Keel

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Keel
Keel worker.png

Homeworld:

Maphon

Worker Length:

up to 3 metres

Worker Height:

up to 2 metres

Diet:

Omnivorous

Intelligence:

High non-sapient

The Keel are a hive-species from Maphon, in the Viperius Galaxy.

Physiology

The Worker Keel grow up to 3m long, and have six thick legs coming from their thorax. They are lizard-like to an extent, with a reptilian snout and tail. However, they bear large claws on their feet and have rows of spikes down their back and limbs. Omnivores, they harvest fruits and fungi-analogues as well as meat.

They are scarlet in colour, though certain hives have other markings such as black stripes.

There are worker and queen Keel. Any worker can fertilise an egg, and unfertilised eggs become workers (most eggs are left, the queen must specifically order fertilisation). The queen manages the hive using a primitive language combined with pheromones. Queens are up to 9m long, of which most is the swollen abdomen, and their tail is much reduced.

Hives

Worker Keel bring down trees together, and use them to create a large nest with several rooms. Trunks are bonded with secreted cement. The queens (one to five queens live in a hive) live in the innermost, lowest room.

Because of this, hives are surrounded by scoured land.

Intelligence

Keel are classed as non-sapient, as they have no sophisticated judgement or abstract thought*. They are normally quite docile when not tasked with attack, though if they see Keel harmed or an action they associate with harm they will mob the cause, attacking it with bites and claws.

Language

Keel language is based on fluctuating screeches. Around 40 different sounds have been recorded.

History

The Keel evolved on Maphon, becoming the dominant species.

As of their conflict with the Zyrothans, they are officially extinct. A few queen specimens are kept in stasis by the Zyrothan government.

In Fiction