Elmiform hybrid

Sketch by Camille of a felmian, a feld and elmian hybrid.

Elmiform hybrids are individuals born to parents who are both elmiforms, but not the same species. The only hybrids of this sort which naturally happen without medical intervention are clúnydd (technically), dwyllnar and ferur. These are called natural hybrids. Others instead require in vitro fertilisation with genome manipulation to form. These artificial hybrids are rare, and complications during foetal development aren't uncommon. Artificial hybridisation continues to be a contentious topic within the medical community, although moral and ethical concerns don't seem to impede its popularity between interspecies couples. Below is a table showing the different types of hybrids based on parentage.

Hybrids by parentage

	Feld	Clúnath	Elmian	Julean
Feld	Feld	Clúnath (80%), Dwyllnar (15%), Ferur (5%)	Felmian	Yeveld
Clúnath	-	(Impossible)	Xeenar	Juleenar
Elmian	-	-	Elmian	Julmian
Julean	-	-	-	Julean

Hybridisation methods

Since the first julmian (julean-elmian hybrid) was successfully born, the medical field has had time to standardise and stabilise two major hybridisation processes, with varying safety and reliability.

Qaoraŋ process

The Qaoraŋ process is the oldest hybridisation method to be introduced. It involves both parties being genetically edited so that they produce gametes that are compatible with each other. It is not very reliable and usually results in miscarriages, but still enjoys some popularity in that it allows one party to be physically pregnant and does not require in vitro fertilisation.

Zarje method

The Zarje method involves a pair of gametes being genetically altered and introduced to each other in vitro. This method is by far the most popular in that it has the best and most consistent results.

Natural hybrids

Clúnath

Main article: Clúnath

Clúnydd, while considered their own species given their biochemical differences from felds, can only reproduce by hybridising with them. As such, all clúnydd are genetically, at least in part, felds.

Dwyllnar

Dwyllnar are formally defined as clúnydd with 30% or more feld content in their genome. This may happen due to hormonal interference while the foetus develops. While outwardly not very different from full clúnydd, they may present differences at neurological and psychological levels.

Ferur

95% of the time, a clúnath will sire a male. The remaining, extremely rare 5% of female children are, due to hormonal interference, genetically mostly felds. Their clunic ancestry will present itself as a pair of clúnath-like horns, which may be passed down with each subsequent generation. However, because the gene that makes these horns grow is recessive, not all ferur will present them.

Artificial hybrids

Artificial hybrids are infertile in their vast majority. As such, their only chance at continuing their bloodlines is by further hybridisation. This is inadvisable, however, given that, with every generation of hybrids, the chances of birth defects increases exponentially.

Julmian

Julmians (Áonak: čul·lüq, Amari: yeva-elluk) are artificial hybrids with one julean parent and one elmian parent. They were the first artificial elmiform hybrid. Externally, julmians vary in their appearance, depending on the hybridisation method used and the percentage of genetic information from each parent. Generally, there are two major subtypes of julmian based on the configuration of their internal organs: internally julean and internally elmian. Internally julean julmians will usually also externally present more julean traits, such as their antennae and prehensile feet. Conversely, internally elmian julmians will present more elmian traits, such as the photodermal patch.

Felmian

Felmians (Áonak: puel·lüq, Phyrean: fwyluc) have one feld parent and one elmian parent. They were the second elmiform hybrid to be explored, much later than julmians. Unlike julmians, because felds and elmians have essentially the same internal configuration, they usually aren't subdivided. Appearance-wise, the feld and elmian traits average out, with the photodermal patch usually appearing "broken" (separated between the nose and the horn).

Xeenar

Xeenar (Áonak: genar, Khot: xeenar) have one clúnath parent and one elmian parent. Their name comes from Khot, and means "star person," the general khot term for "alien." Appearance-wise, they usually inherit the fur tones and horns of their clúnath parents, as well as a photodermal patch.

Yeveld

Yevelds (Amari: yeva-fel, Phyrean: jefwyl) have one feld parent and one julean parent. Internally julean yevelds may present antennae and prehensile feet, while internally feld yevelds may be more canine-like in their appearance.

Juleenar

Juleenar (Amari: yeva-klunas, Khot: iefanar) have one clúnath parent and one julean parent. As far as artificial hybrids go, these are the most recent development. They are poorly studied and difficult to actualise, and a 75% of juleenar pregnancies, both in vitro and natural, have ended in miscarriages.