On the developmental biology of the Narns
I have recently been thinking about Narn biology, and speciefically developmental biology. As they are marsupials their young would be born early, and what other races would consider "premature".
But, as I may as well use my biology degree for something, I've drawn a mockup of the developmental stages of a Narn pregancy and pouchling state. Also, hand for scale (because I kept looking at my hand, imagining tiny Narn babies while drawing this..)
(Long text going stage by stage under the break)
0-3 weeks: The start of the pregnancy, from just a lump of cells to the development of the central nervous system (CNS) and the heart. At this point there are almost no recognisable structures or limbs formed yet, though the forelimbs have stated to develop. Size at this point is similar to a jelly bean.
3-5 weeks: During this period the rest of the circulatory system as well as the respiratory system start to develop. This include the lungs, tracea, mouth and nose. Additionally the forelimbs grow larger and individual fingers start to form. The foetus will also double in size during this period, now rivaling a grape in size. The eyes is the last part of the CNS to start to develop, though they will remain closed for the forseeable future.
5-7 weeks: By week 7 the mouth is fully formed and the digestive system has started developing as well. The forelimbs have grown stronger and the back limbs have started to separate, though they are still far behind the forelimbs. The vestigial tail will also start to separate from the legs at this point.
7-9 weeks: At this point all necessary systems have to be fully developed. The CNS, circulatory system, and digestive system are now fully functional. The forelimbs have also developed far ahead of the rest of the body, and the fingers are tipped in sharp claws. By now the young will be able to climb a vertical surface using only its forelimbs, a hold over from an earlier ancestor where the young had to enter the pouch of the carrying male on it's own. These days the young are helped into the pouch by their parents.
Week 9: birth. (While the young of many of the races are deemed 'cute' as newborn, there is a general consensus that Narns are not. To most other races the Narns look distinctly unfinished.)
0-2 weeks after birth: After the birth the young is placed into the pouch of their male parent (or an other male should the parent not be available). The young, now officially a pouchling, will latch onto a nipple. The tip of the nipple will swell, effectively locking the pouchling onto it for the next few months. The face continues to develop, and they will lose the muzzle-like appearance they had at birth. During this period they will start gaining weight more rapidly, and at 2 weeks they are about the same size and weight as a newborn (earth) kitten.
2-4 weeks after birth: During this stage their face continues to become more recognisable as a Narn as features such as a nose and ears develop. Their spots and colouring will start to appear during this period, also helping them achieve the appearance of a proper Narn. Their feet have finally developed into limbs, and their toes will form individual structures during this period.
4-6 weeks after birth: From 4-6 weeks the pouchling will nearly triple it's mass. The critical systems are all fully developed at this point, including their eyes, though they remain closed. The rest of the body is also starting to catch up the the development of the forelimbs, and the tail have stopped developing.
6-9 weeks after birth: By 9 weeks the pouchling is fully developed, though still small. Their eyes remain closed, but will during the next couple of weeks gradually start to open. The face has gotten the distinct brow ridge, and the limbs have elongated.
9 weeks until the emergance: After having passed 9 weeks in the pouch, the pouchling is technically ready to emerge for the first time. At this point they have grown big enough to let go of the nipple, and their eyes will start to open, allowing them to start exploring the world beyng the pouch. Most pouchlings will however stay in the pouch until they reach 11-12 weeks of age. During these last 2-3 weeks they will change only in size as they continue to grow. If added together and counting the first emergance as the proper "birth", a Narn pregnancy, though split between the parents, average a total of 21 weeks, just past the half way point of a human pregnancy.
(Post script:
This all started because i listened to an interview of Julie Caitlin Brown from 2006. At one point during this interview she said, apropos of nothing: "I always thought G'kar should have gotten pregnant." (paraphrased from memory, it's been a couple weeks since then).
Which, i agree, that yould have been fun. It also made my mind start circling the idea of a Narn pregnancy, and what a developing Narn could look like. And, as I happen to have a degree in biology I don't have much use for, i figured, 'why not?'. And so i give you all my ramblings.
Also, do the Narn have a tail? Impossible to know, since as far as i'm aware, we have never seen a bare Narn ass. In my mind, they have a tiny vestigial tail. It is longer as a pouchling, but it gets mostly reabsorbed into their body before they emerge for the first time.)
