𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
do not reblog.
yautja come from varying substrates and climates, depending on their subspecies due to vast evolution. some exist within jungle habitats, others within colder locations of the planet yautja prime. it should be noted that, while other subspecies do exist, the majority are not genetically isolated. the feral yautja, also known as the desert yautja, has evolved to thrive in a drier, desert-like environment.
they have thinner, waxier dreads in comparison to other subspecies, making their senses, balance and self-awareness impeccable - because yautja dreads are far from a mere aesthetic, they are sensory organs that can bleed and cause pain like any other body part. they hold the same importance as the quills and spines of some animals, minus the sharp spikiness that is known to ward off threats. it’s not uncommon for female yautja to base their desire to mate on the length of a male’s dreads, the belief being that the longer the dreads, the better and stronger the yautja.
thicker oral tissue helps protect ferals from mouth trauma during chewing (such as the consumption of bone which may have sharp edges, of arachnids like scorpions / creatures with pincers), prevents the entry of toxic substances and bacteria from entering the body as well as holding larger saliva glands to keep the mouth moist. it also has adapted scalier skin, to trap water beneath for better moisture retention in a dry and hot climate.
ferals possess heat sensitive pits on their face which contain a membrane that allows them to detect infrared radiation from warm bodies nearby, helping them locate food in the desert environment and define what’s hot from the weather and what’s hot from body heat.
spiracles in the casque also helps them in the desert environment, allowing them to retain moisture by controlling their respiration - an adaptation to better function in a low oxygenated atmosphere. along with this, the casque itself is thinner, helping with water retention. their thicker brow also holds a purpose, housing heat sensitive organs to locate prey which, in turn, their mask interfaces with. the feral yautja also possesses a vomeronasal organ, which is a patch of sensory cells that allows him to detect heavy moisture-borne odour particles. this is not only used for tracking / hunting prey, but also to detect a readiness for mating in others.
the importance of bones to yautja culturally will be discussed separately, but ferals have evolved to have a crushing palate, molars set within the mouth for osteophagy - the consumption of bones. due to the desert leading to, at times, minimal access to food, ferals have adapted bone into their diet which are rich in micro nutrients. they are also omnivorous, capable of consuming both animals and plants for the sake of survival, their mandibles and the teeth upon them thinner and longer in size than other subspecies of yautja which are frequently used for foraging as well as the removal of inedible skins on fruits, animals, nuts etc over being used as a weapon / teeth.
these adaptations have helped the feral yautja cope with the environmental pressures that come with living in a dry, desert habitat, such pressures including low rainfall, intense sunlight and heat, a wide temperature range and dietary resources. it is a genetically isolated subspecies, both by choice and due to geographical positioning. this means ferals have the ability to evolve into their own species, separate from other yautja - thus, making them unable to breed with other subspecies. a problem with this means a smaller gene pool, and possible interbreeding - otherwise possible extinction.
the beliefs and choices for such genetic isolation will also be covered separately. despite their questionable future as a subspecies, feral yautja have made impressive feats in evolution to thrive in a devastating and harsh atmosphere.