A question on Nautolan physiology

[Allu'rah Danan]

In the Wookieepedia entry for Nautolans, it says that they have "multiple hearts, which are capable of beating separately". How many hearts do you guys think they have? I know that if the body has more than one of an organ, it likes to keep it to a multiple of 2 and arranges them symmetrically. I kinda think of it as a Nautolan has 4 hearts (if they only had 2, they would just say they had a second one). As for beating separately... I just kinda interpret that to mean that if 1 or 2 hearts are severely or catastrophically damaged, the Nautolan can survive because they still have another functioning heart.

So, the way I would see it, a Nautolan has 4 hearts, as I already said. I believe they would be arranged such that there is one in each "quadrant" of the torso, so that there's one under either breast, and two more tucked further down on either side of the ribcage, still quite close to the lungs. I'd also say that because of their multiple hearts, a Nautolan circulates oxygen much more rapidly and efficiently, so they'd have better endurance than most. Their muscles would not build up lactic acid nearly as quickly, because they get the needed oxygen.

Also, how would they so easily transition between an aquatic and gaseous environment? You'd think they'd either have to cough up any water in their lungs when they came for air, or they have some other method of absorbing oxygen when they're under water. Perhaps they dissolve it directly through their skin like frogs do?

These are all questions that have been bothering me for a while now guys. Discuss!

 

[Lavi]

I think you're reading too deep into alien physiology. Just my two cents.

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

You're probably right. But I have a Nautolan character, and while he's managed to avoid trouble so far, I'd like to know how much punishment he can take before it would be considered lethal.

 

[Apollyon]

I think you're reading too deep into alien physiology. Just my two cents.

Agreed!

But the only question that REALLY matters is if they have multiple livers? Because is SWRP they are sure to spend MORE time in a tavern then they are in the water...on that note time to go get a character completely SLOSHED! :D

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

I just wanna know if I can stab him 37 times in the chest, okay!?!?

XD

 

[Jiang Winters]

You can stab him 37 times in the chest. He just won't survive, s'all. x3

 

[Zach]

Actually guys, I'd very much like to know the answers to that as well. I have a Nautolan character myself, and Allu broke that description apart pretty effectively. All of the traits she brought up were reasonable sound in assumption (unless admins say just two hearts), and her reasons for asking were pretty reasonable. Instead of brushing it aside and saying she's reading too deep into it, could one of you provide a rough confirmation of what she's asked so far?

 

[Rev]

With them having 14 Tentacles and being for the most part the same size as a human, I'd say 4 is a pretty good number. Anything more and you'd start to wonder where they go. As you said about the body pairing up organs, it makes the most sense to go with 4.

I suppose you could be an odd Nautolan and perhaps have 3 or 5 hearts and still get away with it. Thought fish physiology dictates that some have 2 hearts due to their circulatory system. This is because fish have a single circulatory system which is inefficient in maintaining a high blood pressure from the heart to the gills to the body and back to the heart (unlike us who have a double circulatory system - blood is pumped to lungs, then back to heart and then to body before returning to the heart to repeat the process.)

So I suppose it's really up to the admins. I did a quick look around and everything simple says "Multiple" from Wookieepedia to the Star Wars Role Playing Game description of Nautolan. The answer might be out there, but from my quick look; there's no definite answer.

I'd say 2-5 could be argued.

 

[Green Ranger]

Until canon states otherwise, the best number to bet on is probably 4.

Though, let's not get under any assumptions that that means your character needs to be stabbed in all four hearts to be killed. It just means there's more vital organs to hit. Being struck in any one of those four hearts may not necessarily be lethal, but it'd still take you out of the fight.

 

[Allu'rah Danan]

Damage to a heart is still critical of course. Hell, untreated, they'd still likely bleed out. If two are damaged, I'd say they're in real trouble. But thanks for your feedback.