Riardi Genetic Codex- Ears

Ear genetics in riardi rely on four universal loci. These are: length (EL), width (EW), tip shape (ET), and structural droop (LP), plus one lineage-exclusive edge marker (DG). All parameters mix via co-dominant midpoints to yield highly variable intermediate states.

Lineage Ear Reference Table

Ancestral Body Lineage Length Baseline (EL) Width Baseline (EW) Tip Shape Baseline (ET)
Southern EL2 (Regular) EW2 (Standard) ET1 (Pointed)
Nuria EL1 (Short) EW2 (Standard) ET1 (Pointed)
Northern EL2 (Regular) EW1 (Narrow) / EW2 ET1 (Pointed)
Central EL1 (Short) EW1 (Narrow) ET1 (Pointed) / ET2 (Rounded)
Opal EL3 (Extra-Long) EW3 (Wide) ET1 (Pointed)
Ore EL3 (Extra-Long) EW2 (Standard) / EW3 ET2 (Rounded)
Riumae EL1 (Short) EW2 (Standard) ET2 (Rounded)
Rithi EL2 (Regular) EW2 (Standard) ET1 (Pointed)
Nexus EL3 (Extra-Long) EW2 (Standard) / EW3 ET1 (Pointed) / ET2 (Rounded)
Riasax EL2 (Regular) EW2 (Standard) ET1 (Pointed)
Ribold EL1 (Short) EW2 (Standard) ET2 (Rounded)
Aervalk EL0 (Extra-Short) EW0 (Extra-Narrow) ET1 (Pointed)

Aeryardi are not on this list due to the fact they have the earless mutation. They have pointed, short ear cartilage by their ear canals, and may or may not develop EL1/short ears as an uncommon event among their population. Lop-ear aeryardi will either have their ear-tips fold over like a dog's if they have this cartilage; otherwise, their lack of ears will grow a longer lobe material which may resemble lop ears to casual observers. Their ear width is always narrow, and their ear tip type is mixed between round and pointed.

ET0 vs DG Locus Independence

The Ear Tip Shape (ET0) marker and the Ear Dagging (DG) locus operate on independent areas of the lyrdi's ears, and express simultaneously without genetic conflict. ET0- spiraled & tufted- regulates the tip of the ear, curling it to a tight loop with heavy fur or feather tufting at the tip. Dagging (DG) regulates the outer rim of the riardi's ear, and is responsible for decorative shapes. A Lyrdi carrying ET0and DG1 will display smooth, repeating scalloped waves along the entire side margins of the ear, terminating in a distinct, tufted structural spiral at the tip.

Genetic Allele Schemas

Ear Length (EL) Locus

  • EL0 (Extra-Short): Specialized ancestral variant localized to Aervalk and Lyrdi lines.
  • EL1 (Short): Baseline trait for Nuria, Central, Riumae, and Ribold.
  • EL2 (Regular): Baseline trait for Southern, Northern, Rithi, and Riasax.
  • EL3 (Extra-Long): Baseline trait for Opal, Ore, and Nexus.

Length Interactions (Co-Dominance Midpoints):

  • EL0/EL1 -> Micro-Short
  • EL1/EL2 -> Mid-Short (Slightly longer than short, not full regular length).
  • EL1/EL3 -> Mid-Length (Longer than short, but does not reach extra-long).
  • EL2/EL3 -> Mid-Long (Longer than regular, but not fully extra-long).

Ear Width (EW) Locus

  • EW0 (Extra-Narrow): Specialized ancestral variant localized to Aervalk and Lyrdi lines.
  • EW1 (Narrow): Baseline trait for Central and Northern.
  • EW2 (Standard): Baseline trait for Southern, Rithi, Nuria, Riumae, Ore, and Nexus.
  • EW3 (Wide): Baseline trait for Opal, Ore, and Nexus.

Width Interactions:

  • EW1/EW2 -> Mid-Narrow (Not as thin as full narrow).
  • EW1/EW3 or EW2/EW3 -> Mid-Wide (Slightly broader than standard).

Ear Tip Shape (ET) Locus

  • ET0 (Spiraled & Tufted): Tips curl tightly into a structural spiral with heavy fur tufting or feather clusters (characteristic signature of Damirran Lyrdi).
  • ET1 (Pointed): Baseline trait for Southern, Opal, Nuria, Rithi, Central (Variable), and Aervalk.
  • ET2 (Rounded): Baseline trait for Ore, Riumae, Nexus, Ribold, and Central (Variable).
  • ET3 (Mixed / In-between): Spontaneous intermediate or carrier manifestation seen in Central and Nexus lines.

Tip Shape Interactions

Tip Shape Interactions:

  • ET1/ET2 -> Pointed-to-Soft Tip (Tips carry a gentle curve or softer point, but are not fully rounded).

Structural LP Locus: Lop-Ear

The lop-ear locus (LP) alters the riardi's cartilage tension, and operates independently of length or width genetics, in the following ways.

  • lp/lp (Standard Riardi Ear Expression): Normal erect or semi-rigid ancestral ear layout.
  • LP/- (Partial Lop Hybrid): Incomplete dominance presentation; one or both ears sag, droop, or bend slightly at the tips.
  • LP/LP (Homozygous Full Lop): Complete ear drop; ears drape entirely downward along the riardi's head.

*Combined Lop-Ear Environmental Mechanics Mechanics

  • LP/LP + Extra-Long (EL3): Dramatic full lop expression; physical mass forces the ears completely downward. Wide structural ear shapes (EW3) yield heavier, occasionally asymmetrical folds.
  • LP/LP + Short (EL1) / Extra-Short (EL0): Highly restricted droop; the short tissue lacks the structural weight to drop cleanly, causing the ears to fold sharply at their midpoints or tips.
  • LP/LP + Narrow (EW1): Subtle, less pronounced drop due to the lightweight, thin ear cartilage profile.
  • LP/LP + Rounded (ET2) or Spiraled (ET0): Yields a soft, highly fluid floppy silhouette. Pointed variants (ET1) hold a persistent backward or outward tip-flare even when heavily lopped.

Ear Dagging (DG)

The Ear Dagging locus (Dagging; DG) modifies the outer edge of riardi's ears, which makes for decorative shapes found in medieval-style architectural edging. This locus strictly is exclusive to lyrdi lineage thus far and will only spread through the riardi genetics should the Damirran lyrdi and the Intirrian riardi reunite at a later point in history. It behaves as follows:

  • dg/dg (Non-Lyrdi Baseline): Standard, smooth, uninterrupted outer-ear rims across all other lineage profiles. Non-Lyrdi strains cannot naturally express these shapes.

Dagging Allele Schema (Lyrdi Only)

  • DG₁ (Scalloped): Rims form a single, smooth repeating vertex curve or fluid wave along the ear border.
  • DG₂ (Triangular / Zig-Zag): Rims express a saw-tooth zig-zag pattern where deep cuts form exactly two prominent vertices/points on the outer perimeter.
  • DG₃ (Crenellated / Trefoil): Rims form ornate, structural blocks where each segment features three distinct lobes or castle-battlement vertices.
  • DG₄ (Spaded): Rims express distinct, pointed leaf-like or spearhead-shaped structural tabs ending in crisp points.

Co-Dominant Hybrid Dagging Interactions

The following are possibilities which may occur when multiple dagging alleles interact:

  • DG₁/DG₂ (Scalloped × Triangular): Softens the triangular points into a fluid wave with slightly defined, soft apexes.
  • DG₁/DG₃ (Scalloped × Crenellated/Trefoil): Simplifies the three-lobed structure into wider, more-frequently undulating waves. Alternately, it may make these undulating waves more frequent within the space of the trefoils.
  • DG₂/DG₃ (Triangular × Crenellated/Trefoil): Sharpens the three-lobed blocks into three distinct, geometric saw-tooth spikes.
  • DG₃/DG₄ (Crenellated/Trefoil × Spaded): The three-lobed tabs end in sharp spades. Alternately, it may make three spades on each trefoil lobe.

Combined Dagging and Lop-Ear Interactions

  • Smooth Folds: Rounded dagging like Scalloped (DG₁) and Crenellated/Trefoil (DG₃) drape fluidly when paired with homozygous lop ears (LP/LP), giving the hanging ear a soft, ornamental texture. Riardi might accent these with piercing decorations or even modify their ears by removing them, according to their preferences, or leave them as is.
  • Asymmetric Hanging: Geometric styles like Triangular (DG₂) and Spaded (DG₄) create structured, multi-tiered folds when the riardi's ears are lop-eared. This may create unique, jagged hanging profiles.

Standard Reference Hybrid Profiles

This information provides genetic data for hybrid body types' ear length, width, and ear tips.

  • Nuria × Southern
    • Genotype: EL1/EL2 | EW2/EW2 | ET1/ET1
    • Phenotype: Mid-Short length, standard width, pointed tips.
  • Ore × Nexus
    • Genotype: EL3/EL3 | EW3/EW3 | ET2/ET2
    • Phenotype: Extra-long length, wide width, rounded tips.
  • Central × Opal
    • Genotype: EL1/EL3 | EW1/EW3 | ET1/ET1
    • Phenotype: Mid-Length, mid-wide width, pointed tips.
  • Riumae × Northern
    • Genotype: EL1/EL2 | EW2/EW1 | ET2/ET1
      • Phenotype: Mid-Short length, standard-narrow intermediate width, softly pointed or rounded tips.

Standard Lineage × Lyrdi Outcross (General Hybridized Patterning)

The following data serves in the event that the Damirran Lyrdi and the Intirrian riardi reunite and bear offspring.

  • Genotype: [Any Standard EL]/EL0 | [Any Standard EW]/EW0 | [Any Standard ET]/ET0 | dg/DGₓ

  • Phenotype: Offspring expresses exact mathematical midpoints for length and width. The ear tip displays a co-dominant blend, combining the standard parent's tip shape with the Lyrdi's structural spiraled/tufted (ET0) apex.

    Genetically, the offspring becomes a heterozygous carrier of the Lyrdi-exclusive Dagging gene (dg/DG), acting as a baseline for tracking how edge-margin vertex shapes pass into mixed descendant lineages.