Horizon 101: Zeach

Classification: Avian

Place of Origin: Dichi, Aellete System

Native Language: Penchi

The Zeach have slender frames and stand anywhere between 5'7 (68 inches)  to 6'5 (77 inches), though head feathers may add a few more inches. They have two arms with three fingers on each hand and two toes. The palms of their hands are softly padded while their nails are slightly curved and talon-like. Two sets of three, thin ears resembling butterfly wings rest along the side of their face. These ears are extremely sensitive and help regulate the species temperature. Mandible flaps exist around their mouth and dull, flat teeth lend credence to an all vegetation diet. The most notable feature on a Zeach are their head feathers. Feathers can be found on both the species head and the elbow area. They have wide eyes with their sclera being either white or gold and the actual iris being black with no visible pupil.

Unlike most species, the Zeach have no kind of natural armor, a fact that may be due to the lack of predators on their home planet. They have a faster metabolism than many and their bodies are made for quickness and agility, not strength or endurance. Their skin tones can range from golds and browns to black, white and grey, and though not common, red.  Along with obvious genitals, one can tell the difference between the sexes due to feather coloring. Male feathers are often shorter with muted colors of brown, black, white, and grey. While the female sex  possess longer feathers that are thicker and bolder in color.

Zeaches are egg-layers that work on a ZZ-ZW sex-determination system, meaning that it is the egg, not the sperm, that establishes the sex of the egg. Once a year, a female Zeach will lay a clutch of eggs between three to five eggs. They incubate for  two months and upon hatching will imprint on those that surround them. Most of the time they are surrounded by the arc, a group of Zeaches, which is why many state that they have many fathers and mothers. A  single arc is known as one family despite who gives birth. The entire arc helps in the care and raising of the chicks and once grown, an individual can choose whether to stay or go.

The average lifespan of the Zeach is 65 years.