The Hri

The Hri Species (Lynx sapiens)

Hri Biology and Anatomy

Gross Anatomy

Hri stand roughly 2/3 human-sized, averaging 1.2 metres in height for males and 1 meter for females, and weighing about 30kg for females and 40kg for males. They are descended from fourlimbed, upright, bipedal carnivore originally adapted to an arboreal existence. Hri have two legs, two arms, and a short tail They have short fur over most of their bodies, but not on the face or genitals. The head is large compared with the rest of the body. The nose and jaws are short, so the face seems flat when compared with the faces of humans. The ears are large and flaring at the base. They taper up to rounded or pointed tips and stand erect.

Hri teeth serve primarily as weapons, as well as for tearing food. They have 30 permanent teeth. The strongest and sharpest are the four large, curved, pointed fangs (canines). With these teeth the Hri grasps and tears its food or an enemy. Hri have fewer side teeth (premolars and molars) than do most other mammals. The Hri uses these teeth (carnesals) mainly for cutting. The tongue surface is covered with rasp like projections or barbs that face backward into the throat. Hri use their tongues as efficient tools to strip flesh off the bones of prey. Although a Hri's jaws are short, they are extremely strong. They clamp down upon prey with enough power to crush the bones.

Perhaps among the most striking things about the Hri is their litheness and grace of movement and the amazing flexibility of body. The legs appear short when compared with the length of the body, but they are powerful. Strong muscles produce instant power for leaping upon prey or for great bursts of speed to catch prey on the run. The sharp angles of the knee and "heel" of the hind legs also contribute to the power for sudden sprints, for climbing, and for jumping.

The arms are also powerful and extremely flexible Hri have four fingers, and a thumb, and four toes. Fingers are similar to humans, while toes are short and stubby, with two joints (as opposed to three in humans) Hri also have a highly specialised dewclaw on the outside of the fore-arms, which folds jackknife fashion into a horny covering at the base of the wrist. The retracted claw is held in its "sheath" by an elastic ligament. A muscle in the arm pulls on a tendon, which in turn pulls on the joint to which the claw is attached, and the claw comes out of its sheath.

Hri have a larynx similar to humans, but rather elongated in comparison.

Senses

Hri have a keen hearing and can detect many sounds that humans cannot hear. They usually turn their head in the direction of a sound. This aids both hearing and vision. In the Hri, as in humans, the inner ear a bony structure of fluid-filled semicircular canals contains a complicated mechanism for maintaining body balance. The Hri's large and prominent eyes are placed well forward on the head and, like the eyes of humans, they face forward, thus the Hri have binocular vision similar to that of humans. The size and position of the eyes permit as much light as possible to enter them and ensure an extensive field of vision important factors in hunting and nocturnal prowling. Hri cannot see in total darkness, but it can see better in dim light than can most other kinds of animals. In bright light the contract to narrow vertical slits or small round pupils. But in the dark these slits or small pupils enlarge to round openings that admit a maximum amount of light. The eyes seem to shine in the dark. This shininess results when even the smallest amount of light strikes a reflective area of iridescent green or yellow crystalline needles in the inner lining of the eye. The tip of the nose is a leather and usually black or reddish. It is usually cool and moist. Hri have an acute sense of smell, scenting prey or their favorite delicacies at surprising distances. Three rows of stiff whiskers grow on the upper lip on each side of the nose, serve as delicate sense organs of touch.

Gender

There are two sexes, male and female. The most notable difference is the increased size and mane of the former. Females outnumber males by 3 to 1. They have a gestation of six months. Children are born singularly, in pairs, or trios. They are weaned after about two years. Hri become sexually mature at between ten and twelve years.

Hri Society

The Sexes

Hri society tends to be outwardly dominated by males. However, Hri males, in mixed groups outside the home, tend to be rather protective of their females--which often annoys said females.

Organization

An individual Hri is usually a member of a family of from 2 to 12 individuals under a patriarchal leader. Several families will combine into a pride with one dominant family. Families dwell in round tents. Hri society is dominated by the clan system. A number of families form a band, and a number of bands form a clan. There are about 150 clans, which are at least theoretically equal. Many Hri clans are quite small.

Government

What government exists among the Hri as a whole is by the Council of Clan Elders . Each clan is represented by it's Cheif Elder. The Council holds meetings to decide policy for the .

Clan Elders

Each clan has it's own Council of Elders, who make decisions for the clan. The eldest of the Clan Elders is the Chief Elder.

Status as an elder is decided by the Council of Elders. Each male Hri who reaches age 60 automatically becomes an elder. Some are honored by this status as young as 40.

Clan Matriarchs

There is also a Council of Clan Matriarchs. Formally, they have no power. However, in practice, the decisions of clan elders must be tacitly approved by the clan matriarchs. Status as a Matriarch is the same as for Elders.

Defense

Defense functions are clan-maintained, and are in effect a militia composed of a very argumentative populace. The clans frequently hold competitions to determine which militia unit seldom larger than a company or battalion is the most impressive. Such competitions also serve as sporting events. While it would be extremely difficult for Hri to conduct a campaign of conquest, they are superb guerrilla warriors and are capable of extremely effective defensive campaigns.

Attitudes Towards Government

The extreme love of independence by Hri counters clan authority. Many Hri feel little sense of responsibility to the clan unless it is confronted by an external threat. Respect for any authority other than clan or family is even less. Hri tend to ignore orders unless they want to obey them.

Another clan event is the Kha'i, a rite of passage which marks the entry of a male Hri into adulthood. Held biannually among the clans of a region, adolescent males compete against one another in ritual combat to prove their strength and suitability as mates. Males not selected often leave their clans for a time to further prove their suitability by questing in unknown territory--nowadays this means star-faring. Females of age also have the right to leave the clan, but most females encountered in space are usually accompanying their mates.