Ziirb

Biology

Anatomy & Morphology

Ziirpu are squat, radially-symmetric, arthropod-like sophonts with a somewhat dome-shaped torso and five multi-jointed limbs arranged in a pentalateral symmetry that serve as the means of both locomotion and manipulation. Their vascular oxygen carrier is coboglobin, a cobalt-based protein that turns dark amber when oxidized. Ziirpu are all varying shades of reddish-gray.   The underside of their torso splits into a five-sided flower-jaw leading into an odd caecum-like digestive system. A very thin stalk protrudes from the center of the mouth and ends in a spherical orange-red sensor organ called an "eyebulb," which is simultaneously an ocular, acoustic, and vestibular organ. Also protruding from the mouth around the bulbstalk are a trio of short, semi-rigid, tongue-like structures which are specialized to produce vibrations of varying frequency and intensity when they are rubbed together very rapidly -a process called stridulation. This musical biomechanism forms the basis of ziirb speech.

Perception & Sensory Capabilities

Visual

Ziirb visual sense is facilitated by the eyebulb organ, which acts as a single spherical compound eye. The eyebulb is able to pick up motion, definite shape, spatial orientation, and a fairly broad spectrum of electromagnetic wavelengths ranging from infrared to blue-green, in virtually all directions. This omnidirectional vision has led to a rather unique sapience in ziirpu: the rare nonfocal sapience.  

Auditory

Ziirb auditory sense is also facilitated by the eyebulb, which is filled with acoustic fluid. Using this, ziirpu can detect a considerably wider range of sound than most other sophonts, particularly higher frequencies; this makes them the only other known species able to naturally detect and replicate Calypsian speech.  

Olfactory

Ziirpu actually lack the usual sort of olfactory sense, though they are able to gain some idea of a substance's composition with specialized nerves in their tendrils.  

Tactile

The ziirb tactile sense is by far their strongest, and thus the sense they are most reliant on. Their entire epidermis is extremely sensitive to tactile input, particularly the tips of their tendrils. Ziirpu can easily detect the difference of a single molecular layer between two surfaces, as well as pick out micrometer-level tactile patterns.

Ecology

Geographic Origin & Distribution

Ziirpu are quite uncommon outside of their home system of Ziirin and the three other systems they inhabit exclusively (Zeta Tucanae, Gliese 877, and Beta Hydri however, there are appreciable populations of them across the "southern" region of known space, particularly in shyxaure-controlled systems.

Habitat & Survival Factors

Ziirpu are sensitive to environmental changes, particularly humidity and temperature, which makes them poor explorers even when adequately equipped. However, their technological advancement has allowed them to inhabit a small selection of worlds close to their home system.

Civilization & Culture

Language

Ziirpu are one of only two sophont species in known space with a universal common tongue. Every ziirb born in systems of the Nzmarri Unity speaks Vurrm, and almost all of those who hail from outside the Unity speak it as well. A few particularly isolated populations have formed their own dialects of Vurrm, but they are still fundamentally the same language.