Creature:Ciitarkian

Ciitarkians are well-known as the 'idiot scientists' of the galaxy. They believe in learning everything there is to know about the universe, and have done everything from mutate themselves horribly through various means to crushing themselves in black holes to flying straight into suns -- all in the name of absolute knowledge. Due to this fact, they are not nearly as prominent as other races (there numbers sometimes equal only a few hundred thousand at a time), but they are known to many races, as they have joined every allegiance they can possibly convince others to let them join. They have a strange curiosity for the Human race and their civilization, specifically for the fact that we try so hard to be what we're not. For that reason, we have gained a form of respect from the Ciitarkians, and even those joined with the Crux (a group of Space Pirates) about to attempt to destroy us will flatter us with compliments and even invite us aboard their ships for a quick snack before battle. They are known to be loyal, however, and once they've chosen an allegiance, they will stick to it through thick and thin, which is why groups usually won't kick them out as they know these awkward fish-folk can be trusted.

Scientific Classification
Domain: Eukaryota (Complex Organisms) Kingdom: Animalia (Animals) Phylum: Chordata (Animals with Notochords) Subphylum: Vertebrata (Vertebrates) Infraphylum: Gnathostomata (Jawed Vertebrates) Superclass: Osteichthyes (Bony Fish) Class: Actinopterygii (Lobe-Finned Fish) Order: Saccopharyngiformes (Swallowers and Gulpers) Family: Saccopharyngidae (Gulper Eels) Genus: Saccobipedulus "Sack Biped" (Bipedal Gulper Eels) Species: Saccoscientia "Science Sack" (Modern-Day Ciitarkians) Binominal Name: Saccobipedulus saccoscientia

Statistics
Species Nicknames: C-Heads, Debuggers Home Planet: Ciitarkia Species Type: Warm-blooded Deep-Marine Vertebrate Speech Style: Morse code-like language created by the blinking of their bioluminescent tail. Out of water, however, they are known to use vocal cords, as well for speech. Lifestyle: Social Scientists Hunt/Forage Success Rate: Naturally, they hunt 100% of the time, but they tend to hunt and forage at varying degrees in the name of science. Success rates also vary, although the typical natural hunting success rates are around 80%. Armor: Ciitarkian possess no natural armors, although many millions of armor designs have been created by various Ciitarkian scientists over the years. Defenses: A Ciitarkian’s natural defense is to eat the potential predator. See Weapons. Weapons: Ciitarkians possess huge gaping mouths, distensible stomachs, and long, whip-like tails tipped with a bioluminescent light. All of this is used in conjunction specifically for feeding purposes. Although Ciitarkians possess arms and legs, these are rarely used during natural conditions of feeding or fighting. Tools: Ciitarkians possess two semi-webbed hands that they use to manipulate objects. Method of Eating: Swims around in darkness, until prey is attracted to its bioluminescent light on the tip of its tail. Once successfully lured, the Ciitarkian slowly brings lure to the entrance of its mouth, and when prey comes in close enough, Ciitarkian nabs it and lets it slide into its distensible stomach. Food is taken in through the mouth, then past through the digestive system and out the anus on the other end; however, other methods have been attempted in the name of science. Reproductive Rate: Ciitarkians are capable of breeding at any time they choose. This helps maximize the replacement of the deaths each day by adult Ciitarkians on scientific missions. Gestation: Ciitarkians have evolved due to their suicidally curious nature a short incubation period of only 10 days before the eggs are laid. Offspring Incubation: Number of Offspring: 100,000 per litter. Offspring Survival Rate (before age of maturity): 90% -- few experiments are done involving Ciitarkian young, and the young are now typically raised in hatcheries rather than the wild. Singular/Plural/Possessive: Ciitarkian/Ciitarkians/Ciitarkian

Physiology
Below in this next section, you will find information on the Ciitarkian's physical appearance, and explanations of things from their skeleton all the way to each of their senses.

Skeleton
Like all Saccopharyngiformes, Ciitarkians lack a number of bones, which include the symplectic bone, the opercle bones (the gill flaps), as well as the ribcage, which in the Ciitarkian are made out of cartilage. The Ciitarkians possess a cartilage ribcage in order to help support their body in an upright position on land while still allow the flexibility needed for them to swallow their occassionally-gargantuan prey. However, their jaws are quite enormous, and are built to allow the Ciitarkian to consume prey larger than they themselves happen to be.

Musculatory System
Little about a Ciitarkian's muscle system is interesting, and in fact they possess typically weak muscles, barely able to support a Ciitarkian in full bipedal walking. However, a Ciitarkian's jaw's muscle segments, or "myomeres", are formed more like a V in comparison to a typical fish's jaw, which is more W-shaped.

Organs
Again like all Saccopharyngiformes, Ciitarkians are missing their pelvic fins and do not possess a swim bladder. It should be added also that Ciitarkians are completely lacking in the scales department, and therefore possess only smooth skin.

Trivia
 - Ciitarkians are not idiots, but will do anything in the name of science. This has gone so far as to cause cannibalism of entire years of young as well as purposefully flying straight into a black hole or supernova.  - Although Ciitarkians physically have a smaller brain than mankind, they also use more of it at a time. Most information is available to all Ciitarkians through their Universal Database of Knowledge, a gargantuan super computer with 1700 backups.  - There is at least one Ciitarkian in every major affiliation throughout the known galaxy. This is, like everything else, part of one of their on-going experiments.