic eruptions and lava flows are so common that many plant species have adapted to the extreme heat, some even relying on fire for reproduction. Being exclusively bipedal, one toe on each foot has evolved into a structure resembling small arms tipped with two flexible fingers in order to manipulate the world around them. When not in use, these manipulators are folded up against their legs as to not interfere with locomotion. With their two-parted eyes, they can perceive depth in front of them as well as simultaneously looking to the sides – a remnant of their life lower down on the food chain. Adorning the snout of their distinctively marked heads, multiple motile and hypersensitive whiskers aid in tactile sensing as well as detecting vibrations in the air around them. Apart from their function as sensory organs, the whiskers also play a role in social interactions and courtship as rubbing them together is considered a physically affectionate act – a gesture comparable to kissing in humans of past centuries.

Research has shown that the planet they inhabit used to be devoid of any form of life until complex organisms started showing up in the fossil records a couple of million years ago. This discovery has led to the belief that the planet and its inhabitants are the result of a large-scale terraforming and seeding effort utilizing genetic material from another world, a trend that seems to have been going on for a while as there are a lot of similar instances spread all over the universe. Due to their tendency to flare up, it is unwise to talk about such theories to the wheezers though as it is rather offensive and blasphemous to them as it contradicts their own beliefs. Seeing as they are quick to forgive though, it should not be too big of a problem as long as it does not happen too often.
Despite being fairly small (about 1.7 meters) in comparison to the other creatures from their homeworld, they were able to tame or domesticate many of the larger species, hunting many of the larger predators to extinction or losing them to the loss of habitat. Despite being technologically advanced enough to construct different types of vehicles, they seem to favor beasts of burden, going so far as to utilize native fauna as mounts when on different planets or simply bringing some with them. Farms and industrial animal breeding are fairly widespread on their homeworld, different types of animals being bred to fulfill certain roles. This can range from heavy lifting beasts of burden to animals bred for sport and racing or even designer animals used as symbols of status and influence.

Their somewhat odd and slightly derogatory name is a reference to their vocalization which sounds like a series of chattering gasps, coughs and panting noises. Attempts have been made to transliterate the name they have given their species but the letters of the alphabet can not properly replicate their name. Thanks to current translator technologies, this is not really a problem anymore but one should still be cautious not to call them Wheezers to the face.

© by me

Background: geology.com/volcanoes/volcanic…

Description

Wheezers are a species of warm-blooded raptiloid sophonts from a geologically hyper-active planet. Volcanic eruptions and lava flows are so common that many plant species have adapted to the extreme heat, some even relying on fire for reproduction. Being exclusively bipedal, one toe on each foot has evolved into a structure resembling small arms tipped with two flexible fingers in order to manipulate the world around them. When not in use, these manipulators are folded up against their legs as to not interfere with locomotion. With their two-parted eyes, they can perceive depth in front of them as well as simultaneously looking to the sides – a remnant of their life lower down on the food chain. Adorning the snout of their distinctively marked heads, multiple motile and hypersensitive whiskers aid in tactile sensing as well as detecting vibrations in the air around them. Apart from their function as sensory organs, the whiskers also play a role in social interactions and courtship as rubbing them together is considered a physically affectionate act – a gesture comparable to kissing in humans of past centuries.

Research has shown that the planet they inhabit used to be devoid of any form of life until complex organisms started showing up in the fossil records a couple of million years ago. This discovery has led to the belief that the planet and its inhabitants are the result of a large-scale terraforming and seeding effort utilizing genetic material from another world, a trend that seems to have been going on for a while as there are a lot of similar instances spread all over the universe. Due to their tendency to flare up, it is unwise to talk about such theories to the wheezers though as it is rather offensive and blasphemous to them as it contradicts their own beliefs. Seeing as they are quick to forgive though, it should not be too big of a problem as long as it does not happen too often.
Despite being fairly small (about 1.7 meters) in comparison to the other creatures from their homeworld, they were able to tame or domesticate many of the larger species, hunting many of the larger predators to extinction or losing them to the loss of habitat. Despite being technologically advanced enough to construct different types of vehicles, they seem to favor beasts of burden, going so far as to utilize native fauna as mounts when on different planets or simply bringing some with them. Farms and industrial animal breeding are fairly widespread on their homeworld, different types of animals being bred to fulfill certain roles. This can range from heavy lifting beasts of burden to animals bred for sport and racing or even designer animals used as symbols of status and influence.

Their somewhat odd and slightly derogatory name is a reference to their vocalization which sounds like a series of chattering gasps, coughs and panting noises. Attempts have been made to transliterate the name they have given their species but the letters of the alphabet can not properly replicate their name. Thanks to current translator technologies, this is not really a problem anymore but one should still be cautious not to call them Wheezers to the face.

© by me

Background: geology.com/volcanoes/volcanic…