Chuians are mammals of small stature and build. Like all mammals they are warm blooded and covered in hair. In the case of the Chuians, this is a light coat of fur over most of the body which is thicker about the head and the tip of the tail. Chuians do not shed their fur, but keep the same coat year-round. Their colouration is usually earth-toned. Black, white or otherwise brightly coloured Chuians are exceptionally rare. On each cheek of the Chuian face is a tuft of thicker fur, usually a different colour from the rest of their body hair. Their physique is unremarkable for a mammal. They have two larger hind legs which they walk and run upon and two smaller upper arms which they use as Humans do. Their ears are large and hairless, their hands tridactyl and their tails whip-thin and hairless until the tip. Chuians have two sexes, male and female. Their reproductive organs resemble most mammals'- Unlike humans and Hekshanians, the male genetalia is hidden inside a pouch of skin until sexual intercourse at which time it becomes exposed. Despite their slang nickname, Chuians are not actually rodents and do not breed as frequently or ferverantly as rodents.

A Chuian courting is almost identical to that of a Human one, with one interested party seeking out the other and offering gifts or food in exchange for a chance to prove themselves. If the gift is accepted, the two begin to live together for a period of time. If this is found to be acceptable to both of them, they then proceed to mate. There is marriage in Chuian cultures, and usually before a couple decides to have children they marry. The female carries her young for approximately 8 months before giving birth to usually two children. Infant Chuians are born with their eyes closed and hairless. The young Chuians begin to walk on their hind legs at about one year and speak at two years. Their fur begins to grow in shortly after birth and the coat is completed at about six months of age. The eyes open aproximately a day after birth. A Chuian reaches maturity at 14 years and are expected to live to be about 60.

Female Chuians are slightly larger than the males, both in muscle mass and height. It is thought this is because the females are frequently the ones left defending the home. While males tend to be more vocally aggressive, the females are the ones who have the physical prowess to actually harm a larger being. Aside from a tuft of chest-fur for the young to cling to, there are no visable differences on male and female Chuians most of the time. During pregnancy and nursing, however, the female develops visable mammary glands under her chest-fur. Female Chuians do, however, have a slightly higher pitched voice than the males.

The Chuian hand, while tridactyl and large for their short arms, is exceptionally deft. Chuians have a natural curiousity for how machinery works and so have become galaxy known for their tinkering abilities. Perhaps as a varient of this, Chuians developed exceptional interest and intelligence in relation to computers as well. Chuians make superb ship mechanics and are commonly found off-world in such employement. These three nimble fingers are in stark contrast to their cousin race, the Conturians, who have a hard time manipulating anything smaller than their palm.

The Chuian's large back legs are excellent for sprinting. The long tail serves to keep balance during these sprints. Prior to the small race building up its cities, Chuians were hunted by the larger predators on their planet with frequency. Though they are capable of very quick bursts of speed, these bursts do not last for a long period of time. At top speed as well, Chuians can not dodge or change direction with much ease. As such, the modern Chuian rarely breaks into a power-run.

While the Chuian ear is large, their range of hearing is not all that much greater than a Human's. It is believed that long ago, the larger ear was more functional, but it is now primarily used for body language communication. Able to turn to a slight degree, though, the ear does allow Chuians a bit more control over what areas they are listening to at any given moment.

Because of their very early sibling relationship to the Conturians, Chuians are openly welcoming to almost all races and their input. Conturians taught the Chuian race that one species can not do everything and the Chuians believe in this philosophy doggedly. They are active trade partners with many species and very frequently leave home in order to 'complete' the working mechanism of a 'perfect' unit of beings. This belief, however, does not manifest itself on the surface and is usually kept in the subconcious thoughts of all Chuians. Some Chuians may outwardly be exceptionally surly, but in reality will not be loners or solitary workers.

Major trade partners of the Chuians include the Rulerists, who value their constructive ability and diplomatic nature and Nikitaks, who find Chuians excellent companions. Because of this, most alien housing on Contura is generally geared for either Humans or Nikitaks.

Conturas major cities include Kailum, which is the technological and export capital and the Conturian religious capital of Pama. Chuians tend to cluster in Kailum for obvious reasons. A massive multi-level metropolis, Kailum's lowest levels reach almost a mile under the planet's crust while her highest levels require internal atmosphere control inside rooms. Originally a tree-dwelling race, Chuians prefer to build up and down rather than side to side and so the planet is covered in skyscrapers where there are Chuian populations. Unlike Myches, Chuians have a good sense of entertainment and so these cities like Kailum are usually dotted with game districts.

A general Chuian home is usually fairly small, housing the two parents and their offspring. Family units remain together until the offspring find their own mates and move out. Because children are born in groups of one or two, young Chuians usually share rooms at home due to the general temporary dwelling arrangement. Elder Chuians ocassionally move apart and live alone, or in communities for the elderly. Family is somewhat important to Chuians, but not nearly as important as it is in other cultures. A Chuian who ignores their family is not thought of as particularly delinquent in their society.

Religion does not really exist for Chuians, at least not in the conventional sense. Religion, along with most traditional artforms and philosophical thinking aspects of society are delegated to the Conturians. The Conturians spend their time worshipping dieties and in return it is generally accepted that they put in a good word for their Chuian cousins. Ocassionally a Chuian may join a church, but in general they believe that someone else is taking care of their spiritual needs while they take care of the tangable worldly needs.

While Conturians historically focused more on artwork and writing, it is foolish to believe that the Chuians were incapable of expressing themselves creatively. Indeed, Chuian fiction and artwork is well known for its bright imagery and use of colour. The Chuians themselves do not generally think of themselves as artists, however, and believe most of their creations to be only pop-art in relation to their cousins.

Chuians are omnivores, able to survive on a similar diet as Humans. In space, they rarely need vitamin suppliments or other metabolic regulators. They are fond of meats and sugars, but Chuians also run a high risk for a diabetes-like illness and so must be careful not to overload their systems. This is easily offset by simply giving in to their urge to build and construct as an active Chuian is a productive one.

One of the greatest quirks of the Chuian species is that despite their great love of building, they feel the insatiable urge to 'sign' their work. Each Chuian has a unique way of doing this, and it can be potentially destructive to the project they were working on. For example, one Chuian may screw one bolt in entirely backwards- disasterous on ship construction. Milder quirks include painting a certain part a certain colour, or scratching their name into a beam. Chuians only sign that which they feel is an actual project of their own- not repairs or minor modifications.

Chuian fashion is generally unremarkable, but usually includes plenty of room to allow free arm movement. When working, Chuians are very fonds of ample pockets to carry parts and pieces with them and so are often found in jump suits or with several Human-sized tool-belts over their shoulders like bandoliers. During summer months, most Chuians who are not working (and not in the cold of space) often wear only a pair of shorts to ward off the heat.

Chuians sleep during the night and awaken during the day, but are easily distracted and shaken from their sleep schedual.

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