Voush’ni

In SIMULACRUM, the Voush'ni (Centauri sapiens) are sentient mammalian humanoids native to the planet Voush'noun in the Alpha Centauri A system.

Background
The Voush'ni are a human-like primate species with a highly ritualized culture. Their society is based in tradition and honor, and is stratified into a rigid caste system. The entire planet is ruled by the Veydrian ethnic group, who conquered all other groups over a period of many centuries.

Appearance and Biology
Voush'ni have an appearance similar to other humanoid primates. Their distinguising features include sloping noses, large rounded ears, "v" shaped forehead ridges, and colored body markings appearing on the cheeks, occasionaly the chin, shoulders, hips, and along the spine. Voush'ni have red blood that is presumably iron based. Their skin is similar to humans aside from their body markings, and skin tones range from very dark brown to very pale, with the darkest individuals originating from the equatorial region of the planet and the lightest individuals living closer to the poles. Voush'ni exhibit hair on their heads and males can grow facial hair. Haircolors can range from black, brown, blond, to red.

The Voush'ni reproduce sexually, and they do not have any particular mating season. Gestation takes 10 months. Voush'ni females typically begin puberty at age 10 but do not reach full maturity until age 17. Males enter puberty around age 13 and reach full maturity at age 20. Traditionally, Voush'ni marry a few years after the onset of puberty. Marriages are typically arranged by the couple's parents, and are mostly based on political and financial reasons.

It is possible for Voush'ni to crossbreed with some other species. Humans and Tarkainians are the only documented species capable of producing offspring with the Voush'ni. These hybrids may have some health problems, but are generally healthy. They, however, are born sterile and cannot reproduce themselves. There are several theories as to how these hybrids are possible, the most widely accepted being that convergent evolution may have led to chromosomal similarities between Voush'ni, humans, and Tarkainians.