Kig-Yar: Difference between revisions

331 bytes removed ,  9 years ago
Catalog has repeatedly asked for a citation for this claim, and I can find none either.
(Catalog has repeatedly asked for a citation for this claim, and I can find none either.)
Line 66: Line 66:
Kig-Yar share many features with Earth avians as well as reptiles and exhibit several features that are common among species that have evolved in low-gravity environments.<ref name="bestiarum"/> 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>
Kig-Yar share many features with Earth avians as well as reptiles and exhibit several features that are common among species that have evolved in low-gravity environments.<ref name="bestiarum"/> 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. Apart from these differences as well as those in reproductive organs, there is no meaningful physical variance between male and female Kig-Yar.<ref name="bestiarum"/> 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. Apart from these differences as well as those in reproductive organs, there is no meaningful physical variance between male and female Kig-Yar.<ref name="bestiarum"/>


While Kig-Yar have hollow avian bones and are physically frail, they are capable of moving quickly to evade harm. Their blood is bright purple in color, similar to that of the [[Sangheili]], possibly showing a similar chemical makeup. They lack high amounts of [[calcium]] in their skeletons, which makes them a poor source of biomass for the [[Flood]]. Thus, Kig-Yar that are infected by the Flood are typically turned directly into [[Flood carrier form|carrier forms]] rather than [[Flood combat form|combat forms]]. However, they have been utilized as combat forms during at least one engagement, the [[Battle of Shield World 0459]].<ref>''Halo Wars''</ref>
While Kig-Yar have hollow avian bones and are physically frail, they are capable of moving quickly to evade harm. Their blood is bright purple in color, similar to that of the [[Sangheili]], possibly showing a similar chemical makeup. They lack high amounts of [[calcium]] in their skeletons, which makes them a poor source of biomass for the [[Flood]]. Thus, Kig-Yar that are infected by the Flood are typically turned directly into [[Flood carrier form|carrier forms]] rather than [[Flood combat form|combat forms]]. However, they have been utilized as combat forms during at least one engagement, the [[Battle of Shield World 0459]].<ref>''Halo Wars''</ref>