This document is simply for fun. It outlines what I assume Rexal anatomy and biology looks like. It is, by no means, 100% scientifically accurate. Often when something does not make sense, it operates by the rule of cool or simply "It's magic."

Rexals, even though I adore realism, are still magical creatures, and a certain amount of make-believe will always be present. Especially when it comes to things like "How can they switch between biped and quadruped?" Let's just have fun and pretend we are Rexal biologists in a world where all of this is possible. ;)

Rex are massive dragons. They are able to walk on all fours or on their hindlegs, straightening their backs out. However, they are much faster running on all fours and most individuals will choose to do so when they are traveling [More on social norms in the social structure section].

They are able to swim and hold their breaths for long amounts of time, withstand high pressures and communicate via telepathy, making them able to explore even the deepest of seas.

Similar to monotremes, rexals are warm-blooded mammals that lay eggs. However, unlike monotremes, rexals do not produce milk and are capable of consuming solid food immediately upon hatching.

Rexals exhibit considerable variation in terms of their height, size, and weight, with these traits being largely determined by genetic factors. For the purposes of this document, the average rexal individual will be described.

Rexals exhibit a front-heavy body structure, with their front limbs bearing the majority of their body weight during quadrupedal locomotion. However, during bipedal movement, rexals shift their weight to their hind limbs, similar to the stance of a human. The rexal spine is capable of both straightening and curving, depending on the rexal's stance and movement pattern.

The rexal skull is elongated and bears a resemblance to a hybrid between canines and the Hydrurga species. Rexal pups are born with a shorter snout, which elongates as the rexal matures and develops their second, more robust set of adult teeth. The baby teeth of rexal pups are sharper and smaller than their adult counterparts.

Rexals possess two large lungs that are divided into lobes, allowing for efficient gas exchange and oxygenation of the blood. Despite their relatively large lung capacity, rexals are not equipped to engage in prolonged underwater diving, with a maximum breath-holding capacity of approximately fifteen minutes before requiring replenishment of oxygen in their bloodstream.

However, rexals are capable of supplementing their oxygen supply through the practice of magic, which enables them to extract oxygen from the surrounding water. This technique requires intense concentration and significant training to perform effectively, allowing rexals to extend their underwater dive times with sustained practice.

Rexal dentition bears a striking resemblance to that of the Hydrurga species, featuring sharp, elongated canines that operate through a scissor mechanism similar to that found in Canidae. The lower canine tooth of rexals crosses in front of the upper canine, amplifying their biting power. The incisors of rexals exhibit a pointed and elongated morphology, distinguishing them from the remaining teeth, which are shorter and less pointed. Rexal premolars are similar in appearance to those of canines, although they are more rounded and resemble the shape of those found in crocodiles. The molars of rexals, however, are distinct and exhibit a hook-like morphology with three prominent tips, similar to those found in leopard seals.

Rexals possess buccal flaps in their mouths, a feature that enables them to open their jaws to a remarkable 60-degree angle, surpassing the maximum jaw angle of 40 degrees observed in dogs. This anatomical adaptation enhances their ability to seize and manipulate prey effectively.

Rexals exhibit a slightly enhanced metabolic rate compared to humans, typically necessitating four meals per diurnal cycle. During intervals between meals, it is not uncommon for an individual to partake in intermittent snacking.

Rexals possess a robust musculature with a particular emphasis on their upper body and chest region, facilitating efficient long-distance travel at a slow pace. The pectoral and supracoracoideus muscles of rexals are notably pronounced, contributing to the rexal's overall strength and endurance.

In terms of jaw musculature, rexals exhibit a similar anatomical structure to mammals, albeit with distinct differences that are more extensively discussed in the dedicated Mouth section above.

The color of rexal blood typically ranges from red to nearly black, with individual variation in hue. However, when the rexal's magical abilities are engaged, their blood will emit a luminous glow that corresponds to the color of their personal magic.

In the event of an injury sustained during active magical engagement, blood escaping from the body will continue to emit a glowing aura that persists for several minutes. This phenomenon occurs as the severed blood is no longer directly connected to the rexal's central body core, allowing the magical energy to disperse into the surrounding environment. The luminosity of the blood eventually dissipates as the magical energy naturally deteriorates or diffuses into the atmosphere.

Rexals have the unique capability of transitioning effortlessly between two distinct modes of locomotion.

Rexals exhibit the ability to move bipedally by raising one foot at a time, with a gait pattern that is similar to that of humans. However, unlike humans, rexals distribute their body weight predominantly onto their toes while walking.

When standing, they often rest on their full feet, a unique characteristic that enables them to sustain a bipedal stance for extended periods with relative comfort. Additionally, rexals are capable of squatting down by flexing their legs, which optimally distributes their weight while resting.

Although rexals typically prefer quadrupedal movement, they are capable of adopting bipedal locomotion as their primary mode of movement if given sufficient rest.

Rexals are quadrupedal beings that prefer to ambulate on all four limbs for extended periods of travel. Their method of locomotion is similar to that of bears, with each foot moving in a mirrored pattern to the opposite end. Given their relatively large body mass, rexals are not capable of sustained sprinting for extended periods. However, they exhibit impressive agility and speed when needed, propelling themselves forward by pushing off the ground with their hindlimbs.

When walking, the full palm of their hands and toes touch the ground, facilitating their quadrupedal movement. 

As depicted in the image located to the right ➡️

The structure of Rexal's hind feet bears a striking resemblance to that of rats, exhibiting notable similarities. One notable feature is the presence of an opposable thumb, which grants Rexal the ability to grasp and manipulate objects with dexterity.

Rexal forelimbs feature heavily padded hands that possess a reduced level of manual dexterity compared to human hands. Despite this, rexals are still capable of executing a range of manual tasks with their hands, albeit with less precision than humans. It is not uncommon for rexals to utilize their magical abilities to supplement their manual capabilities, enabling them to perform tasks requiring a higher degree of dexterity.

The claws of rexals are generally round and blunt, resembling those of beavers, and are not intended for scratching or cutting. Instead, these blunt claws serve a primary function in digging and excavating. Although the natural sharpness of rexal claws is relatively low, they can be sharpened intentionally by the rexal to enhance their functional utility.

The shoulder height of adult Rexals when standing relaxed on all four feet ranges from 5 feet 6 inches to 9 feet 5 inches. The average size, however, is approximately 7 feet 7 inches, with rare occurrences of heights falling below 6 feet or exceeding 8 feet 5 inches.

The mass of rexals displays substantial diversity. On average, rexals possess a musculature-to-fat ratio of 50:50. Nevertheless, this ratio can fluctuate significantly due to the species' propensity for accumulating adipose tissue, which is attributed to their affinity for spending prolonged periods in icy waters. While rexals exhibit a comparable lifestyle to seals, their anatomical structure is more adaptable to terrestrial environments with a moderate preference for aquatic habitats.

Ultimately, the weight of a rexal is subject to considerable individual variation, and a broad spectrum of body shapes and forms is not uncommon in this species.

The coat of rexals is typically categorized into two main types, armored or furred, which are solely determined by genetics and inherited from parents or grandparents. However, occasional mutations may occur, leading to the production of armored offspring from furred parents, although such phenomena are relatively infrequent.

Despite the significant differences between these coat types, the underlying factors contributing to their evolution remain unclear. The mechanisms that drive the development of an armored or furred coat in rexals remain an enigma, representing an area of active inquiry and exploration in the scientific community of the dome.

Armored coats are characterized by the presence of soft to hard scales and plates. These scales are pliable enough to allow for a full range of motion, yet robust and durable, affording rexals superior protection against injuries. As a result, rexals possessing armored coats are often sought after for jobs that require additional protection.

However, this unique adaptation comes with a tradeoff. Rexals with armored coats have a harder time regulating their body temperature compared to their furred counterparts, who have natural insulation in the form of air pockets in their fur. This limitation is especially pronounced while engaging in deep-sea exploration, where the frigid temperatures of the ocean pose significant challenges. Unlike whales, which possess lots of blubber for insulation, armored rexals lack such thick thermal protection, making them susceptible to hypothermia and other cold-related complications.

Think of armored rexal scales as the plates of a pangolin. 

Furred rexals exhibit a remarkably dense coat of fur that is relatively short in length. The texture of their fur is reminiscent of that seen in leopard seals, exhibiting a soft and velvet-like feel in certain areas, while overall, it is coarser and akin to horse hair. Notably, their arms and legs bear longer fur, which is the extent of longer hair typically observed in rexals. The fur on the remainder of their body lies flat against the skin and is incredibly short, enabling the clear delineation of underlying musculature and body contour.

Rexal tails possess a remarkable combination of strength and flexibility, enabling them to propel themselves through water with unparalleled efficiency. The tails are typically held in a soft 'S' shape, strategically positioned just above the ground, bestowing streamlined form, a critical prerequisite for efficient navigation through water and for excellent balance on land.

The shape of rexal tails bears an unmistakable resemblance to those observed in otters, albeit longer and more prehensile. This unique characteristic imparts rexals unrivaled dexterity and manipulation abilities, enabling them to grasp objects with remarkable precision, such as rocks or coral. The prehensile nature of their tails is particularly advantageous in their aquatic habitat, allowing them to secure food, shelter, and navigate through tight spaces with remarkable ease.

The most salient morphological characteristic of rexals, the armor plate situated on the ventral surface of their throats, is primarily composed of keratin, a fibrous protein that provides both flexibility and strength.

The pliant nature of this structure allows for unimpeded movement while still affording ample protection to the vulnerable throat region.

While the functional significance of this feature remains unclear in contemporary rexals, it is believed to be a vestigial remnant of early developmental stages. However, the presence of six prominent apertures directly linked to the rexal's central body core located beneath this armor plate suggests that this feature may serve a crucial protective function for these vital anatomical structures.

Rexals possess a unique vent system that directly connects to their circulatory system, facilitating the release of excess magical energy into the surrounding atmosphere. This process occurs spontaneously without direct conscious control from the rexal, although it can be regulated through training.

The interior structure of these openings comprises a shallow depression containing glands that act as a selective barrier between the circulatory system and the external environment, allowing the passage of magical particles while retaining other cellular components within the body. During periods of heightened magical activity, these apertures emit a glow that corresponds to the rexal's individual coloration, although in a quiescent state, they typically appear in the same hue as the rexall's skin tone.

These orifices are situated on specific areas of the rexal's anatomy, including six on the throat armor, four on each front arm, and four on the tail, serving as critical sites for the shedding of excess magical energy.

The auditory organs of rexals resemble horns in appearance, composed of hollow structures that capture and direct sound vibrations to their inner ear. The internal architecture of these organs includes soft tissue that is replete with perforations, facilitating the capture and concentration of sound waves.

These horns can be flexibly manipulated at their base, enabling them to wiggle in response to the movements of the rexal or for them to move at will.

While gentle compression of these organs does not cause discomfort to the rexal, severe injury to these structures can lead to complete hearing loss. However, partial preservation of the horn ears can still enable the perception of sounds, albeit with reduced acuity.

The visual system of rexals exhibits striking similarities to that of humans, with four distinct types of photopigments, including red, green, and blue receptors. Notably, the fourth receptor is specifically adapted to detect magical stimuli, conferring upon rexals a unique perceptual ability that is not available to other animal species.

In contrast to non-rexal creatures, who are unable to directly perceive magic, rexals possess the capacity to sense and respond to magical influences in their environment. This allows them to detect elusive magical phenomena such as smoke, projections, and the iridescent reflections of surfaces illuminated by magical energy, which remain invisible to other inhabitants of the planet.

Rexals possess nictitating membranes, which serve multiple functions such as facilitating underwater diving and removing ocular debris. These membranes also provide ocular protection and moisture retention while preserving visual acuity.

Owing to their distinctive auditory organs, rexals exhibit a unique mode of sound perception that distinguishes them from other animals. While their hearing sensitivity is not extraordinary, it is exceptionally adept in both aerial and aquatic environments, enabling them to detect and interpret acoustic cues with remarkable accuracy. Studies suggest that the auditory processing mechanisms of rexals share certain similarities with avian species, further underscoring the distinctiveness of their hearing abilities.

For a detailed examination of the unique morphology and function of rexal ears, please refer to the dedicated section on Horn Ears.

Rexals possess a highly developed olfactory system, characterized by sensitive nasal structures and the capacity to close their nostrils for underwater exploration. The olfactory receptors of rexals share a degree of similarity with those of grizzly bears, underscoring the efficacy of their sense of smell in detecting and discriminating different odors in their environment. This heightened olfactory sensitivity enables rexals to discern subtle cues related to prey and other ecological factors, facilitating their survival and success.

Rexals possess a similar taste sensory system as humans. The tongue is the primary organ responsible for detecting and transmitting taste signals to the brain. The tongue is covered by numerous papillae, each containing taste buds that respond to different types of taste stimuli. The five basic tastes that rexals can recognize are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (savory).

The length of a rexal's tongue is proportional to the length of its muzzle, with the tongue extending to approximately half of the muzzle's length. Despite their reptilian appearance, rexals lack a Jacobson's organ and are unable to employ their tongues for olfactory purposes.

Rexal tongues exhibit a degree of genetic variability, which determines whether they are forked or non-forked. While some individuals possess a forked tongue, others may have a non-forked one. The morphology of the tongue is similar to that of certain reptiles, such as skinks. The thinning of the tongue towards the end is a characteristic that is shared by both forked and non-forked tongues in rexals, and this morphology aids in the gathering and identification of sensory information.

Overall, rexals have the same sense of touch as humans. However, their sensory abilities extend beyond the conventional sense of touch, with specialized adaptations enabling them to detect vibrations in both water and air. These adaptations include their highly sensitive muzzle and horn ears, conferring them a significant advantage in identifying movements and potential prey.

The mechanoreceptors present in rexal muzzles and horn ears are incredibly sensitive, allowing them to detect even the slightest vibrations in their environment. These adaptations are critical for survival in their aquatic habitat, enabling them to navigate through water with unparalleled precision and detect the presence of prey at great distances.

Rexals exhibit endothermy, the ability to maintain their body temperature through internal metabolic processes like mammals. However, owing to their exceptional magical aptitude, they possess the capability to thermoregulate by either increasing or decreasing their body temperature with sufficient practice. This adaptive trait is particularly advantageous when navigating harsh environments and engaging in deep-sea exploration, such as the Posian trench.

Naturally, rexals possess unique sensory adaptations that enable them to process and respond to magic in ways unparalleled by any other life form on the planet.

The eyes of rexals are particularly adept at detecting magic, possessing specialized receptors that are absent in other animals. This unique ability enables them to perceive the usage of magic, rendering halos, magical smoke, and the light emanating from magic imperceptible to other creatures. This characteristic is particularly advantageous during deep-sea hunting, allowing rexals to illuminate their surroundings without alerting potential prey.

Moreover, rexals possess the remarkable ability to train themselves to detect strong sources of magic. Although this skill requires some practice, it is not particularly challenging to acquire, given the innate magical abilities of the species.

Rexals employ a language system that is primarily based on Latin, owing to its ease of understanding and the thematic context of their setting. Unlike humans, who mainly utilize their lips and tongue to produce speech, rexals generate sounds using their throat and tongue, which resembles the vocalization patterns observed in birds.

Rexal vocalizations bear resemblance to human speech, albeit with a marginally lower frequency.

Spoken words form the most common mode of communication among rexals. However, they also possess a unique ability to communicate telepathically, a learned skill that nearly every rexal acquires over the course of their life. This ability to communicate telepathically is particularly advantageous during deep-sea diving expeditions. However, for telepathy to be effective, the receiving rexal must provide their consent for transmission and utilize their own magical abilities to receive the message.

Rexals can also communicate with animals using telepathy, albeit with certain limitations. The animal's comprehension of detailed concepts is limited, and they primarily understand emotions and feelings that a rexal may invoke in them using their magical powers.

Rexals possess a set of inherent instincts that bear remarkable resemblance to those present in humans, namely creativity, reflection, activity, love, and hunger. Nevertheless, akin to humans, they have an innate capacity for logical reasoning, which profoundly influences their responses and subsequent actions in a given circumstance.

Rexals are as, if not maybe even more, intelligent than humans.

Rexals have cognitive abilities and a mental capacity that allows individuals to learn, understand, reason, and think abstractly. It includes the ability to solve problems, make decisions, perceive and interpret information, and communicate effectively. Their intelligence is very complex and involves various cognitive processes such as memory, attention, perception, language, and reasoning. It is also influenced by factors such as genetics, environment, education, and experience. Overall, their intelligence is a multifaceted construct that enables individuals to adapt to their environment, learn from their experiences, and achieve their goals.

This allow rexals to shape themselves and their world around them in ways that no other animal is capable of.

Their eggs are characterized by hard, marble-like shells, which gradually thin out as the hatching date of the pups approaches. The gestation period for a Rexal egg to hatch is typically around four months.The development of Rexal eggs is independent of temperature influence, as genetic traits are established at the moment of conception. While the incubation of Rexal eggs necessitates warm conditions for optimal development, they have the ability to enter a state of dormancy, effectively pausing the developmental process until they are re-exposed to a warm environment.

The thick and durable nature of the eggshells provides critical protection to the developing fetus, enabling it to mature safely and efficiently. Upon hatching, the young ones, referred to as pups, receive parental care and rearing, similar to humans, reflecting the remarkable social and nurturing behavior exhibited by this species.

Remarkably, the first thirty years of a rexal's life are considered the equivalent of human minors, underscoring the extended developmental period observed in these creatures. Such a prolonged developmental period enables rexals to acquire a range of skills and knowledge, as well as navigate their complex social structures with greater efficiency and precision.

Rexals exhibit proficiency in all three modes of obtaining sustenance. While agriculture is the most prevalent means of procuring food, encompassing livestock husbandry for meat, rexals are also adept hunters, utilizing their innate abilities.

Given their limited sprinting capacity, rexals frequently employ stalking tactics to surprise prey. Alternatively, they employ the time-honored strategy of trailing the quarry until it succumbs to exhaustion, akin to the hunting practices of early human civilizations. Rexals possess remarkable endurance, which they leverage for this purpose.

Rexals rely primarily on their dentition to subdue and eliminate prey, utilizing their manual extremities for stabilization or restraint. Despite their aptitude for using conventional tools available in their temporal realm, rexals possess a natural inclination towards this fighting and killing modality, which is second nature to them.

Gathering is a natural inclination for rexals, who rely on their sensory acumen to locate edible flora. However, it is noteworthy that rexals do not frequently engage in this practice.