Sangheili: Difference between revisions

[[File:H2A-ThelModel-Face.jpg|thumb|left|150px|A close-up of a Sangheili's face, showing the jaws, which have earned nicknames such as "Split-lip" and "Squid-head".]]

Sangheili have a binary circulatory system<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 226''</ref><ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page ???''</ref> that pumps indigo-colored [[blood]]. They breathe oxygen and their homeworld has a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere comparable to Earth's, allowing them to breathe the same atmosphere as humans. Sangheili cannot breathe molecular nitrogen.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 200'''</ref>

Most Sangheili have leathery skin covered in many part by scales. Young Sangheili have pale protective scales hanging from their necks that they lose with age, an evolutionary leftover from the days when Sangheili parents used to carry their offspring in their jaws.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 19'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Sangheili skin color can range from light brown to dark brown and from light gray to black. They have forward-facing eyes with vertical slits and horizontal eyelids much like those of terrestrial reptiles,<ref name="H4">'''[[Halo 4]]'''</ref><ref name="H2A"/><ref group="note">In most of their pre-''Halo 4'' depictions, the Sangheili have slightly laterally-oriented eyes. The Sangheili featured in ''Halo 4'' and later media have more forward-facing eyes befitting a predatory species.</ref> likely giving them high-resolution central vision and depth perception. Sangheili are unable to perceive purple tones, which they see as blue. They are also able to see in the "infrabrown range". This apparently indicates that they lack L cone cells.<ref name="vision">[https://twitter.com/JoshingtonState/status/458279139850858497 '''Twitter''': ''JoshingtonState''] (@JoshingtonState: ''"Little known fact, Elites are all color blind (like @franklez). This whole time they thought they were using BLUE! ;)"'') (''"@JoshingtonState: ''"Frank says "infrabrown range" - not sure exactly what this means."'')</ref> Their eyes can have multiple colours ranging from red all the way to green and can be even gray. Most Sangheili though possess yellow or orange eyes.<ref group="note">In ''Halo 2'' Thel 'Vadamee has magenta eyes and [[Rtas 'Vadum]]ee has green eyes. In ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' they, like all other members of their species, have orange-yellow eyes. A Sangheili Zealot seen in ''Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'' also has yellowish green eyes, Gek 'Lhar has yellow eyes, Jul and Rho have gray eyes and Vata 'Gajat from ''Halo: Escalation'' has red eyes. While 'Vadamee's and 'Vadumee's eye color was clearly retconned, the latter examples could be instances of artistic license, though they may instead indicate that other eye colors are exhibited throughout the species. </ref><ref group="note">Sangheili NPCs in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' wear eye coverings corresponding to the color of their armor, while Elites of all ranks wear black lenses in ''Halo 2''. These devices were likely meant to project the combatant's heads-up display. However, these coverings have not been seen in any media since ''Halo 2''; ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary'' and ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' instead depict all Sangheili with uncovered eyes.</ref>