Telabrians
Telabrians are a reptilian humanoid race native to Tela, a neighbouring planet to Thega in the Kepler-26 system. (Telabrians are under revision.)NAMING
Don't go too crazy with naming. Simplicity is key.
Generally, names are very short (4 to 6 letters) and only one or two syllables. They have a lot of double consonants or vowels, and they have no last names or family names. (ex. Sett, Vees, Hall, Sivi.) Because of this, some names are more common than others (due to some sounding "better" than others to Telan ears) and they will also be called by an epithet if there is another in their social group with the same name. This is usually referring to a physical trait (Sett-the-little-one, Sivi-with-pale-colours, etc.) or a personality trait, or some sort of vague metaphorical comparison (Vees-like-water). These "nicknames" obviously sound way better in Telan, and don't translate very well, so other species don't really use them.
PHYSIOLOGY
Telabrians are somewhat bland in terms of colour, but they can be accessorized into oblivion.
Telabrians are a tall, slender species, with an elongated form. They lack a nose, instead having two small reptilian nostrils on their shallow nasal plane. Their eyes are large and round, with deep creases in their eyelids. Their faces are more compressed, wide and almost snakelike in shape, but with soft tissue overlaying the sharp planes of their bone structure. Telabrians are described as a more "primal" version of their neighbouring species.
A very tall species, most female Telabrians average between 6'3" and 7'2". Males average between 5'11" and 6'9".
Their eyes are either very dark grey or black, including the sclera. They have a reflective surface, making it difficult to see the iris/pupil without looking closely. They have telescopic vision and can percieve several more colours than humans can.
Telabrians have very fine scales covering the majority of their skin, though some rounded bumps can be found on parts of their bodies, particularly the tail and shoulders. Their skin colour ranges from very light grey to nearly black, and their scales will follow the colour of the skin beneath. Some individuals will have more tan-coloured scales, though their skin is still grey; this is a relatively recent and benign genetic development, and such individuals are seen as somewhat strange and unattractive to most of their kind.
The "Telabrian hair" many humans covet so much is actually a collection of long hairlike feathers, similar to the feathers believed to have been found on rudimentary avians. This hair can be styled fairly easily, but it usually grows backward from the forehead, making it difficult to stay in forward-facing styles. There is some voluntary control over the muscles at the base of the hair follicles, giving them the ability to "fluff up" when threatened or aggressive. Some females will grow what is sometimes called a "mane", a very low hairline at the base of their neck that can sometimes extend past the crest of their shoulders (the bump at the base of their neck). These individuals often grow their hair very long to accentuate this trait.
Like many of the lifeforms on their respective planets, Thegarians and Telabrians both have hemocyanin-based blood (compared to the hemoglobin-based blood of humans and other Earth vertebrates) which means their blood is colourless when deoxygenated, but a murky pale blue when oxygenated. Their blood clots easily and is very efficient at transporting oxygen. They are also known to be able to survive longer in low-oxygen situations than nearly any other race because of the efficiency of their blood. The primary pulse point on a Telabrian is actually in the same place as on a human (below the corner of the jaw), unlike Thegarians, mainly because of differences in the arterial structure of the area due to Thegans' gills.
There is little sexual dimorphism between races, save for the females being slightly larger and more broadly built. They have no secondary sex characteristics (breasts/large hips, etc.) because they do not nurse their young or have live births. Men are slightly more delicately built, and are seen as the "fairer sex." They have internal sex organs, hidden in a slit on the front of their pelvic area. They lay soft-shelled leathery eggs, which are given to the monks in the temple to be raised. Parenting one's own children is an extremely rare practice. (More on this can be found in the planet information post.) The eggs are fertilized before they are laid, and females lay 2 to 4 eggs in a clutch.
They have two toes on digitigrade feet, with a smaller vestigial toe further up the inside of their ankles, and hands with three fingers and a thumb. Their ears are short and tapered to a point, often pierced multiple times and tattooed at the tips.
They have very long bluish tongues, up to a foot long in some individuals, which are stored in a pocket in their throat. They have sharp upper and lower canines that extend slightly beyond their incisors, giving their smile a somewhat feral appearance.
Their tails are large and heavy, and are often decorated in paint. The bulk of the tail is mostly fat deposits, which store extra water to be used in the event of a drought. If someone has a thin tail, it can be safely assumed that they are incredibly dehydrated or suffering from an illness. The tail itself is strong enough to support a person's full body weight, though it doesn't have full mobility.
They are opportunistic omnivores; they have a strong stomach, and can eat most things if they need to. They feed mostly on plant life and the fishlike animals that live near the coast. They don't generally eat terrestrial animals unless they absolutely have to, mostly because the terrestrial animals of Tela don't taste very good. (The seafood is superb, though.)
INDIVIDUALITY
This section depends largely on your character itself. Use your good judgement.
Clothing generally consists of small loincloths and wraps, seeing as their pelvic slit is seen as somewhat indecent to show in public. Upper body clothing is rare, mainly because of the warm climate. Accessories are worn in abundance and sometimes excess, particularly elaborate neckwear and arm cuffs. Body paint is worn by both sexes, although generally males wear more of it. The paint is made from the crushed root of a common shrub, mixed with the pigment from local insects, clay, and plants. Sometimes, they will incorporate aspects of alien fashions into their clothing, usually in the form of exotic fabrics or patterns.
They do not usually tattoo pictures on their skin like humans do, but it's not completely unheard of. Their tattooing practices are usually geometric in design, and the process is extremely painful for them due to the quality of their skin. It's more common to see tattooed people in the tribes near the edges of the arid desert. Most individuals do, however, tattoo their tongues; they will tattoo the tongue as far back as possible, but it can only be pierced in the last third, or else it won't fit back in the throat pocket.
Their hair can be dyed virtually any colour, with red being a common choice. Because their hair grows in cool-tinted colours, warm colours are seen as a more decorative and exotic choice, while colours like blue and green are more natural.