The Nikeah

The Nikeah
The Nikeah (Homo Arkani) are a race of large, bipedal primates from the eastern arm of the galaxy. Like many primates across Home, their rise to dominance of their home planet has been put down to their large brains, and ability to use simple tools for both hunting and domestic use.
 * Biological Name: Homo Arkani
 * Common Name: Nikeah
 * Average Height: 7ft 9in
 * Average Weight: 240lb
 * Average Lifespan: 230 Terran years

A fully grown Nikeah can grow to be eight foot in height, with a pair of huge curled horns, that twist away behind their pointed ears. Although their bodies are covered in fine hair, the greatest collection rests between their horns, and is often white in colour, and left to grow to a significant length. Their skin ranges from a deep bronze to a lustrous ebony, often contrasting with their eyes, which can range from gold to purple.

The average Nikeah is covered in muscle, making them swift and powerful in the same breath. Their teeth match an omnivorous diet, the front teeth honed into flesh ripping points, the rest matched for chewing and grinding plant matter.

The Nikeah's defining quality as a species is their discipline. Even as tribal creatures, they show self-control to a degree lacking in many modern military forces. Even when hunting, they tirelessly stalk their prey, showing no emotions or signs of fatigue. When the kill is made, the group will defferentiate to the leader, without squabbling.

Ecology
The Nikeah are incredibly versatile creatures, and have adapted to most habitats on their homeworld. However, they are most suited to wide sprawling grassland, where they can take advantage of their incredible speed to chase down game.

For shelter, they create basic huts from tree-limbs, living in small groups of no more than eight members. It is thought that this early practice of hut-building stood them in good stead for civilized living.

Diet
The Nikeah will eat anything; animal or vegetable, dead or alive. They do have a tendancy to feed on red meat, and high-protein vegetables, as these help build their muscle mass, and keep them strong.

They hunt primarily in packs, using their discipline and natural agility and speed to chase down their prey, before finishing it with spears and axes.

Regional Variation
Across the surface of Arishok VI, there are four principle vairants of Nikeah, with a fifth developing among the children of those who have been born aboard star-ships.
 * Arkani Aecor; This genus originated on the wide grassland of Nikeah, and his by far the shortest of all its counterparts, with longer, better developed legs, allowing it to achieve greater speed over flat land
 * Arkani Civitas; Arguably the most human-looking of all the Nikeah, the Civitas are normally born without horns. They are of average size, but are generally more dexterous, and quicker of thought.
 * Arkani Pilosus; Although considered part of the Nikeah species, they are much closer to the evolutionary ancestors than any other genus. They are as inteligent as a Arkani Civitas, but are broader and taller in stature, and entirely covered in rough, silver hair. As a genus, they are generally more aggressive than the other facets of the Nikeah.
 * Arkani Coryza; The Coryza are of a similar size and build to the Pilosus, and sport the largest horns of any of the Nikeah. Often, the Coryza are more diciplined when hunting.
 * Arkani Mora; The Mora are the product of several generations aboard space-craft, starved of natural light, and used to artificial gravity. By Nikeah standards, they are stunted, only reaching six feet in height, with atrofied muscles and brittle bones. Their skin is often deathly pale, and their horns tend to be small and stubby.