4th Earth: Species

People are the name given to all members of the so-called higher-order species of 4th Earth. It’s believed most species evolved from domesticated animals. However, there is no proof and no reward in speculation, given domestication was thousands of years ago. While we tend to be anthropocentric, it’s how we try to answer the question: Where did I come from?

Fenghuang

Pronounciation: fung-hwang

Longest known lifespan: 225

Believed to evolve from: Flightless birds

Physical characteristics:

• Aquiline nose
• Round eyes, round pupil, barely visible sclera; set more front of face
• Hair has the texture of bristle and down feathers, with interlocking barbs creating sheets and layers; only present on the head
• No external protruding ears

Grimalkin

Pronounciation: gri-maul-kin

Longest known lifespan: 134

Believed to evolve from: Felines

Physical characteristics:

• Nose is wider at the forehead junction than at the nostrils; roughly one-third
• The eyes are rhomboid, with curves at the nose-forehead junction and the opposite corner, with a visible sclera and a vertical slit pupil; set more front of the face
• Hair is short because of the growth and shed cycles
• Ears taper and are on top of the skull
• Canine teeth are longer than average and narrow

Hundkin

Pronounciation: hūnd-kin

Longest known lifespan: 125

Believed to evolve from: Canines

Physical characteristics:

• Nose is wider at the forehead junction than at the nostrils; roughly two-thirds
• The eyes are rhomboid, with curves at the nose-forehead junction and the opposite corner, with a visible sclera and round pupil; set more front of face
• Hair is short because of the growth and shed cycles
• Ears taper and are on top of the skull
• Canine teeth are longer than average and wide

Lepus

Pronounciation: leh-pes (as in pest)

Longest known lifespan: 119

Believed to evolve from: Hares

Physical characteristics:

• Nose is wider at the forehead junction than at the nostrils; roughly two-thirds
• The eyes are circular, with visible pupils and black sclera set more side of the face
• Hair is short because of the growth and shed cycles
• Ears are long, elliptical, and on top of the skull
• Upper and lower incisors are longer than average

Capra

Pronounciation: cap-ruh

Longest known lifespan: 132

Believed to evolve from: Goats

Physical characteristics:

• Nose is wider at the forehead junction than at the nostrils; roughly two-thirds, and no eyebrow ridge
• The eyes are rhomboid, with curves at the nose-forehead junction and the opposite corner, no visible sclera, and a horizontal slit pupil; set more side of face
• Hair is short because of the growth and shed cycles
• Ears are long, varied shapes, and on the sides of the skull; often extending horizontally
• Possible bumps or short horns protrude from the top of the skull

Chiroptera

Pronounciation: kī-rop-ter-uh

Longest known lifespan: 112

Believed to evolve from: Bats

Physical characteristics:

• Nose is wider at the forehead junction than at the nostrils; roughly one-third, and no eyebrow ridge
• The eyes are round, with no visible sclera or pupils; set more side of face
• Hair is short because of the growth and shed cycles
• Ears are long, varied shapes, and on the sides of the skull; often extending vertically

Coati

Pronounciation: co-ah-tee

Longest known lifespan: 117

Believed to evolve from: Raccoons

Physical characteristics:

• Nose is wider at the forehead junction than at the nostrils; roughly one-third, and minor eyebrow ridge
• The eyes are round, with no visible sclera or pupils; set front of face
• Hair is short because of the growth and shed cycles
• Ears are short, rounded, and on the top of the skull