 | Stardate: 93672.2 | Examination of Arshai Biology | Report Submitted: LT Sorol | Level 1: Open |  |
I have been presented the unique opportunity to examine Mana-Arshai Dos Sndoi'Ihaie'Vaie Nos Indoi-Ihai (whom we shall henceforth refer to simply as 'Mana'), the first member of the Arshai species that the United Federation of Planets has come into contact with. This report is compiled both from medical scans of Mana and the subject's own description of her people.
The Arshai are a mammalian bipedal species with bright pink skin, (generally) red hair and red pupils. They stand at an average of 1.6-1.8 metres and possess two genders with sexual dimorphism similar to that of humanoids and Vulcanoids. As a bipedal species, Arshai share much of the same organs and systems as others within the classification, but they also possess a fascinating set of distinctions.
One of the distinguishing biological traits of the Arshai is their vision. The Arshai see a wide range in the infrared spectrum but have only a small degree of normal reds being visible to them. This trait likely comes from evolving in the ice age of their homeworld of Arsae; many of the creatures there evolved to have white camouflage, but infrared vision allows easy spotting of any heat-emitting beings among the icy background of the Arsae of that era.
As a result of their vision, the Arshai have difficulty interpreting the delicacies of facial expressions. To compensate, Arshai emit pheromones which reflect their emotional state and can be picked up by other Arshai. It is very difficult for an Arshai to lie to one another as the pheromones are an excellent reflection of one’s true emotional state; only through a high amount of control is concealing their emotions possible.
Seeing in the infrared range also makes it impossible to read from the computers built by species who perceive colours such as blue and green. Arshai must wear specialized visors which translate these colours into something understandable for the Arshai brain in order to read such computers. Most Arshai working with other races such as the EereE are given these visual cybernetics, including Mana.
In addition to vision in the infrared spectrum and pheromone sensing, Arshai also have fairly good hearing. Their acute senses allow Arshai to sense and react to danger, compensating for their greatest weakness- physical strength. Arshai muscular structure and bone density make them one of the more physically fragile bipedal races. They are no match for the average human in a contest of strength, though their muscles could give Arshai the capability to move faster if the circumstances are right (see description of metabolism for more detail).
The Arshai have pink skin and blood due to the presence of oxygenated blood as well as chemical substances that are a part of their regulatory system. The regulatory system allows an Arshai to rapidly adapt to different climates in order to survive their harsh and volatile homeworld. This allows Arshai to live comfortably in a wide variety of environments (with a small period of discomfort when adapting to the new environment).
As a side effect of their regulatory system, Arshai physiology is extremely sensitive to the climate around them. In the cold environment of their new world of Sae-En, their metabolism is so slow that it affects how quickly they think, eat and grow. According to Mana, Arshai live an average of 200 years on Sae-En, maturing only in their thirties. They can survive in temperatures of up to 60 degrees Celsius (assuming they have proper hydration), though an Arshai who has spent their entire life in such a climate would only live for about 40 years. The hypermetabolism of an Arshai in hot temperatures do have advantages though as they think and react much faster, allowing them to take full advantage of their muscular structure and become highly agile.
//SIGNED//
Dr. Sorol
Lieutenant, Xenobiologist
U.S.S. Gainsborough