Unisect
The Unisect is the closest creature on the planet to human intelligence. They do not possess the technological abilities of humans, but their emotional response to external stimuli and their communication among each other is on the level of dolphins. Physically they resemble giant mantises in the shape of horses. They are about five feet tall at the withers and with their neck held straight up they reach almost seven feet. They usually weigh around fifty to seventy-five kilograms in Earth weight. On Earth they would be even lighter.
Allerias Beta’s gravity is slightly stronger than Earth’s due to the larger mass of the planet, so the Unisect has developed a very light body structure to counter it. Its exoskeleton is about a centimeter thick and has pockets of air to lighten it. Its internal organs are also lighter in weight than most Earth animals. The muscles in its shoulders, neck, and back are very powerful and aide in allowing it to fly with minimal effort.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Unisect is its mating rituals. There are no genders in the species, but all of the creatures are hermaphrodites. Each breeding season the pair switches roles of mother and father. The Unisects pair for life, and they are the only Allerian creature discovered to actually fall in love the way humans do. When one mate dies the survivor rarely mates again, unless it is a young animal. The young take about two Allerian years to mature beyond parental care, and they are old enough to mate in three Allerian years.
The Unisects are not herd animals, but they are very social and have a sophisticated communication system. The horn on the top of their head is hollow and acts like a stiffened elephant truck, emitting trumpeting, shrills, and some lower frequency sounds that we cannot hear. Their language most resembles that of our Earth dolphins. Certain combinations of sound actually form names for the individuals, and they are known to carry out conversations among each other.
The Unisect feeds off the nectar of the giant flowers in the forests. These flowers depend almost solely on the Unisect for pollination. Unisects spend most of their day in the forest, flying between the landmasses when they please. During the night they rest with short “cat-naps.” The adults have no predators, but the young can fall victim to a desperate Aquarian Lizard-Fox. A lost child is a heavy blow, since they only have one baby every two Allerian years. The Unisects are only aggressive in protection of their young. The Unisect’s lifespan is about thirty five Allerian years.
