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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
adding details from Waaargh Orks
[[file:OrkXenologyDisection.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Dissection of an [[Ork]]{{Fn|1}}]]
Orks are a symbiosis of both animal and fungus at the most basic level. The ork's animal side lives in complete harmony with its fungal side and each compliment the other and come together to form a tough and resilient creature. An example of this is found when comparing an ork to a human. It appears that the fungus allows the ork's body to negate the use of complex internal organs, the immune system and the reproductive anatomy. The fungus therefore allows the Ork to reduce the number of potentially fatal injuries possible, further improving Orks owe their survivability. The Ork's animal side however suggests a primitive pack-based omnivorous growth pattern; the Orks relying on each other green complexion to hunt for food etc. in a pack. The most interesting feature however, is the lack of any sign for any evolution or evolutionary process. This indicates that the Orks may have been created, or grown, as a result of highly advanced biological engineering. If this is true, then it is likely that the Orks represent the ultimate fighters; strong, tough, durable and aggressive symbiotic relationship with the biology to back them upgreen algae contained within their skin cells.{{Fn|17}}
The most striking feature about ork's animal side lives in complete harmony with its fungal side and each compliment the other and come together to form a tough and resilient creature, the fungus allows the ork's body to negate the use of complex internal organs, the immune system and the reproductive anatomy. The fungus therefore allows the Ork to reduce the number of potentially fatal injuries possible, further improving their survivability. The structure and design of the Ork body provide a strong, tough and resilient system but also running at a low level of complexity. These combine to show that Orks is are genetically engineered for combat. Their muscles are extremely strong and their squat bodies can stand immense punishment.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|1}} The algae in their green skinseves as a waxy polymer which endows them with strong rubbery texture which can grow thicker and more characteristically scabby and gnarled as they age. Combined with their green blood, {{Fn|7}} [[Magos Biologis]] have come to the conclusion from samples of skin that, rather than a complete reliance on the consumption of nutrients in the form of food, Orks have a primitive and basic ability to photosynthesise. {{Fn|1}} This would give them a tremendous advantage over other races as they can reduce their supply lines to ammunition and fuel and all the other parts of war, but without the need to transport perishable goods. The blood of an Ork is also interesting, in that it contains countless distinct fungal organisms and has a chlorophyll high content, with trace elements of carbon and copper. This would account for the green colour of the blood and shows that photosynthesis is an important part of the Ork structure.{{Fn|1}}
The Ork head is, like many xenos of the galaxy, similar in design to that of the human cranium, although it is of a different shape and colour. The teeth suggest an omnivorous or opportunistic diet, which links with their primitive pack-based organisation. The skull, like many other parts of the Ork body, is far thicker than that of a human, giving it toughness far exceeding humans' own. The tusks on the Ork face are unlikely to be related to food consumption (even though Orks photosynthesise, they also consume food, mainly Squigs) and are more for decoration or combat, more likely the latter. They have pointed ears like the Eldar, although they have a low density of nerve clusters, indicating a stripped down to bare essentials approach to the Ork creation. All of this gives Orks a simple, effective and durable body, allowing them to fight well but passing over quality of sensation.{{Fn|1}}
The Ork brain is quite large, similar in structure to that of a human or Eldar, albeit oriented vertically.{{Fn|1}} There is, unusually, a complete lack of fungus or vegetable matter. The most developed part is that of the old brain, controlling more base functions which explain their natural aggression and pack hunting strategies.{{Fn|1}} Finally, much of the Ork body is filled with a spongy mass, presumably to protect what little internal organs the Ork possesses. There are also several gills located around the Ork body, presumably for oxygen absorption.{{Fn|1}} An Orks internal organs, noted earlier, are simple and effective, relying heavily on their fungal elements. {{Fn|1}} Ork "blood" is a part of their digestive system.{{Fn|7}} They have a large multi-chambered stomach which feeds a crude renal system. This , this combined with a body-cavity filling 'fungal soup' (which has the effect of replacing the biochemical organs (liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas etc.) gives the Orks an intensely strong internal system, even though it is quite basic in design.{{Fn|1}} Orks have two hearts, though one doubles as a digestive organ to process the nutrients in their blood – the colour of which is dependent upon what the Ork last ate ranging from black to purple to maroon{{Fn|5}} to red.{{Fn|6}} The bones of an Ork are thick, hard and durable, allowing them to sustain high velocity impacts without fracture or damage. The structure is similar to that of humans but the core of the bone contains a spongy fungal matter, replacing the simple human marrow.{{Fn|1}} The Ork brain is quite large, similar in structure to that of a human or Eldar, albeit oriented vertically.{{Fn|1}} There is, unusually, a complete lack of fungus or vegetable matter. The most developed part is that of the old brain, controlling more base functions which explain their natural aggression and pack hunting strategies.{{Fn|1}} Finally, much of the Ork body is filled with a spongy mass, presumably to protect what little internal organs the Ork possesses. There are also several gills located around the Ork body, presumably for oxygen absorption.
The structure and design most interesting feature however, is the lack of any sign for any evolution or evolutionary process. This indicates that the Ork body provide a strongOrks may have been created, or grown, tough and resilient system but also running at as a low level result of complexityhighly advanced biological engineering. These combine to show If this is true, then it is likely that the Orks are genetically engineered for combat. Their muscles are extremely represent the ultimate fighters; strong , tough, durable and aggressive with the biology to back them up.{{Fn|1}} [[Imperial]] scholars speculate that their squat bodies can stand immense punishmentbiology is the result of intervention by [[Brainboyz]], the ancient intelligent race of [[Snotling]]s.{{Fn|17}}
===Reproduction===
The [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] has theorised that this gestalt psychic field also has a [[Wikipedia:telekinesis|telekinetic]] affect, allowing Ork technology to work.{{Cite Marker End}} This argument has been debunked, even by the Imperium itself.{{Cite Marker End}} It is believed that the reason this argument came into existence is that the Imperium believes that a 'Machine Spirit' inhabits all technology, and that this machine spirit serves humanity. If this is the case, without a machine spirit Ork machines could not work, requiring some psychic effect to justify their often devastating effect. However, Genetor Lukas Anzion has noted that many Ork-built weapons will not function unless wielded by an Orkoid. It is thought that this is the reason red Ork vehicles go faster: simply because the Orks think they should! But accounts from Imperial Guard units using captured Ork equipment (such as during the [[First Siege of Perlia]]) confirm that Orkish technology is merely extremely crude and unreliable.
Orks have red blood.{{Fn|40}}
==Sources==
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Orks (8th Edition)]], pg. 62
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Rogue Trader: Into the Storm]], pg. 59-61 ''Ork Physiology''
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Flight of the Eisenstein (Novel)]], Part One, Chapter One
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Waaargh: Orks]], pg. 5
===Uncited===
