Alien Species - Hydrax

One of my various alien species, the Hydrax. This species is generally hostile towards humanity, and pretty much any other species that they don't rule over.

The name 'Hydrax' is generally used to mean the species, but this is actually the name of the dominant nation in their space - they actually call their species the Ilyag. It would be like referring to all humans as, say, Americans.

Although they look somewhat frail and lightly-built, they are actually powerful pack-hunting predators who are much stronger and faster than they look. Biologically they have some mammalian traits, including fur and warm blood, but they have some unfamiliar features such as lateral lines (used as ears) and mouthparts more reminiscent of a spider's than a vertebrate's. Their bodies secrete very little water, due to their homeworld Vorginaud having a comparatively arid environment compared to Earth. They have retractable claws for hunting and fighting, and males have a retractable heel spike that secretes a mild paralyzing toxin. (In Hydrax society, it's considered the height of rudeness to extend one's claws in public.)

One of their more unique physical features is that their fur can change color to better blend in with their environment; the fur is a natural fibre-optic cable with a cluster of chromatophores (color-changing cells) at the base. The fur normally appears white (except for the males' manes, which have pigment throughout them rather than being transparent).

Being pack hunters, their society has some parallels to Earth wolves; they must constantly prove their skills and abilities in their positions in order to keep them, and in order to advance must prove themselves better than their superiors. In fact, it's instinctual to them to attempt to advance themselves whenever they see the opportunity. The leader of the Hydrax government is thus referred to as the Alpha by humans. However, they have a strong instinct to work toward the good of their particular pack. These twin impulses, self-advancement and supporting the pack, are occasionally in conflict. It's normally seen as more 'moral' for them to work for the pack rather than themselves. Their policies toward other species are clearly influenced by these two impulses; they have a reputation for attacking other governments if they see an advantageous opening.

It's probably this propensity for seizing opportunities to attack opponents that has led them to control a sizable area of space surrounding Vorginaud; this area abutts both Ataan and Human space, as well as the Free Worlds. They are considered one of the six current Power species due to this sizeable territory. Most of this territory was actually seized from their former rulers, an erstwhile Power species called the Mordon, during their revolution which precipitated the collapse of the Mordon civilization.