The Raithian

The Raithian homeworld is filled with warm shallow seas teaming with mega-fauna, and mangrove swamps overrun with apex predators. The key to the primitive Raithian survival is their ability to effortlessly switch between the two environments, evading aquatic and terrestrial predators alike. Unlike true amphibians, however, the Raithians are more akin to a mudskipper, capable of taking a large gulp of water before surfacing in order to keep their gills functioning for hours. Their four short limbs end in webbed, prehensile digits, providing easy movement in and out of water. Their dual-nature can be seen most apparently in the design of their skull: eyes mounted high up, so they can scan above water for threats, and hybrid olfactory/Jacobson's sensory ganglia hanging beneath for reading currents, so they aren't caught unaware. Unlike other Deep-Water Aquatic species, the Raithians never had to develop "dry-lab" technologies in order to develop their understanding of chemistry & metalworking, which allowed them to progress technologically much quicker than other fully aquatic species. Raithians diet is comprised of small creatures like brine shrimp, and soups made from bone marrow, sipped through the baleen-like filter running down the length of their skulls. In the modern era, the Raithians are well adapted to space travel. They are naturally adept at three-dimensional navigation, as most aquatic species are, and their amphibious nature makes them proficient at EVA and boarding maneuvers, as well.