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Kig-Yar: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Jackal_by_Halsey.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Kig-Yar physiology and skeletal structure as drawn by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] in [[2536]].]] | [[File:Jackal_by_Halsey.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Kig-Yar physiology and skeletal structure as drawn by [[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] in [[2536]].]] | ||
Kig-Yar share many features with Earth avians as well as reptiles. Their legs are sinewy and muscular, and are reverse-jointed in a similar fashion to those of birds. Being carnivores, their sharp beaks are lined with razor-sharp teeth, and their tri-digit hands and feet have sharp talons. Kig-Yar have been known to eat the flesh of fallen enemies, as well as that of live prisoners. They are gifted with extraordinarily acute senses of sight, hearing, and smell, making them adept as scouts and snipers in the Covenant military. Kig-Yar are also very agile, and can execute swift jumps and rolls in combat; these abilities are most pronounced in the more muscular | Kig-Yar share many features with Earth avians as well as reptiles. Their legs are sinewy and muscular, and are reverse-jointed in a similar fashion to those of birds. Being carnivores, their sharp beaks are lined with razor-sharp teeth, and their tri-digit hands and feet have sharp talons. Kig-Yar have been known to eat the flesh of fallen enemies, as well as that of live prisoners. They are gifted with extraordinarily acute senses of sight, hearing, and smell, making them adept as scouts and snipers in the Covenant military. Kig-Yar are also very agile, and can execute swift jumps and rolls in combat; these abilities are most pronounced in the more muscular [[T'vaoan]] subspecies, members of which can leap great distances and cover ground at extremely high speeds. Kig-Yar possess a strong salty, occasionally acrid stench.<ref name="B.net"/><ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 159''</ref> | ||
Young Kig-Yar chicks are covered in a brown fledgling down which gradually molts and gives way to scales and plumage as they age.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 71''</ref> Male Kig-Yar possess plumes of spiny quills (feathers in the case of Skirmishers) at the back of the head and on the elbows; the color of this plumage indicates the Kig-Yar's mood.<ref name="Contact">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 56, 58''</ref> Quill color also varies between subspecies; Jackal quills typically have brown, red or light blue coloration, whereas Skirmishers generally have black or reddish feathers. Females lack these quills, instead having calloused plates at the forearms and the rear of the head. This thick skin helps protect the female during courtship: when mating, the male will often bite, chew, and tear at the back of the female's head, neck, and arms. Kig-Yar reproduce by laying eggs which the female incubates, similarly to birds. When mating, the male can choose to fertilize the egg, in which a male is produced, whereas, if the eggs are not fertilized, a female is produced. This may imply that Kig-Yar have the ability to reproduce without mating, like some terrestrial birds. | Young Kig-Yar chicks are covered in a brown fledgling down which gradually molts and gives way to scales and plumage as they age.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 71''</ref> Male Kig-Yar possess plumes of spiny quills (feathers in the case of Skirmishers) at the back of the head and on the elbows; the color of this plumage indicates the Kig-Yar's mood.<ref name="Contact">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 56, 58''</ref> Quill color also varies between subspecies; Jackal quills typically have brown, red or light blue coloration, whereas Skirmishers generally have black or reddish feathers. Females lack these quills, instead having calloused plates at the forearms and the rear of the head. This thick skin helps protect the female during courtship: when mating, the male will often bite, chew, and tear at the back of the female's head, neck, and arms. Kig-Yar reproduce by laying eggs which the female incubates, similarly to birds. When mating, the male can choose to fertilize the egg, in which a male is produced, whereas, if the eggs are not fertilized, a female is produced. This may imply that Kig-Yar have the ability to reproduce without mating, like some terrestrial birds. | ||
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====Subtypes==== | ====Subtypes==== | ||
The Kig-Yar species is represented by at least three morphologically distinct subtypes. These include the mainstream "Jackals", the notably reptilian Jackals of [[Ibie'sh]], and the more physically robust (and more avian) "Skirmishers" of [[T'vao]]. The morphological variation among the Kig-Yar likely represents divergent evolution in response to varied environments on prehistoric Eayn.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' (2011), ''pages 56 and 57''</ref><ref | The Kig-Yar species is represented by at least three morphologically distinct subtypes. These include the mainstream "Jackals", the notably reptilian Jackals of [[Ibie'sh]], and the more physically robust (and more avian) "Skirmishers" of [[T'vao]]. The morphological variation among the Kig-Yar likely represents divergent evolution in response to varied environments on prehistoric Eayn and, subsequently, their various interplanetary colony worlds.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''' (2011), ''pages 56 and 57''</ref><ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/en-us#/intel/theuniverse/characters/video/the-jackals/24dc0ecc-8cf0-473a-aae3-266fe6019d61?filter=all '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Jackals'']</ref> | ||
Jackals typically exhibit light brown, tan, or sallow skin tones, with green skin appearing less often;<ref>'''Halo Legends''' - ''Origins'' and ''Homecoming''</ref> flexible quills on the head and forearms among males, with calloused plates among females; and elongated heads with bulbous eyes and beak-like snouts. The most common head morphology involves a downward-sloping snout,<ref>''Halo 3'', ''Halo: Reach'', and related media</ref> though specimens with straight snouts are also common.<ref>''Halo 2''</ref><ref>''Halo: Uprising''</ref><ref group="note">In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Jackals have squat heads, very bulbous eyes, baleen-like teeth, and dark green or reddish orange skin. This design has not been featured in any subsequent media and has seemingly been retconned from existence by ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''. ''Anniversary'' instead uses the ''Halo: Reach'' design, though it is scaled down to the original Jackals' smaller frame, giving the Jackals squat heads and much shorter necks.</ref> | Jackals typically exhibit light brown, tan, or sallow skin tones, with green skin appearing less often;<ref>'''Halo Legends''' - ''Origins'' and ''Homecoming''</ref> flexible quills on the head and forearms among males, with calloused plates among females; and elongated heads with bulbous eyes and beak-like snouts. The most common head morphology involves a downward-sloping snout,<ref>''Halo 3'', ''Halo: Reach'', and related media</ref> though specimens with straight snouts are also common.<ref>''Halo 2''</ref><ref>''Halo: Uprising''</ref><ref group="note">In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', Jackals have squat heads, very bulbous eyes, baleen-like teeth, and dark green or reddish orange skin. This design has not been featured in any subsequent media and has seemingly been retconned from existence by ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''. ''Anniversary'' instead uses the ''Halo: Reach'' design, though it is scaled down to the original Jackals' smaller frame, giving the Jackals squat heads and much shorter necks.</ref> | ||
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Jackals hailing from the continent of Ibie'sh have the same body structure as most of their kin, but their heads are far more muscular and reptilian in appearance.<ref>''Halo 4''</ref><ref name="VIS">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'''''</ref> These Jackals also differ from the more commonly seen variety in having reddish plumes and yellow-tinted eyes. Whether this is a natural or artificial variation is unknown. Ibie'sh Jackals they served in the Covenant military as early as [[2526]]<ref>''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''</ref> and now constitute the majority of Kig-Yar in the [[Covenant remnant|reorganized Covenant]]. | Jackals hailing from the continent of Ibie'sh have the same body structure as most of their kin, but their heads are far more muscular and reptilian in appearance.<ref>''Halo 4''</ref><ref name="VIS">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'''''</ref> These Jackals also differ from the more commonly seen variety in having reddish plumes and yellow-tinted eyes. Whether this is a natural or artificial variation is unknown. Ibie'sh Jackals they served in the Covenant military as early as [[2526]]<ref>''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn''</ref> and now constitute the majority of Kig-Yar in the [[Covenant remnant|reorganized Covenant]]. | ||
Skirmishers originated from the Kig-Yar colony [[asteroid]] of T'vao.<ref>[[Halopedia:Letter - Re:Mortal Dictata Question]]</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''' - ''Chapter 2''</ref> They have darker skin and stockier, squared heads with small yellow eyes. They also have more beak-like mouths and bony facial coverings. Skirmishers have true feathers on their heads and arms, unlike the Jackals' quills. Like Jackals, Skirmishers have sharp talons on their hands and feet. While both subspecies are quite agile, Skirmishers are capable of sprinting at great speeds and leaping long distances. Male Kig-Yar from T'vao had much heavier upper body plumage than other Kig-Yar. Females from T'vao had a ruff of feathers on their heads and necks instead of scales.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''Chapter 3''</ref> | T'vaoans, commonly known as Skirmishers, originated from the Kig-Yar colony [[asteroid]] of T'vao.<ref>[[Halopedia:Letter - Re:Mortal Dictata Question]]</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''' - ''Chapter 2''</ref> They have darker skin and stockier, squared heads with small yellow eyes. They also have more beak-like mouths and bony facial coverings. Skirmishers have true feathers on their heads and arms, unlike the Jackals' quills. Like Jackals, Skirmishers have sharp talons on their hands and feet. While both subspecies are quite agile, Skirmishers are capable of sprinting at great speeds and leaping long distances. Male Kig-Yar from T'vao had much heavier upper body plumage than other Kig-Yar. Females from T'vao had a ruff of feathers on their heads and necks instead of scales.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''Chapter 3''</ref> | ||
==Culture== | ==Culture== | ||
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==Homeworld and colonies== | ==Homeworld and colonies== | ||
{{Main|Eayn}} | {{Main|Eayn}} | ||
Eayn is the homeworld of the Kig-Yar species and is the primary satellite of the planet [[Chu'ot]]. It is characterized by its single equatorial ocean, sparse volcanism, and almost total lack of glaciation. Only about one-third of all Kig-Yar who still reside in the Y'Deio system call Eayn their home; many have chosen to live among the minor planets within the asteroid belt since their initial contact with the Covenant. The most notable Kig-Yar interplanetary colonies are known as [[Muloqt]], [[Kaelarot]], and [[Valyanop]];<ref name="11th hour"/> | Eayn is the homeworld of the Kig-Yar species and is the primary satellite of the planet [[Chu'ot]]. It is characterized by its single equatorial ocean, sparse volcanism, and almost total lack of glaciation. Only about one-third of all Kig-Yar who still reside in the Y'Deio system call Eayn their home; many have chosen to live among the minor planets within the asteroid belt since their initial contact with the Covenant. The most notable Kig-Yar interplanetary colonies are known as [[Muloqt]], [[Kaelarot]], and [[Valyanop]];<ref name="11th hour"/> other Kig-Yar colonies include [[Dal'koth]], as well as [[T'vao]], home of the [[T'vaoan|Skirmishers]].<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 73''</ref> | ||
==Military structure== | ==Military structure== | ||