A Nebulan Study in the Origin, Classification, Behavior and Genetics of the Gigan Species.

What Is A Gigan?

This is a brief study, of Gigans their, background, biology, behavior and genetics.

A Gigan is a half cyborg, half biological monster for Nebula Space Hunter M. Characteristics a creature must have to be a Gigan are: bipedal stance, a long tail, a beak that may or may not have teeth, abdomen buzzsaw, a single eye, fins or wings but most have one of the two, at least a single set of pincers on the sides of the beak, and half of its being must be cybernetic. Usually this is the skeleton. Some specimens have more metal parts than others. The upper arms are usually hooks or blades, but some specimens have hand claws. Feet vary in the number of toes.
 

Type Specimen: Gigan

A type specimen is the study specimen kept in museums that is used for study and represents the entire species. Type specimens must be in good condition and have the characteristics that define the species. So in our study we use Gigan himself as our type specimen.

Origin

No other species has had such an influence on the evolution of another as the Nebulans have on the Gigans. The change to these creatures has been so much so that it is not even documented what the creatures looked like before enhancement. A large planet was discovered on a scouting trip. This planet was classified as the Gigan homeworld. A few of these creatures were captured, given cybernetic parts and released back onto their world. No other creatures that received this treatment took to the enhancements like the Gigans did. They did so much so that they became incorporated into the genetic make up and was passed on to further generations. With this new variations in the cybernetic traits evolved on their own that could never be thought up my Nebulan minds. On a return trip many cycles later the people of Nebula Space Hunter M were quit surprised to find that the entire population on the planet had become at least half cyborgs. None of the original 100% bio specimens remained, those had passed on of old age, their children now carrying the new metallic parts.
 
One theory as to how this happened is similar as to how hard parts on animals arose on earth. Extra minerals, especially calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate were accumulated in a specific area and produced a skeleton. Calcium carbonate produced shells in marine invertebrates very early on, while calcium phosphate produced endoskeletons. It is thought that a similar process happened with the Gigans when the enhancements were incorporated into the genetic being, thus now the extra minerals produced were the metals. This is also advantageous since damaged parts especially on the outside can be repaired to a certain extent. Some can grow back, for example claws, like broken fingernails though it takes a certain amount of time.

 
Sexual Dimorphism

There are visual differences between males and females. Here and in most literature females are referred to as hens.

Here in Figure 1, you can see some differences in the normal or wild type between the sexes. More information on the wild type will be given in the genetics section. The creature on the left is a male. Males are usually larger than hens, in the normal has straight horns, may be more colorful, has longer set of pincers, and more weaponry.

Hens tend to be smaller, may not be as bright, have smaller pincers, and the normal curled forward horns. The hen here is on the right and other than that looks very much like a male to an untrained eye. Hens also have reinforced plates in the lower back. This is to protect her from the male's saw during copulation.
 
Senses

Vision in the Gigan species is excellent, they can see up to 8 times better than we can, and can adjust for different spectrum as well. It may be convenient for them to see either in infrared or the ultra violet.

Smell is also an important sense. Some individuals seem to have it more developed than others, but it is rather keen in most. They use it to hunt prey and to recognize each other. Certain smells may be used in communication but it is unclear.

Hearing is also used to track down prey and in communication. There are many complex calls given out that have to be heard by other individuals. Still the full range of hearing of the species isn't known.

Tactile ability is not very important. This may be do to the hardness of the enhancements, though it has been observed in some individuals, that they do have feeling in these areas. Again another area that needs more study.

Behavior

Communication

Gigans are very complex and intelligent creatures. They have reasoning, problem solving abilities, and complex communication. Strategic logic in some seems to stem from the enhancements to warriors.

Calls are used quite a bit in communication. They keep hunting groups together. The eye is an obvious visual communicator. Different eye flashes mean different things. Anger is show by intensity. Becoming agitated by a single flash. Excitement by a steady brightening. The equivalent of closing the eye is when the light is very dim or dark. Submission is shown by lowering the eye, and dimming it.

Fins are also very important in signaling. They are mostly used to show aggression, submission, and in mating displays both by the male and the female. Fins are usually held down when a Gigan is calm. When excitement is show they are rapidly raised. In males anger and aggression is displayed by opening the fins and bringing them forward to look larger and more menacing. Submission is the opposite where the fins are flat against the back and that Gigan will hunch down to look small and less intimidating.

Pincers are used in a similar way. Regularly held close to the beak, but open in excitement. When they are happy or glad to see another they clack them. Aggressive displays are an open beak with hissing or roaring and pincers back all the way.

In figure 2, a young male has challenged a territory holder and found that he was in over his head. The dominant male is putting the impulsive youngster in his place. Notice all the aggressive signs in the dominate male: Fins flayed, pincers back, beak open, roaring, and showing of claws. The loser shows submission by hunching down, flattening his fins against his back and looking smaller.
The saw is also used to for both auditory and visual signals. It can be used to establish dominance, show strength and also in courtship displays.
 
Feeding

Gigans are generally carnivorous but will feed on fruits. It's best to hunt in groups, and these usually consist of families, before the young leave. The other common hunting group seen is two individuals, usually a mated pair, but may also be a pair of brothers or friends. These last two usually have not established territories and so work together to overwhelm established territory holders. But most Gigans are solitary and will travel alone. Small creatures to large prey are taken along with marine creatures. Cybernetics are usually not used in prey capture. They are too new and Gigans wouldn't know how to use them for prey capture. It also seems more of a challenge and is just fun for most to see if they can bring something down with just their strength, skill and speed. By cybernetics I mean no lasers or projectiles. Buzzsaws are definitely used for killing.
 
Territory

Both males and females establish territories. Territories are usually held by individuals or mates. Individuals defend them vigorously from the same sex, but allow the opposite sex to pass through in hopes of attaining a mate. Once a mate has been taken both work together to drive off others. Lands may be general purpose, hunting or breeding territories. Land is a very important resource and challenges are always issued. There is much displaying during a challenge. They size each other up through calls, showing of fins and displaying of calls. Fights are the last resort since they are vicious and Gigans can get really hurt. But rarely is there out right killing, though its more common in hen fights. Aerial fights are spectacular and usually end in locking of claws or tail, with the rivals spiraling out of the air.

Gigans that don't establish territories and just wander from place to place are called floaters. These, if they don't ban together, usually end up beaten up by territory holders.
 
Obtaining a Mate

Males display to hens by flight, showing off, a courtship flight and offering food. It's hard for a male to tell if he's been accepted. If he is the female brings her fins forward to show approval, but does the same if she disapproves and then uses them to attack the male. She hisses and roars first giving the male time to run. Approval is followed by a call, this is the best way to tell if one is accepted after fins are opened. Some males may be more aggressive and chase the hen.

Here in figure 3 a hen is bringing her fins forward to show she has chosen a mate. This is the view from the back. A male would see her from the front, along with her buzzsaw.
 
Reproduction and Nesting

Mated pairs are noisy and proclaim their love to the world, then set off on their own. Copulation can take place on the ground or like eagles in the air. Gigans mate for life, and the bond between a mated pair is the strongest bond on the homeworld. It is more so than the bond of parent to offspring. The reason for this is most likely that the offspring leave never to be seen again, while the pair will always have each other.

Nesting varies quite a bit. Gigans can be colonial nesters or solitary. Colonial nesters usually breed in tree patches. These are usually pairs with no territories. Each small patch holds one breeding pair and are fairly close together. Solitary pairs may nest on the ground in open fields, or on well wooded land of the male. Some pairs may even nest on cliffs.

Clutch size ranges from 1- 4 eggs with 2 being the average. First time breeders usually have only one egg. Young are semi-precocial. This means open eye, fairly developed, but not very mobile. Parents have to brood the chick and bring back food. Parents take turns, and when food can not be carried it is stored in the crop and regurgitated upon return.

It's both energy and time consuming. If one parent is lost it is very difficult for the remaining partner to raise the young. Sometimes if it's a large clutch the survivor will abandon it. Development is slow and young stay with parents until they can fully fly and hunt. Some chicks stay with the parents until a mate is found. But once they leave they do not return.
 
The next section is on the genetics of the species.