Protoss Biology and Evolution

[Hellgrinder]

We all know that the Xel'Naga seeded Aiur, and that the Protoss were their Firstborn. However, we also know that the Xel'Naga helped guide the Protoss' evolution, making them evolve into what they are now. We've also noticed that Protoss biology is a little... bizarre. Or is it? Here, we'll see how something like the Protoss could evolve IRL. Again, like, not an exact match, what with the whole psionic energies and stuff.

First, is the fact that like animals, Protoss are obviously mobile, and have bones, which would make them vertebrates. But, we also know that they're photosynthetic like plants. So, where do we put them in the Tree of Life? With the animals. You see, there are RL sea slugs that eat algae, and then absorb the chloroplasts into their own cells, and the slug becomes photosynthetic, getting most of its energy from the chloroplasts. My guess is something similar to this happened millions of years ago with the Protoss, and as they became photosynthetic, their digestive systems atrophied, no longer being needed as much. I say "needed as much" instead of just flat out "needed", and for a good reason. Protoss skin is stated to be able to let water into the body, so, what about other fluids? Considering that they need more than just basic sugars to sustain themselves - they also need proteins, fats, minerals, etc. - they have to get those somewhere, right? Well, according to the SCI manual, the Protoss were hunter-gatherers. And according to the SC Wiki, they hunted prey for their blood. My guess is that the Protoss got their more complex nutrients from fruit juices and animal blood, which would be absorbed into the now mostly vestigal digestive system. After all, the stories say that Protoss have blood of their own, and the purpose of blood is to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body. Some further evidence supporting my theory is this picture of a female Dark Templar:
DarkTemplar_SC-G_Cncpt2.jpg

We see what are clearly mammary glands, which, as you all should know, provide liquid food for young. So, in conclusion, the Protoss still need to take in nutrients, but all their food is liquid.

And now you know what happens when a Biology major spends a ton of time playing StarCraft.

[Robear]

We see what are clearly mammary glands, which, as you all should know, provide liquid food for young. So, in conclusion, the Protoss still need to take in nutrients, but all their food is liquid.

First off, there's was no reason to assume that those were mammary glands, they could have been fat deposits for literally any other reason, and the idea that alien breasts would happen to have the exact same size, shape and proportions as human idealized Western breasts is so incredibly laughable... that I really hope that all of that was axed after Starcraft: Ghost, and will be left behind along with the old idea that Protoss were actually an aquatic species that laid eggs underwater.



Irritatingly for me, though, Zeratul in SC2 has nipples.


What could a mouthless species possibly have nipples for? Unless they're really, really vestigial...

[Gradius]

More protoss boobs:



Guess only the guys have nipples. :P

[Hellgrinder]

What could a mouthless species possibly have nipples for? Unless they're really, really vestigial...

Why do humans still have tailbones? They probably are extremely vestigal.

[Turalyon]

Ok, given that Protoss don't have mouths and absorb fluid/nutrients across the entire surface area of skin, why should this nutrient delivery mechanism (the boobs) be in the same localised area as it is for humans?

Also, since Protoss don't have mouths to suckle, I just got the disturbing mental image of a female Protoss having to milk themselves in order to feed their children...

[DemolitionSquid]

It's fairly obvious to me that the breast-like protrusions are either a mistake by the designer or a casualization of the media. Most people don't know Protoss feed on light, or that they have two genders. Nor do they care. Giving the model breasts is a clear indication to the casuals that "hey, this one is a chick."

Ultimately, the portrayal and explanation by Blizzard of Protoss anatomy has been laughably inconsistent.

[Renasza]

It is laughable that Protoss females have boobs.
Females can still have feminity without breasts. The secondary sexual differentiation can be found through slimmer forms, more delicate scales, obviously the feminine telepathic voice

[yay for reviving topic]

[Jconant]

Vestigial organs or "faulty" anatomy is pretty common considering what we understand about evolution. Protoss are vertebrates, and like many larger complex organisms they consume other organisms for substance. If protoss ancestors did use nipples and had something like a mouth to consume, how/when would it make a transition to how they are now?

Consider Blizzard made protoss without thoroughly comprehending how an organism would evolve into it, lets just speculate.

[Hellgrinder]

It is laughable that Protoss females have boobs.
Females can still have feminity without breasts. The secondary sexual differentiation can be found through slimmer forms, more delicate scales, obviously the feminine telepathic voice

[yay for reviving topic]

[More thread necromancy. Yay.]

That's not the point of the thread though. The point is providing an in-universe explanation as to why they have them, along with other speculations about Protoss biology, and how they came to be the way they are now, using known biological processes.

[FanaticTemplar]

So what's the lower part of their skulls for? They don't need jaws.