Lizardfolk Anatomy Part 2: Visible Traits
Patterns
The coloration of a lizardfolk's scales is partially based on their region and clan, with some patterns holding steady in family lines. In arid or desert biomes, lizardfolk scales tend toward shades of grey or brown, while clans in temperate or tropical regions are more colorful. Again, this varies by individual clans within those regions and individual families within those clans.
Despite clan and familial tendencies, an individual's exact coloration and pattern is as unique to them as a human's fingerprint. A given desert-dwelling clan might have predominantly brown, tan, or orange coloration, for example, and a given family in that clan might tend towards horizontal stripes in their pattern. A child born from a mix of that family line and one prone to splotches of colour would be expected to have both horizontal lines and splotches, but the exact pattern will be unique to them, even among siblings.
Tail
At a glance, lizardfolk tails might seem too large and ungainly for their bodies. Indeed, a four-foot tail on a six-foot body seems excessive. But tails are as important as any other limb for a lizardfolk.
In most varieties, quick flicks of their wide tail propel lizardfolk swimmers through water, although other clans might have thinner, flexible tails more suitable for aiding in climbing. Some lizardfolk train to fight using their tail, either using it to sweep their opponents' feet out from under them, or simply bashing with it. Some few adorn the tips of their tails with blades and use these as unexpected weapons.
Tail motions are also one of the easiest ways to tell a lizardfolk's emotions - whether it is up or down, moving or stationary, braced against the ground, and so on.
Frills and Spines
All lizardfolk have spines, but the size and placement varies between lineages, and between the sexes. Spine patterns are one of the easiest ways to tell a male lizardfolk from a female, since the sexes tend to be identical in terms of height and weight.
Lizardfolk are often baffled when humans can't tell the difference between males and females, when the spines are so clearly different - males of a given lineage might have three on their chin instead of two, for example.
Frills are a less common but much more dramatic adornment. Frills can be spread or tucked away to show agitation, or simply to release or preserve heat.
Both spines and frills can be augmented in various ways, often with piercings or colored inks. As some of the only exposed flesh lizardfolk have, frills are convenient (if painful) places to tattoo.






