Description from original post (created 2011-10-26 15:39):
The Atlanteans are a genetic offshoot of mainstream Homo sapiens called Homo mermanus,nnn who by as yet unknown means acquired various bodily attributes nnenablingn them to live indefinitely beneath the sea. The name nn"Atlantean" is nderived from the ancient civilization of Atlantis that sank beneath the sea in prehistory, and whose ruins were settled by the Homo mermani.n nAtlanteansn possess twin gills located on their necks near the nnclavicle bone, nwhich enable them to extract oxygen from the water. nThey npossess a nphysiology far stronger and more durable than their nsurface nncounterparts, which enables them to withstand the vast water npressure natn the ocean's bottom as well as the pressure changes nencountered nntraveling from one depth to another. Compared to the naverage nnair-breather, the average Atlantean is about ten times nstronger. The nnaverage Atlantean can swim at a maximum speed of 30 nmiles per hour. nnAtlanteans are warm-blooded, and their blood ncirculation is superior ton nthat of land-dwellers, enabling them to nwithstand the near-freezing nntemperatures of the ocean depths with nminimal discomfort. Atlanteans nnhave specially-adapted eyes possessing nvision more sensitive to the nngreen portion of the spectrum. This nenables them to see more acutely inn nthe dimly-lit ocean depths. nAtlanteans need water in order to breathe,n nand will suffocate in open nair in about five minutes. Atlantean skin nntends to be light blue in ncolor, although certain individuals are nndarker. Atlanteans possess nresidual body hair primarily on their heads,n an holdover from their nsurface-dwelling ancestry.