PITHECINE RACES

The Pithecines are bipedal creatures with roughly humanoid shape. They have evolved from stock related to the lower primates of Terra and bear a characteristic ape-like appearance. Some Pithecine races have achieved considerable intellectual and cultural development, but none have equaled humans levels. PCs may become Pithecines if Strength and Constitution are 15+, and Intelligence cannot exceed 17. Technical aptitudes (CTA, MechA, EIecA) will top put 8t 15. Only PCs born on the Home Planet types indicated below can be Pithecines.

Stellar Primary: Type F and G

Home Planet: Planetary Types 1, 2, 7, and 8, with fairly abundant water and a gravity field of 0.6 - 2.5 G. Conditions should be temperate to tropical, with well-watered steppeland to jungle environments. Pithecines react badly to cold climates, and they find desert climates 'unpleasant'.

Radiation Tolerance: Humans norms apply.

Atmosphere: Humans norms apply, but minimum oxygen i.p.p. in the lungs is 75mm. Also, many Pithecines will develop respiratory ailments quickly if dust concentrations in the atmosphere are high.

Appearance: Pithecines have the usual anthropoid appearance but are somewhat more graceful than the primitive apes and gorillas because the bone structure, hips, and legs have evolved to suit erect stance. Body hair is thick and ranges in colour from buff through reddishbrown to brown and black. The thumb and forefingers development is sufficient to permit fine manipulations, compararing favourably with humans hand development.

Vision: Humans norms apply, although some races evidence a degree of colour blindness.

Hearing: Pithecine hearing is more acute than the human sense, but is still quite poor.

Smell: Pithecine olfactory senses are very close to human levels. As in the case of humans Pithecines have a racial dependence on vision.

General Comments: Pithecines are remarkably 'human' in their behaviors, although tending to be more emotional and more easily excited. Mates are significantly larger than human mates, standing I60 cm to 205 cm and massing 70 kg to 135 kg, Females compare in size to human females but are heavier. Overall physical power exceeds human levels, while speed and general agility equals human norms. It is in the intellectual and technical talents that the Pithecines fait below top human standards. Pithecines are quite capable of attaining considerable technological development and expertise, but they are less capable than men.

Metabolic systems are iron-based, while diet tends to be vegetarian with some meat for variety. Pithecines have a life expectancy around 100 years in advanced races, while primitives rarely reach more, than 30.