SO, WHAT IS A VIRITAIL?
Viritails are a species of intelligent anthropomorphic alien mammals with semi reptilian attributes. They originate on planet Hysia, and control many planets known together as the Virilian System.
Their main recognizable attribute is their long tail. You might think that this tail is all fluff, but not so! It is a powerful weapon made of mostly muscle. The fur is actually just a thin layer on the outside of the tail. Think of it like the musculature of a python, but the bashing ability of an ankylosaurus. The thick base of their tail attaches to the rest of their body more like a dinosaur's or alligator's tail. It then thins out before becoming a mass of bone and muscle at its tip, powerful enough to crack bone on impact. It is also prehensile, being used to hold, carry, or crush objects. Younger Viris often enjoy climbing and hanging from trees or roof rafters!
Moontails are a subcategory of Viritails that were first synthesized on the Hysinian moon Tersca. Moontails are genetically engineered Viritails that have been altered for the purpose of finding genetic traits that are beneficial for the Virilian military. Wild Moontails released on Tersca are also recorded for the entertainment of Viritails via four different "nature documentarys"; some of the most popular television series ever broadcast in their history.
Want to learn more about the traits that make up our Virilian and Moonian friends? Click below!
Viritails
Moontails
VIRILIAN BIOLOGY
Skeleton
The overall skeletal structure of a Viritail is similar to that of a human, but with a skull more akin to a wolf's and phalanges that allow for paw pads and sharp claws. They have 3 fingers and one thumb on each hand, and 4 toes on each foot. Polydactyly and Oligodactyly are common conditions, where a Viri either has extra digits or is missing some. By earthly classifications, they appear to fall most similarly into the synapsid group, having a single temporal fenestra behind their eye socket. Ignoring that they are completely alien to earth’s evolutionary chain, they could *technically* be classified as monotremes, as they are egg laying mammals that nurse their young with milk.
The Virilian skull (without modifications) has a total of 32 teeth. 16 teeth in each jaw, consisting of 6 incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars, and 4 molars. Whisker Viri’s teeth however are different, having thinner, more elongated canine teeth, and distinct feline-like molars. They also only have 28 teeth, having lost their back 2 molars in each jaw as their muzzles got progressively shorter.
Virilian bioengineering was most interested in their own jaws, creating mandibles that split in half down the middle, being able to open independently from one another like the jaws of a snake. The two halves are connected with an extremely elastic ligament that can either be located right at the chin, or as far back as the start of the throat. These Moontails have powerful muscles lining the split, allowing them to seal their mouths in spite of the large gaping hole between their mandibles. Contrary to popular belief, no, splitjawed moontails do not unhinge their jaws. Tri-split jawed Moontails took extra consideration to make, having an extra set of fused jaw bones between the split ones, all connected with ligaments to allow for flexible movement.
Below is a diagram of the standard Virilian Skeleton, excluding horns, as they are too varied to be shown on a single image. Also included is a version with many of the most important Virilian organs, and one that shows a close up of the caudal vertebrae
Tail Structure and Spine
The Viritail spine is very similar to our own, with 7 cervical vertebrae and 12 thoracic vertebrae but 6 lumbar vertebrae instead of 5. The Sacrum is an area of 4 fused vertebrae. The caudal vertebrae (or tail vertebrae) of a Viritail are quite robust. Each vertebrae has a chevron, or haemal arch on its underside, which forms the lower shape of the tail and adds attachment points for the tail muscles. These chevrons are forked and form an upside down V shape coming off of each vertebrae. Neural spines line the top of the caudal vertebrae, allowing for strong muscle and ligament attachment.
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th vertebrae have caudal ribs instead of chevrons. The difference between the two is the ribs are much longer than the chevrons. This is to protect the large and small intestines, which are stored partially within the tail itself. The colon is located on the underside of the tail right where the legs stop. This is why Virilian underwear and pants cover this part of the tail! Don’t worry, it's pretty hard to push these articles of clothing up the tail enough to show their butt, since the cloth bunches up enough to protect it. Also, all tail loops on clothing have elastic rims.
The tip of the tail is solidified with layers of cartilage around the vertebrae that are protected by osteoderms. The cartilage reduces the impact on the tail vertebrae inside, which are also heavily ossified and difficult to break. The osteoderms around the tail cause the impact of a full force swing to be strong enough to crack bone. Despite its thickness and strength, a Viri’s tail is also prehensile, and can be used with shocking precision to grasp objects. This ability of course is only useful for large objects, as the tail is too thick to be able to successfully grab smaller ones.
Height
Viritail heights can vary drastically. Many doors, especially those in big cities, have two sets of handles so that all different heights can access public spaces. Taller Viris are preferred in society, being hired more often than shorter ones. Viri culture has historically preferred tall, strong individuals, hence why the leaders have always had Royal Gigantism.
With pituitary gigantism, Viris can reach a maximum recorded height of 7’6” and a minimum height of 6’7”. The normal height range is from 6’6” to 4’7”, and the average Viritail height is 5’6”. Pituitary dwarfism has a range of 4’6” down to 2’8”. Smaller towns often don’t have as much height accessibility since the original buildings were designed for the heights of the settlers of said town in mind. One town might have 8 ft tall doorways while the next one over only has 5 ft tall ones.
Below is the calculated percentage for each height type:
Standard Height: 60%
Pituitary Gigantism: 25%
Pituitary Dwarfism: 15%
Royal Gigantism: 0.02%
Blood Colour
Viritails can have any colour blood you can think of. Their blood is pigmented, and these pigments are controlled by a whole host of different genes. Offspring will not have a blood colour that is a mix of their parents, but will instead be determined by the parents' individual genes. Black and white blood is extremely rare, but every other colour is equally common. Black blood is known as hemomelanism, and white blood is hemoalbinism.
Eyes
A Viritail's eyes vary from individual much more than our own do. Viritail’s eyes used to only have circular pupils, but since starting exoplanetary colonization, pupil shape has varied more. The gene pool for eye shape is now so mixed, that it doesn’t matter what subspecies the individual is, there is still a chance of any pupil type.
The iris of a Viri’s eye is usually the same as their blood colour, but is controlled by a different gene, and therefore can realistically be any colour.
Horns
There are two types of horns that a Viritail can have; true horns, and antlers. True horns are horns with a bone core and a keratin sheath. Antlers are bones that are regrown and shed annually, being made of bone, cartilage, skin, nerves, and blood vessels. Growing antlers are covered in velvet. When this velvet sheds, it's an itchy bloody mess. Viris with antlers are allowed to take off work and school during this time once a year. Horns of both kinds serve almost entirely as cosmetics in modern day, only rarely being used as self defense weapons. Most Viris prefer to use their tails and claws in a fight. Some Viris with large horns will even have them reduced in size surgically, as the heavy weight can be exhausting to carry, and lead to neck problems. However, excessively large horns are also seen as attractive, so many will bear with the weight for the cosmetic appeal.
Illnesses and Conditions
Hypokerataplasia (Hypo-kera-plasia) is a hatch defect in which a Viritail’s horns are entirely or mostly absent. Due to the nature of their creation, Moontails are often selected to have this defect, mostly to encourage the use of their much more powerful antennae.
Hyperkerataplasia (Hyper-kera-plastia) is a hatch defect in which a Viritail grows excessive horns, often on body parts other than the head. This condition must be closely monitored, as it will cause a Viritail to grow horns continuously throughout their life. These horns must be filed back, or else they risk curving and growing back into the skin.
Hemomelanism is a genetic condition in which the pigment cells of a Viri’s blood contain excess melanin. The blood will appear black, or a very dark version of any colour.
Hemoalbinism is a genetic condition in which the pigment cells of a Viri’s blood produce no melanin. The blood will appear white, or a light version of any colour
Caudatrophy is a condition in which the musculature of the tail has atrophied, either from poor nourishment, lack of exercise, disease, or syndromes. This is most commonly seen in medical patients who require extended bedrest, or Viris who don’t get enough exercise. Caudatrophy causes the tail to drag behind the individual, as its natural weight becomes too heavy to lift. A dragging tail is a sign of an unhealthy Viritail.
Polydactyly is an uncommon hatch defect in which a Viri develops additional fingers or toes. Often, these are fully functional digits, but on rare occasions the extra digit is simply a piece of soft tissue lacking any bones or joints. Functional digits originate at the wrist just as a normal digit does. In the hand, this condition can either be on the ulnar (pinkie finger) side or the radial (thumb) side. Non functional digits may be surgically removed, as these can cause discomfort or even pain and increased clumsiness. Polydactyly has a 50% chance of being passed down to offspring, and around 1 out of every 100 Viris will have this condition.
Oligodactyly is a common hatch defect in which a Viri is missing any number of fingers or toes. This condition is the opposite of polydactyly. Oligodactyly causes no discomfort, and Viris with the condition can still perform tasks that require fine motor control. This condition has a 5% chance of occurring, or 5 out of every 100 Viritails.
Pituitary Dwarfism, also known as growth hormone deficiency, is relatively common among Viritails. Viritail genetics naturally make them more susceptible to growth altering conditions. This type of dwarfism is caused by a malfunctioning pituitary gland that doesn’t release the proper level of growth hormone. Viris with this condition reach an average height of 4’6, but can get as short as 3’2. This condition has a 15% chance of occurring, or 15 out of every 100 Viritails
Genetic Gigantism, or Royal Gigantism is a genetic condition in which a Viri has either mutated or inherited a Royal gene. This is a cluster of genes on a Viri's chromosomes that control height and growth. The royal mutation will mutate the “carrier gene” on all other chromosomes, meaning if a parent has gigantism in this way, their children and children's children will always inherit it. It is a highly complex condition, changing the developing Viri even during the egg stage of life, causing eggs to be produced over double their original size. Viris with this type of gigantism can reach a max recorded height of 11ft, but more commonly grow to be around 8 or 9ft tall. Royal Gigantism is not a subspecies of Viritail, despite what the crown says. This condition has a 0.01% chance of occurring, or 1 out of every 10,000 Viritails.
Pituitary Gigantism is relatively common among Viritails. This type of gigantism is caused by the over production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland. It does not cause enlarged egg development, and unlike genetic gigantism, Viris with this type of gigantism only reach a max recorded height of 7ft. This condition has a 25% chance of occurring, or 25 out of every 100 Viritails.
Reproduction and Lifecycle
Viritails, despite being mammalian, lay leathery shelled eggs to reproduce. The shell colour is a lighter version of the mother’s blood colour. Some Viris will produce eggs with brighter speckles or splotches, but this varies on the individual.
Please note: The following passage uses “male” and “female” out of convenience, but what we really mean is “Viris with male genetailia” and “Viris with female genetailia”.
Once every month, a female viri’s ovary will release an ova, or an egg yolk. This ova will move through the oviduct, which is divided into different sections. The first section is the magnum, where the albumen or egg white is added. The albumen is made up of many different proteins and provides protection for the yolk. After that, the egg will continue to move through the oviduct onto its next section, the isthmus, where the shell membrane is developed and the egg begins to be calcified. This is also where speckles, splotches, or other patterns are added. Finally, the egg will enter the uterus, where it will continue to be calcified. If the egg is fertilized, it will stay within the uterus for another 2 months, usually joined by another egg as well. This period is dedicated to thickening the leathery shell of the egg. Eggs that are not fertilized are called dud eggs, and will be laid after only a week if not accompanied by another fertilized egg. They are much easier to lay, as the body does not calcify them as much as fertilized ones. Thus they are squishier, smaller, and often longer.
For a period of 2 months, a Viritail will carry a clutch of fertilized eggs internally. This is called being Gravid. The Viri’s abdomen will be visibly distended by the beginning of the 2nd month of gravidcy. Eggs are laid in hospitals to quickly respond to medical emergencies such as egg binding. Being egg bound is when an egg gets stuck during laying. This condition can often be resolved without surgery. Eggs are laid every 2 to 4 days, so Viris will stay under the hospital's care through the entire clutch. It is becoming more and more common to have smaller clutches. Single egg gravidcies, which used to be a rarity, now make up 50% of all Viritail clutches. Viris with Royal Gigantism only ever develop one egg at a time.
Once the eggs are laid, they must be incubated for 7 months. The clutch is incubated at home during the nesting phase; an important time for both parents. A female Viri’s hormones during this time boost her strength and appetite. Aggression and territorial feelings are common side effects of gravidcy and nesting. Male Viris become more docile, calm, and doting. Males care for the female through the entire process, and can become very clingy.
The Virilian life cycle is pretty much the same as a human's.
From age 0 to 1 a viri is considered a hatchling. They are entirely dependent on their parents or caretakers. New hatchlings have little control over their motor skills. By 4-7 months of age they learn to crawl around, and begin walking as early as 9 months old or as late as 18 months.
Hatchlings are considered young virilets at age 1 to 3. This stage encompasses much of the virilet’s learning journey, including motor skills and language. By 2, parents can expect their virilets to be walking and climbing around on top of furniture. They will use their tails for balance, but can not firmly grasp things with them yet, and therefore more advanced climbing needs to be discouraged. Parents should be prepared for their virilets to have some very strong emotions, as they are prone to temper tantrums. This is also when pretend play becomes very important developmentally. Viris can expect to have to be great yes-and improvers with their virilets.
4 to 8 is the early childhood for a virilet. By now, they can do many things independently and start speaking in full sentences. In school they will learn how to read and do math. Virilets will start to lose their baby teeth during this time. Their tails are very flexible and strong at this age, being fully prehensile. This means that they can climb complex structures safely, such as jungle gyms. However, be warned, as virilets are known to grasp onto things exceptionally firmly. This is especially a problem when they have decided they are refusing to move from a spot. If you want them to move but can’t get them to, it's good to have a bottle of safe spray oil to make the fur on their tail slippery. Though watch out for the thrashing, the oil will get everywhere. Make sure to teach a virilet about their strength very early on, as this tail strength can be a hazard if it gets wrapped around another viri’s neck.
Pre-adolescence or pre-teen is from ages 9 to 12. By now, virilets are expected to be able to speak at a near-adult level, read complex books, do math, use tools, and have perfected their fine motor skills. Virilets of this age should have all of their adult teeth. This is also the age where social anxieties start to rear their head, as viris of this age will often begin to care more and more about fitting in with those in their age group. Their tails are still more flexible than an adult’s, but their once small osteoderms will start to grow in size and hardness.
Adolescence or teen ages range from 13 to 17. The osteoderms on their tail have grown to full size. It is at this time that virilets go through puberty. Female virilets will begin to lay their first dud eggs. It is important that they are aware of the process beforehand so as to not cause a panic. They may also require assistance for their first time laying. Schools for this age group have special areas in their nurses offices dedicated to the process. If the process is exceptionally painful, it indicates a medical condition, and will be further investigated. Despite the fact that viris develop eggs at this time, teen gravidcys are very dangerous and not encouraged. In addition, the legal age of consent is 18.
Once a viritail is 18, they are legally an adult. A lot of social maturing happens between 18 and 25. Viris at this time may choose to seek higher education or go directly into the work force. Viritails may live to a maximum age of 120, however the average life expectancy on Hysia is 70 to 80.