Ok this is my fanspecies here are a few things (this picture is only of one member of the species, not all members of it look like this)
Species Name: Grindylows (they’re named after a type of British sea monster, you might recognize the name from the Harry Potter series)
Classification: Amphibian
Planet: Grindylows live on the planet of Megophias (The planet’s namesake is from "Megophias megophias: A large sea lion-like creature with a long neck and long tail. Over 200 feet (61 m) long. Only the male has a mane.“). The planet mainly consists of oceans, being about 96% water, with some small islands each containing their own separate ecosystem. None of the islands have names, but are referred to as "encampments”, because they’re where criminals/heretics are banished to (more on that later). The northern and southern poles of the planet are very cold, and contain large icebergs, while the middle of the planet is usually warm and is home to a lot of reefs. Anywhere between that can vary in temperature and what marine life they contain, depending on their proximity to the poles and the planet’s middle.
Biology: Grindylows have long, snaky bodies, with different colors on different parts of their bodies. This coloration can vary depending on where they live, due to the fact that they are able to adapt quickly to their environments. They also have crests on the back of their head, the shapes of which can vary. In addition, they have markings the same color as their crests on their body. Both their markings and their crests are bioluminescent, although this feature is only really utilized by Grindylows that live in the deep sea. They have finlike hands, as well as long legs.
When they’re first hatched, they do not have any limbs. They start growing limbs at the age of around three tides (a tide is 400 earth days), and they are fully developed by the age of four. Grindylows have the ability to retract their limbs into their body in order to swim faster. Walking around with your arms retracted and your legs out, however, is weird and not very helpful for anything in particular. Some never develop arms or legs. More on those later.
Newly hatched Grindylows measure about 3 feet long, and they can grow to be around 40 feet when fully stretched out. The longest one on record was about 70 feet long, which is inconvenient but very cool. Elder grindylows may also start growing a crest on their chin, like a beard.
The species does not possess a real gender binary, but they are split between “layers” (ones who can lay eggs) and “nonlayers” (ones who don’t). Aside from the egg-laying thing, the only difference between the treatment of the two is that layers usually have to spend about 2 tides in a special facility to help them lay.
Religion: Grindylows follow a religion based on nature spirits, believing that divine forces formed their planet, and that these divine forces reside in the planet’s core. There is a firm belief that the deeper a grindylow is under the sea, the closer they are to spiritual presences. Whoever the current ruler of Megophias is resides in a very deep trench at the bottom of the ocean, only emerging occasionally. Meanwhile, criminals and heretics are banished to the islands above water, because that is the furthest away from the spirits they can be (they have not discovered space travel yet).
The “original spirit” is said to be a serpentine creature with no limbs. For this reason, in the rare even that a Grindylow without legs or arms is hatched, they become the heir to the Megophian throne.
Culture and Technology: Grindylows are pretty technologically advanced, considering that they’re eel people that live underwater. There are hundreds of underwater cities located on Megophias, and they have managed to develop a lot of technology similar to human technology (television, cell phones, etc), along with a waterproof form of electricity referred to as mana. Some areas are more advanced than others, with large metropolises having cybernetics and hologram technology, while smaller villages struggle to operate generators.
Religion influences the culture significantly, and Megophian mythology is extremely widespread. They also possess weird versions of certain human shows, games, and movies, despite not knowing that Earth exists.
Alignment: Neutral. They don’t know Alternia exists… yet.
Finally a non genderbinary alien race! You accomplished sth Hussie didnt quite nail. I dig their looks and beliefs, although i cant really imagine of the retraction of limbs works (id love to see that)! But yes, they are cute. Now i want my own Grindylow...
Some ideas for further info and filing on depth: Does their planet have a sun/moon? What are their living conditions, do they have food culture? How does education take place, do they have some sort of schools, do they have much of a choice? Considering professions? Also are there different subcultures of their belief, are there different parties/clans/tribes who are seperated by location and/or fight each other? To which extend is the Grindylow monarch emporered? What view does society have on reproduction/sexuality? In general, are there any forms of oppression against a minority? Are Grindylows very social/communicative intraspecifically; and also, how does the species think about their kind (directly linked to that, are there other sapient lifeforms)? How dense is the population? What languages are spoken/written? If you can, illustrate a scheme of their planet too!
Thats about it, thanks for this submission~
- Cinnamon