Insectoid
An Insectoid is a creature that exhibits characteristics similar to those of Terran insects.
Description (Specifications)
An insectoid creature is distinguished by a number of characteristics:
- Segmented bodies consisting of two or more parts: typically a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.
- An exoskeleton or a hard, shell-like covering on the outside of the body.
- Three or more pairs of jointed appendages. These are typically used for walking, but sometimes a specialized pair may be used for jumping.
- Antennae, typically mounting sensory organs.
- Two pairs of wings.
- An open circulatory system.
Similar Forms
Quasi-arachnoids, Arthropodoids and Crustaceanoids are relatively esoteric subclassifications of insectoid primarily used by biologists. For most purposes, however, such types of creature qualify as insectoids.
Specific Species Examples
- Amindii, technologically advanced sophonts native Regina in the Spinward Marches.
- Blood Nymphs, possibly native to Vland.
History & Background (Dossier)
Most biologists agree that a creature should exhibit at least three of the characteristics associated with insectoids to qualify as a insectoid, though others set the limit at two. The term is necessarily generic.
It is relatively common for a creature to meet sufficient criteria to qualify as more than one classification of animal.
References & Contributors (Sources)
This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus Adie Alegoric Stewart of the IISS
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science