Erturuls

The Erturuls are a fictional sapient species featured in science fiction and fantasy settings. They are commonly portrayed as semi-aquatic humanoids indigenous to river basins and tidal estuaries, though variants appear in different worlds. Distinguishing characteristics include a lean build, webbed fingers and toes, and dermal plates along the arms and back. Their skin often bears bioluminescent patterns that shift with mood or health. They typically stand about 1.6 to 1.8 meters tall and have pronounced eye adaptations for dim light.

They inhabit wetlands and lowland forests surrounding large waterways. They construct canal networks, floating farms, and sheltered harbors, emphasizing sustainable water management. Their diet is diverse, including fish, aquatic plants, and tubers, and they harvest by cooperative groups. Social organization favors communal decision making, with councils guided by respected elders and a rotating leadership system to prevent centralization.

Communication combines vocal language with low-frequency signals carried through water and air, supplemented by scent cues used in marking territories and social status. Cultural practices emphasize cooperation, ritual navigation, and a tradition of storytelling that preserves regional histories and ecological knowledge. Some communities maintain discreet taboos on river use that help prevent overfishing and pollution.

In fictional media, Erturuls appear as allies or rivals in planetary ecosystems, often serving as stewards of wetlands. They are used to explore themes of adaptation, communal governance, and balance between technology and nature. Appearances vary by author, with some depicting advanced, water-powered technologies and others presenting more pastoral societies.