Oktarh

Etylmology and Related Terminology
The name "Oktarh" is derived from the Ktarh language, being the demonym form of okæt (cold, old), literally translated to "(People) of the cold".

History
The current form of the species is presumed to be accomplished some four to seven million years ago, and written history goes back three hundred thousand years.

Evolution
Oktarh ancestry is generally unknown, since their evolution coincides with a mass ice age caused by increased albedo of the planet, though it is generally presumed that they have evolved from animals resembling synapsids.

There aren't any currently known ancestors of Oktarh, and all formerly related species are presumed to be extinct as of 1.5 million years prior.

Oktarh are commonly classified as bipedal mammaloid, covered with scales, without hair or fur, with extraordinarily long lifespans due to a chromosome anomaly.

Biology
Oktarh are bipedals, equipped with a rigid endoskeleton and an efficient metabolism, both evolved to survive in a predatory, low-food enviroment. They're omnivorous, without a specific preference for either type of food.

Oktarh have aluminium-based blood with a strong blue tint. When unoxidised, blood has darkish blue colour, but oxidised it takes on a vivid cobalt hue. Due to the nature of blood proteins, cells themselves have on their surfaces heme-like structures to take in oxygen.

Compared to humans, Oktarhs have opposite chirality in all aspects of their biochemistry, therefore being incompatible with human biochemistry.

Oktarh have a system of castes which determin one's general role in society.

Genetics
Oktarh have double-stranded B-DNA primary genetic code, with functions not related to relaying primary info being done by triple-stranded DNA (essential for the repair and maintenance of B-DNA) and RNA (other functions)

Oktarh DNA is dextrorotatory, and such are their aminoacids. Oktarh are essentially uncompatible with levorotatory DNA and levorotatory aminoacids, and consumation of food that contains levo-aminoacids could, if lucky, be only non-nutritious.

Behavior
Oktarh are in general group creatures, with small groups made of (usually) biologically related individuals, simmilar to human families. The major difference is that, while a group can loose a member via expulsion from the group, so can a different group gain a member who is considered a close friend. Such groups sometimes need no biological relation at all, often a group of friends.

Oktarhs are relatively social creatures, yet capable of longterm isolation without consequences. Approximately eighty thousand years after evolution, they evolved conciousness, and after a period of two hundred thousand, in what is called the age of dawn, first civilisations started appearing. From that period forward, the population and spread of Oktarh increased and so did their conflicts.

Due to their aggressive nature, coupled with highly different views, wars often erupted over both small and huge matters. Oktarh society in general believes in Akasha, the mother goddess, almost without exception. Even though religious, Oktarhs are very open-minded and innovative.