Volthoppe (Species)

Volthoppes are a vulnerable species (fewer than 10,000 mature individuals) native to Veb-PCE, a planet very recently made uninhabitable by nuclear winter. The remaining Volthoppes were forced to migrate to other planets. Most of them are current or former soldiers, with only 5% (about 500 mature individuals) being citizens or other noncombatants.

They are a bit of an oddity due to the rarity of true bipedal invertibrates in IPPEC territory. Most members of the species are abnormally strong compared to bipedals of the same size, likely due to the strain of holding themselves up in strong gravity without a skeletal system to support the weight. They lack any genitalia (external or internal), reproduce asexually, and most (~98%) of the remaining population do not claim any social gender. They are an incredibly intelligent species once abundant with education, free medicine and art (especially the art of food), but their strong instincts and poor leadership lead to their current situation – teetering on the brink of extinction.

Volthoppes are a social species, very rarely seen without some form of familial pod such as their "parents", close friends or romantic partners. They generally get along with other species, unless they have "settled down" and claimed a territory, at which time they may become extremely aggressive - even to their own pod. (Such territorial aggression is thought to be linked to the decline and eventual collapse of society on Veb-PCE.)

Despite their resemblance to certain aquatic cephalopods, Volthoppes are not an aquatic or even amphibious species, with lungs only suited for breathing air. However, they can hold their breath for up to an hour if necessary. They are also notable for an incredible resistance to toxins, electric shocks, blunt force trauma & traumatic amputation, making them another rarity among bipedals of similar types. They are comparable to starfish and axolotls in their near-perfect regenerative abilities.

Notably, Volthoppes reproduce through grafting - cutting off a piece of a limb and re-adjoining it either to their own flesh or to someone else's. Typically they graft the severed limb to an easily-protected area, such as the stomach or under the lower tentacles. Once their body detects a graft has been made, hormones are pumped to the area, encouraging new skin to grow around the graft and the enclosed area to fill with blood, meant to provide nutrients and protection to the graft.

After 1-2 weeks protecting the graft, it will be ready to detach from the host body as a nymph - essentially a small & weak but otherwise visually identical copy of the "parent". The nymph will take another few weeks to grow into an adult form, during which time their appearance will typically branch from the "parent", making them look more unique. Most Volthoppe nymphs stay in close contact with their host "parents" for another few years, if not for life, though it only takes them a few weeks to become self-sufficient.

Volthoppes are generally much taller than humans, with thin, elongated necks that make their heads seem disproportionately large. Their heads can rotate & twist independently of their already dexterous neck, giving them an incredible range of motion & vision. They have two fully mobile arms in the same configuration as a human, as well as a humanoid, flat face. They have a cartilaginous pseudo-skeleton, giving some rigidity to their upper torso and head. In place of hair and lower legs, they have 6-8 fully mobile tentacles, usually adding up to 12-16 total. They may style their "hair" tentacles, but rarely cut them. (They naturally stay about shoulder length or shorter.)

• Their coloration can vary wildly, but shades of blue, brown and red are most common. Spots & stripes may occur naturally on skin.
• Irises are typically pale in color, while scelera and teeth are typically a darker, matching color. This isn't a hard rule, though.
• Teeth & nails are both cartilaginous, but are hard enough to cut through foods such as fish or bread. Both can be safely cut since they have no nerve endings, although I don't know why you'd want to.
• Like many IRL cephalopods, Volthoppes are capable of changing their shape and color, which they may choose to do for social purposes. It does not seem to cause any strain, especially after they've gotten used to it.