Muris sapiens
Murid
The location of the original home world of Murids is highly contested. Aberbarda and Pani are amongst the two most likely candidates for the evolution of the Murid species. They most likely evolved from large murid rodents (rats and mice).
Physiological Characteristics
The average adult Murid stands at approximately 1.5 metres tall (4 feet 11 inches) and weighs 50 kilograms (110 pounds). They have an upright body consisting of a large rodent head with an elongated snout, connected to a thick torso by a slender neck, four slender limbs, and a long, semi-prehensile tail. Their limbs end in hands and (proportionally) long feet consisting of five digits each, with small keratin claws on the finger and toe tips. Their entire body, except for their hands, feet, tail, nose, and ears, is covered in thick short fur. This fur is generally in shades of brown, black, or grey, but white and piebald are also not uncommon. Their head has two large eyes on either side of their face, and two large naked ears. They have a dentition of 1.0.0.3/1.0.0.3 (one incisor and three molars in each quadrant of their mouth) and a total of sixteen teeth. Their incisors, like in most rodent species, will continue to grow for the duration of their lives and will need to be constantly ground down by chewing and gnawing. Their large eyes lack visible sclera (whites) and their iris can come in shades of brown, black, pink, or blue. Their skin is generally a light pink or brown complexion.
Biological Characteristics
The average lifespan for a Murid is between seventy to ninety years. Their iron-rich blood has a red colouration, and like most mammals, they are endothermic. Male (buck) Murids tend to be heavier than females (doe), with the average buck weighing 60 kilograms (110 pounds), and an average, non-pregnant doe weighing 40 kilograms (88 pounds).
Physical Capabilities and Limitations
Murids have exceptional low-light and night vision, hearing, and smell. They are exceptionally good swimmers and can hold their breath for three to five minutes. They can survive up to fourteen days without food, and ten days without water. They can reach running speeds of up to 30 kilometres/hour (18.6 miles/hour) and can maintain this speed for a fair distance. They require between four to six hours of sleep to maintain normal bodily and brain function. Like most organisms, Murids require gaseous oxygen to breathe. Like most Homo species, and Suina species, Murids are capable of metabolising various substances, and in higher quantities, that are highly toxic to many other species, such as theobromine, caffeine, persin, alcohols, and capsaicin. However, even Murids can die from an overdose of these substances, their tolerance is just a lot higher than most other species. Murids has exceptional balance, thanks to their long and semi-prehensile tail.
Diet and Nutrition
Murids are an omnivorous species and can consume a wide variety of plant and animal matter, including nuts, leaves, berries, fruits, meat, eggs, and dairy.
Immunology
Obesity and cancers are two of the biggest threats to modern Murid health. They can be infected by viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases, and are prone to internal and external parasites. Most diseases are highly treatable and preventable. Murid bodies rapidly repair damaged tissue, and external injuries are sealed and have begun to scar within at least a day or two. A negative side effect to this rapid regeneration of bodily tissues is the increased risk of mutated cells becoming cancerous. A common and often fatal disease that affects many Murids is Sialodacryoadenitis or Muri-flu. This viral infection infects the lungs, nasal cavities, eyes, and salivary glands and can be spread through air-borne particles and touch. It causes coughing and sneezing, difficulty breathing, runny and sore eyes and nose, and can lead to death in severe infections. It also inhibits their balance and coordination, and can cause them to avoid light. Most infections clear up within three weeks, and can be prevented with vaccinations that are mandatory in most nations comprising of Murid ethnic groups.
Reproduction and Development
Like all mammals, Murids are sexual reproducers with internal fertilisation. Female Murids are induced ovulators, and can become pregnant after any copulation with a male. Once pregnant, the Doe will have a gestation period of three months, after which she will give birth to three to ten offspring (pups). The pups are born altricial (blind, deaf, and naked), and are completely dependent on their mother for sustenance, surviving off her milk. At two months their eyes and ears have opened, they have begun to move around and consume solid foods. They are weaned from their mother’s milk by three months, and they start to become more independent. By four years of age, they are mostly independent, walking, talking, and eating solids, and they reach full maturity at sixteen years, after which a young doe can become pregnant. Both bucks and does can reproduce their entire adult lives, and a doe can become pregnant almost as soon as the pups are born. Most does will only have two or three litters in their lives, and many spread them out between five to ten years.