Atlanteans
History
Atlanteans, not to be confused with Mermen are the native species of the continent of Atlantis. Like most races, they are divided up between several sub-groups.
Poseidonians
The Poseidonians make up the majority of all Atlanteans and reside in the city-state of Poseidonis. Pre-cataclysmic Atlanteans were essentially human, but following the Great Deluge, they were forced to adapt to living beneath the sea. A special serum gave them amphibious characteristics, but after only a few short years, these Poseidonians lost their ability to process oxygen through normal means. They evolved into a race of completely aquatic people and remain so to this day. A Poseidonian (and most other Atlanteans) can only survive out of the water for up to one hour before they must replenish themselves in the sea.
Tritonaians
Nearly 10,000 years ago, a group of Poseidonians migrated from their home city and re-established themselves in the ruins of Tritonis. These Atlanteans were followers of the wizard Shalako and as such, became known as Shalakites. The mad Shalako cursed his followers after what he felt was a great betrayal and their bodies evolved into the Mer-people of modern-day Tritonis.
Idylists
The Idylists were another sub-group of Atlantean with humanoid features, similar to those of neighboring Poseidonis. The Idylists were a superstitious people and ostracised those who were born with certain abnormalities (such as purple eyes). The super-hero known as Tempest (formerly Aqualad) was one of the Idylists.
Habitat
Habitat: Marine
Gravity: 1G
Atmosphere: Ancient Atlanteans thrived in an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere. Modern Atlanteans can only survive in an underwater climate, with limited exposition to surface environments.
Population: Unknown
Miscellaneous
Type of Government: Monarchy
Level of Technology: Advanced
Cultural Traits: Unknown
Representatives: Leander of Tritonis,
Biology
Description & special adaptations:
Atlanteans possess twin gills located on their necks near the clavicle bone, which enable them to extract oxygen from the water. They possess physiologies far stronger and more durable than their surface counterparts, which enable them to withstand the vast water pressure at the ocean's bottom as well as the pressure changes encountered travelling from one depth to another.
Compared to the average air-breather, the average Atlantean is about ten times stronger. The average Atlantean can swim at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour.
Atlanteans are warm-blooded, and their blood circulation is superior to that of land-dwellers, enabling them to withstand the near-freezing temperatures of the ocean depths with minimal discomfort.
Atlanteans have specially-adapted eyes possessing vision more sensitive to the green portion of the spectrum. This enables them to see more acutely in the dimly lit ocean depths.
Atlanteans need water in order to breath, and will suffocate in open air in about five minutes, though Fen, Namor's mum, used a potion that allowed her to breathe air for five hours, but eventually began to breathe air and underwater permanently.
Atlantean skin tends to be light blue in colour, although certain individuals are darker.
Atlanteans possess residual body hair primarily on their heads, a holdover from their surface-dwelling ancestry.
Despite their various marine characteristics, Atlanteans are mammals: they bear their young live and care for them during infancy. Although rare, it is possible for an Atlantean and an air breather to mate. The physical characteristics such an offspring will inherit are subject to genetic chance. In the known cases of such matings, the offspring acquired the capacity to breath in both air and underwater.
The life expectancy of an Atlantean is about 150 years.
Reproductions and Cross-breeding:
The Atlanteans, as their cousins the Lemurians, have proved to be fertile with humans, and generate from those unions mutant hybrids, fertile or not:
As hybrids, the Human-Atlantean aren't all able to reproduce: Namora has been unable to reproduce with Talan, a pure-blooded atlantean. She is then supposed to be a sterile hybrid, leading to her cloning in order to create a child.
But Namor have shown in many realities to be able to reproduce with atlanteans (Dorma, Abira), mutated humans (Susan Storm) or even aliens with the Plodex Marrina. Full list of known human-atlantean hybrids'
Mutants
Many mutants and powered beings are born among the Atlanteans. Their true biological nature is quite unknown, but were stated to be atlantean mutants Crosta by Juston's Sentinel, and Attuma (Earth-2189) (by Namora).
Those mutants aren't to be confused with the human/atlantean hybrids mutants, which their mutancy is supposed or confirmed to came from an X-Gene, developed within the human genetics.
