Name: Ka'tah'ua

Scientific Name: Assimilans devorantem (Assimilating Devourer)

Diet: Omnivore

Taxonomy: Grey aliens with transparent stomachs

Species first evolve: 46 Million B.C.E

Galactic Empire Age: 36 Million B.C.E - Present

Lifespan: 120 years

Culture/Religion: Reincarnation

Archetype: Shaman

Abilities: High speed, high stamina, reproduction via assimilation,

Length/Height: 13-15ft

Predator Type: Assimilator

Bio: The Ka'tah'ua are a race of aliens that have an unique form of reproduction that is used in conjunction with their hunting habits. After they swallow whole their victims, they are coated in the Ka'tah'ua's digestive fluids. These fluids have a bizarre property. If the Ka'tah'ua ate its prey for food, the prey will be digested like normal, but if the consumption was to expand their race, the following actions occur; Half of the prey's body is digested and absorbed into the predator's body, but the remaining half of the prey's is changed as the Ka'tah'ua's microbiome manipulates the prey cells' genome to resemble their predator. The half-digested meal is then reshapen into a Ka'tah'ua that is 50% smaller than its parent's prey. If the prey has a significantly different morphology to the Ka'tah'ua, the resulting specimen will inherit the morphology of their original form, but will also inherit the Ka'tah'ua's crest, transparent stomach, and dark blue eyes.

Despite this intense process and reconfiguration, at no point does the prey die as their consciousness remains intact during the process and after. This transformation is not just a physical one, but a mental one as well. When the prey is spat back out as a new Ka'tah'ua specimen, it will then begin to develop the creature's eating habits and the urge to find more prey to assimilate alongside their original habits.

=Trivia=

* The Ka'tah'ua are often compared by other empires to be like zombies since their primary form is reproduction is by eating prey and spitting them out as members of their race.
* In fact, the word "Ka'tah'ua" translates to "Walks between Life and Death," in their native language.
* The Ka'tah'ua have spent so much of their evolution on perfecting the rebirth hunting method that their original reproductive organs have devolved entirely. This also supports the idea that the Ka'tah'ua are essentially space zombies since they can only expand their numbers by devouring other life forms instead of making their own.
* The Ka'tah'ua also have similarities to the Xenomorph, though they lack the tongue jaws and weaponized tail, and they don't go through a larval phase.