Beastfolk

Beastfolk is an umbrella term for humanoids with animal traits. Some, resembling particular animals, have their own group names, whereas others do not. This can range from humans with animal parts to full anthropomorphic animals. There are some features that all beastfolk share. Dissipate stereotype assumptions formed by common dietary preferences. All beastfolk can eat regular humanoid food, and the more anthropomorphic ones can also eat and digest the diet of their equivalent animal. All beastfolk have human lifespans, similar development, and organ layouts. All beastforlk are warm-blooded and give birth to live young despite what animals they may resemble. Tails, claws, and enhanced senses are common but not universal. Muzzles and fangs are more common in the more anthropomorphic variants rather than the humanoid variants.

There are 4 main kinds of Beastfolk, and they are: mamalian, reptilian, aquatic, and avian.

Mamallian beastfolk are the most common and are also the most likely to have both anthropomothic and humanoid variants within the same animal resemblance. For example, a Tabaxi and a cat-girl are both beastfolk that resemble domestic cats or similar wild cats. However, the Tabaxi resemble an anthropomorphic cat and the cat-girl looks like a human with cat ears, claws, and a tail. Cat-girls is a common term for humanoid cat beastfolk despite the fact that they can be male of female. There are recessive traits that code for cat-beastfolk traits on the X gene, making them more common in women. Thus leading to the belief that only females are born with cat-girl traits.

Most mammalian beastfolk have very similar physiology to Humans. Exceptions are as follows. Leonin, who have specialised vocal cords to roar. Loxodons that have prehensile trunks. Fauns/Satyr and Heragon, who have the ability to leap great distances due to adaptations in their leg muscles. Monkey beaskfolk have feet that can grip like hands, and some have tails that can also grip. Bat beastfolk have hollow bones and membranes that span their arms and legs, restricting movement on land but allowing them to fly. They also have large ears and specialised vocal cords for echolocation.

Reptilian beastfolk come in two main groups, lizardfolk and snake-beaskfolk. Snake Beastfolk will have their own category, with a variety of snake-based sentient beings for reasons that will make sense when reading their sector. Lizardfolk are almost always seen as anthropomorphic lizards rather than as a humanoid with lizard features. They have strong jaws for crunching bone and ripping flesh. They have a greater lung capacity to hold their breath underwater for extended periods of time. They have a greater tolerance for raw and rotten meat. Most have a preferene of an carnivore diet. Their oesophagus and stomach is protected in ways that allow them to swallow small prey animals, such as fish and rabbits, whole and digest them alive should they wish. Particularly large crocodile lizardfolk have been known to swallow other humanoids for both sustenance and pleasure. Often letting their prey/sexual partner back out alive if the act is just for pleasure.

Aquatic bestfolk resemble fish or cetaceans. Unlike merfolk, who have their own section, they maintain a humanoid body plan and are amphibious. Despite the physiological and taxonomic differences between fish and cetaceans, the common traits of beastfolk cancel out most differences, such as giving birth to live young and being warm-blooded. The common name for them is Triton. They have greater lung capacity and may have gills. Cetacean beastfolk often have the ability to use echolocation. They most commonly have fins that grow on their arms and legs to increase swimming speeds. Their eyes are adapted to adjust quickly to the different ways light bends in water and air, supporting their amphibious lifestyle.

Avian beastfolk, unlike Aaracokra, only have 4 limbs, two wings, and two legs. Some can fly, but most can only glide or jump long distances. They have hollow bones like a bird, but most lack a keel for their "arm wings" and they lack other weight-reducing adaptations. Those incapable of flight often have genes that cause them to grow clawed hands on the ends of their arm wings to grasp objects. They also often resemble flightless birds such as ostriches. However, the Kenku resemble corvids and have lost their ability to articulate their own words, only mimicking phrases they have heard. However, they are smart enough to string together phrases to convey their intent.

There are rare cases of beastfolk who resemble crustaceans and other arthropods, such as insects, but they are not detailed in this course.