Elmiform
The elmiforms are a cross-species, cross-planet group of organisms that share, among other things, a body plan similar to that of an elmian or a human. These similarities, which go beyond just their body shape, are so many that they have led to the idea of a shared extra-planetary origin (i.e. several panspermia events originating from one celestial body), the Estranged Mother Theory.
List of elmiforms
The known elmiforms are the following:
- Elmians, the prototypical elmiforms, from planet Elm,
- Juleans, from Julee,
- Humans, from Earth, the only elmiform species to have become completely extinct,
- Felds, from World, one of two elmiform species not included in the Estranged Mother Theory (they evolved much later than the rest), and
- Clúnydd, also from World, the second elmiform species not included in the theory, and the only ones that can trace their ancestry to organisms from the dess.
Characteristics
Elmiforms (and life on their respective planets in general) share a number of characteristics that not only distinguish them from other sophonts, but also group them together in unusual ways.
- Bipedal locomotion and upright stance: all elmiforms have the following:
- Two pairs of clearly defined arms and legs.
- A torso divided into a protected upper half (the ribcage) containing major parts of the circulatory and respiratory systems, and a vulnerable soft lower half (the belly), containing major parts of the digestive and reproductive systems.
- A head with a sturdy hollow skull containing the brain and including the eyes, nose, ears and related processes, along with a mouth used to both vocalise and ingest nutrients.
- Genetic information storage: genetic information on all elmiform species is universally based on DNA, RNA, and the nucleobases adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine and uracil.
- Reproduction and child-rearing: all elmiforms reproduce sexually, are viviparous, and breastfeed their offspring.
- Notably, all elmiforms have some kind of disaccharide in their milk. Elmians, humans, felds and clúnydd all share lactose content, juleans being the only ones to produce threose instead.