Creature:Spatae iuefeii

The Mikargose (pronounced /meχɑɢœʃe/) (Spatae iuefeii) is a member of the family Segoingrediae, in the class of Hemoinsectae. They are a spacefaring race, with a homeworld on Spata and a home system named Hampac. Their empire is split in two: the Sasut (/ʃɑʐœt/), or 'homeland,' and the Sasail (/ʃɑʃ'el/), or 'outland', accessable only through GRB-68941f, referred to colloquially as the Arekazna (/ɑʁeχɑt͡sɲɑ/), or 'Great Port'. While the Sasail remains very much a 'lawless' frontier, the Sasut continues to exist as a lively center for commerce, culture, government, and expansion.

Head, Mouth, and Neck
The most curious aspect of the Spatae iuefeii from a biological perspective is the apparent lack of a mouth, which is instead shielded by three wide strips of bone that protrude through the skin. This protrusion works in a not dissimilar fashion than the wisdom teeth of Homo sapiens, in that it is evident of age - in the symbology of the Spatae iuefeii culture, for instance, just as many cultures of the Homo sapiens display wisdom and erudity through a flowing beird, the Spatae iuefeii display it through a fuller, more comprehensive set of these mandibular plates.

While it seems like the mandibular plates prevent the existence of any oral cavity, this is not necessarily the case. The Spatae iuefeii indeed possesses what might be called a set of vestigial oral cavities. However, they are not technically vestigial - they are, rather, muscle-bounded cavities fitted with vocal cords, and a membrane through which breathable air is filtered for the lungs. Were one to tear away the protective mandibular plates, one would see what seems to be three tubes, roughly corresponding to the center of each mandibular plate, going downwards on the face. They are, in nature, fleshy and fragile, not altogether unlike a rather thin hose, thus necessitating the protection of the mandibular plates, and their superstructure.

Also of interest on the face of the Spatae iuefeii is the set of of bony frills placed around the upper circumference of the head. The primary frill is the top frill, in the center, which is usually longest and is the first to develop at around the age of reproduction. The two side frills develop as the Spatae iuefeii enters fully developed adulthood, and full growth is taken as a sign of adulthood, itself greeted with a coming of age party not dissimilar from a bar mitzvah or cotillion.

The correct term for the top frill is the adolescent mane, and the correct term for the side frills are mature mane.

Above and below the mature manes are independently manipulated oral cavities, which function as mouths. Due to their small size, usually all four of them are used during a meal, and all may be used to intake either water or food. The gullet begins in the stomach, segmented into two portions, and goes up through the neck, whereupon it begins to branch out into four sub-gullets, eventually extending into the oral cavities seen. They are armored from from the elements by a segemented chitinous shell.

The airway and the gullet are side by side, but separate, and food never enters through the airway (under the mandibular plates); vice versa, air meant for the lungs never enters through the oral cavities.

In the front of the neck is the jugular vein and common corotid artery, one on each side of the airway/gullet tubes. They are uniquely wrapped around a segment of chitin untreated with calcium carbonate, thereby becoming malleable and leathery, the purpose of which being to protect these vital regions of the body while maintaining the ability to manipulate the neck to turn the head.

The torso and arms
The torso is defended by a set of plates on the stomach roughly corresponding to the pectoral and rectus abdominis muscles of the body, which bear a striking resemblance to those of Homo sapiens. At birth, the plates are not present - much like the adolescent mane, these grow starting in puberty. They are literally an outgrowth of the muscles, which soon separate into entirely different muscle groups on top of the pectoral and rectus abdominis muscles, and then begin heterotopic ossification as these muscles grow and are torn by the growth. The result is, again, not dissimilar from a wisdom tooth - the flesh of the front of the chest receeds as the plates begin to expand past the chest, and once full adulthood is reached, they cease growth. The plates (from hereon referred to as pectorales ossificatae, or P.O.) are examples of manhood in Spatae iuefeii culture, as they are solely masculine growths - although culture has replaced the pectorales ossificatae as the primary measure of attractiveness, large specimens were thought to be identified with strength and prowess in combat, as wounds given to pectorales ossificatae in development would result in even larger growths, thus signifying experience and skill in battle.

The lungs and heart are much like those of the Homo sapiens. The heart is four-chambered,