Writer in need of help.

[Otakon]

Hello, hi, how are you and greetings. Like my title stated I am a new writer and I have created my own inhuman race. But in order for it to be believible, I ask help with the various traits I have developed. An example being:

The eyes are much larger in body size when compaired to a human, at least three times the size. They also see more colors, registering into the infrareds and ultraviolet ranges. Because this breed is designed to live under ground, they also have natural short sightedness, anything past 25 feet is a complete blur. Because of this they rely more on hearing and scent.

As mentioned before they are a digging race, so I was wondering if this idea is outlandish, or if it is reasonable.

[Derek]

Why would they be able to see more colors if they have bad eyesight? Animals with great eye sight (birds of prey, bees, etc.) tend to be able to see more colors, not the other way around. Besides that those traits seem pretty reasonable.

[Otakon]

Well i figured that they would take in as much light as possable [due to living deep underground but coming up to the surface periodically]. So taking in more light could lead to more colors. As for the shortsightedness, since they live underground distance isn't an issue, so thier eyes went down a different path. But they do have [because of the light gathering properties] a strong light sensativity, so when on the surface, tend to be nocturnal.

[JackBean]

that seems like adaptation to two fairly distinct enviroments, what's unreasonable

[Darby]

Gathering colors isn't "extra" to gathering light, those are done by different detectors. If there's a compelling reason to see colors (our ancestors gathered ripe fruit), you can rationalize it for your species. Maybe edible fungi whose chemistry causes a mild glow at various frequencies...

[Otakon]

Cool. Well I based this species off of the, in the beginning, glyptodont. The prehistoric mammilian tank. From what I can tell they were plains animals. What I did then was go a large number took to sheltering in caves to surive an ice age, I never refer to wether or not it was earth they were on. So I then asked myself what adaptations would they have gained to go from a plains animal, to a semi-subterainian humanoid.

[Otakon]

If I were to reduce the colors of the eye design, would it be more plausible if I were to reduce the number of blue rods/cones in the ey vs reds and greens? (Greens stemming from searching for bioluminescent fungi and critters, and the red 'area' due to using fire lights as a primary source of lighting)

[terryandrews]

I agree that they probably wouldn't develop the ability to see more colours (unless the only food source had some special quality such as a "glow" in a particular wavelength, much like people radiate different wavelengths of light), but they might develop some form of sonar vision (that would be a bit far-fetched, but very useful). If their natural habitat is underground, how about a species that is slightly smaller? That would be useful when underground (no need for enormous chambers or high high ceilings), and if they're going to be digging, their limbs might have to be more developed like a badger's than a person's. It's an interesting idea, your new species. What kind of book are you planning?

[Otakon]

Primarily fantisy with several scifi elements. And I can see the less human arm design. I doubt he would have 'sonar vision', mostly due to producing infrasounds with greater ease. All told humans hear higher wavelengths of sound than he does at the top end of our range. He, however, hears much much lower, and can produce them. It is one reason why we cannot speak his langauge, and one reason why we not only hear, but feel his voice when he speaks.

[Otakon]

Also I do have a question about bone structure. Being diggers they are exceptionally flexable, and I am trying to work out how they can have the upper body strength like a human, while lacking a collar bone. I figure prominant ridges, similar in concept to the bone fin on a gorrillas head, to provide muscle connections erupting from ribs.