(click to enlarge)The Gnalish Tarn skeletal structure can best be described as a standard humanoid race, with the conventional spine, ribcage, skull and limb formations. The Tarn, being descended from the early lizard species of Gnala, also possess a broad, balancing but non-prehensile tail. The way the tail projects from the base of the spine forces the Tarn into a slight leaning posture. The Tarn's fingers end in very small talons formed from bone projections, rather than matted hair. These talons are atrophied and not suited to combat or proper hunting. The Tarn's feet much resemble standard humanoid feet, but they possess similar diminished claws on each of their five toes. The Gnalish Tarn skull is more elongated than a standard humanoid, and projects forward from the top of the spine rather than upward. The facial cavities in the skull are positioned towards the top of the skull, such that when stood, a Tarn can see forwards. The Tarn bones are very light, with air pockets like bird bones, but retain roughly the same strength as standard humanoid bones.
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The Gnalish Elt skeleton bears some resemblance to that of the Tarn; there are clearly common roots. The overall posture is similar, although the El t tend to be more stooped and naturally stand with their spine in an almost horizontal position. The skull is adapted to this, and all sensory cavities are directed along this line of vision. However, Elt are capable of maintaining an erect posture, and when they do so their skull can pivot forwards to form a more humanoid position. The actual bones are very different. They seem almost artificial, like reinforced replicas of Tarn bone tissue. Elt bones have no air pockets, they are very heavy, and much thi c ker than Tarn bones. The ribs are fused together, forming a rigid shield over the chest. The skull is very thick, but the comparitively equal brain cavity makes the Elt skull outwardly larger. Both hands and feet end in much larger claws than the Tarn, and these are fully suited to hunting and slaying prey. The Elt tail is fully prehensile, and also ends in a bony projection that is different in each specimine. The most striking feature of the Gnalish Elt are its four arms. These extend from a unique broad clavicle and bifurcated scapula.
The Tarn have a standard humanoid set of internal organs. Heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach and other structures are present in remarkably similar positions to that of other humanoid species. These organs function in an identical fashion to that of any other species, save that the Tarn's kidneys are approximately 130% more efficient than Terran average.
The internal composition of the Elt bears almost no resemblance to the Tarn or in fact any other known sentient species. Though they possess much the same types of organ as the Tarn, they possess them in abundance. Each Elt has four hearts, five stomachs, four lungs, four kidneys, two livers and three 'brains', though in reality two of these organs are simply large nerve clusters which govern parts of the body, while the third organ is the 'true' brain which houses the creature's conscious thought processes and primary engram. Unlike the Klingon species, who possess multiple organs seemingly as a redundant backup for injuries, the Elt requires the full use of all of these organs to maintain homeostasis. In the event of a failing organ, the others will continue to function, but the overall efficiency of whatever system has been compromised will be reduced, and if not attended to the Elt will die. The Elt also possess two additional, more unusual sets of organs. The first are the gills, the evolutionary cause of which seem evident, but cannot be scientifically explained. An Elt has gill f laps on the sides of its neck, and these can be used to 'breathe' indefinitely whilst in oxygenated water. The second set of organs are the pheromone glands, which are positioned in a line along the front centre of the Elt's body from the base of the neck to the pelvis. These glands release (when desired) powerful pheromones into the air which will attract females. Although these pheromones will function on most species, Gnalish genetic engineering has progressed to the point where each Elt continually goes in for 'upgrading', where his pheromone glands are altered or replaced to produce additional varieties of chemical for new species.