Kalikind

Kalis (Azkali: Atakoruzkali(rek)) or Modern Kalis are the most common and widespread members of Atakonkezkalis. Kalis are mammals, being an evolved hybrid species between Qoxonits and Kaneeds, despite morphologically resembling reptiles. Like other sapient species, Kalis are characterized by their large brains, allowing for sophisticated cognitive skills that facilitate adaptation to varied environments, development of tools, and the formation of complex social structures and civilizations.

Kalis evolved from the Atakokali, a hybrid species which first appeared c. 1.3 million years ago as the result of contact and mating between Qoxonits and Kaneeds in northern Ukilen. This hybridization is remarkable due to the fact that the last recent common ancestor lived between [abc]—[xyz] million years ago. As Atakokalis evolved into modern Kalis, further hybridization events occured between modern Kalis and Qoxonits and the various subspecies of Kaneeds, yielding Hathakalis (Qoxonit–Kali hybrids), Pameakalis (Baphian Kaneed–Kali hybrids), Zurukalis (Jyosti Kaneed–Kali hybrids), Otzokalis (Xeric Kaneed–Kali hybrids), Huzkalis (Yamahati Kaneed–Kali hybrids), Razkakalis (Hallei Kaneed–Kali hybrids), and Saikokalis (Zhaja Kaneed–Kali hybrids). Kalis lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers up until approximately 15,000 years ago, approximately when the first permanent settlements by kalis began. This led to the rise of Kali civilization, the earliest being the Azkali civilization which is believed to be the earliest continuous civilization in the world, and the rapid growth of Kali technology and population — today, there are believed to be approximately one hundred million living kalis, a majority of which reside in Ukilen.

Kali behavior is largely identical to other sapient species, in that they are omnivorous and capable of consuming a wide variety of plant and animal material. Whilst early Atakokalis were largely vespertinal and nocturnal, Kalis today are diurnal, and sleep an average of five to seven hours per day. Kalis are apex predators, with their only major predator being cheetahs.

Like other sapient species, Kalis are sexually dimorphic, but far less so than Qoxonits and Kaneeds. Males and females generally have the same levels of body strength and body fat, though males are on average somewhat taller than females. Puberty and the development of secondary sexual characteristics occurs in kalis around the age of 13. Females are capable of pregnancy starting at puberty, with menopause occuring around the age of 60. Childbirth is dangerous and occasionally deadly, with a moderate risk of complications. Kali infants are altricial, and require care in order to survive, which is provided by both the mother and father.

Etymology

Broadly speaking, the term Kali is usually used for all members of the Atakonkezkali family, which consists of modern Kalis, Hathakalis, Pameakalis, Zurukalis, Otzokalis, Huzkalis, Razkakalis, and Saikokalis, and most languages share one word which refers to members of all of these species. The term kali is the most widely used term when referring to Atakonkezkalis, and is derived from the Azkali word kali, meaning "person"; in Azkali, the word is generally used to refer to any member of any sapient species. The term atakoruzkali refers to modern Kalis, and was first coined by Ueksperkali polymath Heterrigi in his 1607 work Hembi Kalis. The term atakoruzkali in Azkali means "(the) first person". The term modern Kali is also used synonymously with atakoruzkali. This article uses the term Kali only to refer to modern Kalis/Atakoruzkalis.

Evolution

Kalis evolved from the Atakokali, a hybrid species which first appeared c. 1.3 million years ago as a result of contact and mating between Qoxonits and Kaneeds in northern Ukilen. Atakokalis appeared to be widespread across Ukilen and [northern continent], but largely dissapared from Ukilen starting c. 1,000,000 years ago. Atakokalis evolved into Kalis in [northern continent], spreading to Aeruvia c. 400,000 years ago. Kalis only spread back to Ukilen approximately c. 15,000 years ago, around the approximate date of the Neolithic Revolution, where the later members of the Atakonkezkalis originated. The first Atakonkezkali aside from Kalis were Huzkalis, with the first Huzkali fossil dating to c. 14,000 years ago. Pameakalis, Razkakalis, and Saikokalis first appeared approximately c. 10,000 years ago. Finally, Hathakalis first appeared c. 5,000 years ago, an event which is chronicled in the Heuduro Kalirezkoro — this is the only event of sapient species hybridization that was documented.

History

Ancient

Up until 15,000 years ago, all Kalis lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers. The Neolithic Revolution first took place in northern Yamahat, approximately around modern-day Bongsibon, and spread across Ukilen over the following millenia. It also occured independently in [xyz]. Access to food surplus led to the first permanent kali settlements, the domestication of animals, and the first use of metal tools. Azkali civilization first appeared c. 12,000 years ago, based around city-states. Chekearoa, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world, was founded c. 10,000–8,000 years ago. Other Azkali city states such as Otzeipao, Atzogui, and Nairak, were founded c. 8,000 years ago.

Biology

Anatomy and physiology

Main article: Kali body

Life cycle

Like other sapient species, Kali reproduction takes place by internal fertilization which occurs via sexual intercourse, though there exists assisted reproductive technology procedures. The average gestation period for kalis is on average 30 weeks, but a normal pregnancy can vary by up to 4 weeks. Kali infants are typically 45 centieters (18 in) in height at birth and weight approximately 2 kg (4.5 lbs). Childbirth, despite being dangerous in kalis, is comparatively less dangerous than in other sapient species.

Both the mother and father care for kali offspring. Kali infants are helpless at birth and continue to grow for approximately 20 years, reaching sexual maturity by between 16–17 years of age. The kali life span is split like other sapient species into usually five stages: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Kali females typically undergo menopause and become infertile by the age of 60–65. Kalis live to be on average a maximum of 95 years old — the oldest confirmed person ever recorded was Heiki Nozoko, a kali who was born in 1840 and died in 1982, and lived to be 141 years old. Due to a variety of factors, the average kali lifespan over the past 50 years is approximately 55.6 years, an average which was drastically brought down due to the Azkali plague pandemic and subsequent societal collapse, during which approximately 20% of all kalis died.

Biological variation

Kalis experience a wide variety of biological variation, which can includes blood type, genetic disorders, cranial features, facial features, eye color, hair color, skin and scale color, height, and build. The typical height of a kali is between 1.3m and 2m, though this varies depending on sex and ethnic origin. Like other sapient species, kali populations appear to adapt genetically based on various external factors. For example, slightly less half of Azkalis (c. 46%) are lactose intolerant, with the reason for this believed to be the relatively recent introduction of cheese into Azkali cuisine. Kali skin color is extremely variable, and can be virtually any color. Approximately 25% of all kalis have a yellow skin color, with kalis with yellow skin tones constituting approximately 35% of Azkali's population. Kali skin color is prenatally determined, and is usually determined by the average of both of their parent's skin colors; in one third of cases however, a kali's skin color will be arbitrarily decided. Kali hair color can range from red to blond to brown to black to grey, which is the most frequent. As a kali ages, their skin and hair color turns less saturated and brighter (i.e more "white").

See also

• Sapient species
• Atakonkezkali
• Hathakalikind
• Pameakalikind
• Zurukalikind
• Otzokalikind
• Huzkalikind
• Razkakalikind
• Saikokalikind
• Atakokalikind
• Timeline of Atakonkezkali evolution