On The Origin Of The Species

[galicae]

Remember a secret mission in Brood War that gave you control of the Kimeran Pirates in a raid to a secret research facility? It was called Deception. One of the secret files you could find and steal was named "On The Origin Of The Species". Well, putting my lore and biology knowledge to the test I decided to "guess" what was written into it. Here's the result, an explanation of how the zerg evolved to what they are today (well, not exactly TODAY, but it does cover some thousands of years).

btw, who agrees that putting bones in Zerg portraits destroyed the fact that they are "insectoid". Insects don't possess bones, and when something is like an insect it isn't supposed to possess either. Or that's how I see it.

anyway, enjoy and let me know what you make of it!!

[Kimera757]

Zerg aren't insects, they're descended from multiple species. Some are probably more insectoid than others.

And giant bugs aren't particularly realistic, as they couldn't breathe (I mean, when not in space!) and would probably be crushed by their carapaces (sometimes described as "super dense").

[Pandonetho]

Well, they're referred to as insectoid by some, but I don't think they're actually classified as insects.

Ultralisks for example, are obviously not insects.

[galicae]

I know giant bugs wouldn't function really good, but com'on, mammals don't get born from larvae!! It's just that I'd like to have a better explanation about this stuff, one better than mine.

[Eligor]

I definitely see the Zerg as mostly arthropods of a kind. Probably with both an exterior and interior skeleton, but still with an armoured, segmented body structure.

[Norfindel]

The Zerg were originally a race of insects, but that changed when they assimilated other species. To get bigger, you need bones, but they also use chitinous plating for the Ultralisk, that insects have. The use whatever suits their purpose better. If they fit in any of the categories we classify stuff right now, i don't know. I don't think so, as they're so special, and their characteristics do vary with the species they assimilate.

[galicae]

I dunno, I am puzzled by the fact that there are larvae...
I mean, it was a breakthrough at the gameplay level (the larvae), but I want someone to explain to me how that insect aspect managed to compromise with skeletons.

Maybe I should consider that "report" a consideration of the Zerg early history. That leaves lots of space for someone to explain the bone stuff.

[RainbowToeSocks]

its an alien race. It can do what ever the fuck it wants to do and we cant argue.

When it starts to morph a bone 'seed' inside of it grows and forms a skeleton.
ionno make up what ever you want.
It turns inside out and the exoskeleton morphs into an internal one
done.

[galicae]

well, taking the argument literally means you posted here by mistake
i know it is a fictional alien race in a fictional, digital world of a human-made computer game. I know Zerg can shoot donkeys if Blizzard wants it. I am just stating this doesn't look plausible to me. I like the game and find the universe Blizzard created awesome. Yet I still believe that the same way physics apply in Starcraft, so should biology, because it makes the game that much more realistic.

[Alex06]

So far I haven't seen an argument as to why an alien race can't biologically do stuff like that. Zerg larva and drones can break down their own DNA and form whatever they want that has been assimilated. Don't see why they couldn't make either bone or exoskeleton out of it. Seems plausible to me.