Species

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This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

Any habitable world has the potential of developing different populations of intelligent beings that may, naturally or not, develop technologically. Sometimes, such beings reach a crucial point in their development that allows them access to FTL technology and, as a consequence, the ability to become full-fledged interstellar empires.

A species is distinct from an empire, as a population of any given species can in theory function as fully-fledged citizens of any given empire, however every empire will be assigned a specific founder species (designed through the empire creation screen) that is treated as the default in species rights and other mechanics. At first, every empire will be made up entirely of its original species but may eventually come to include other species through conquest, migration pacts, enlightening pre-FTL cultures, accepting refugees, or some events.

Species identity[]

At galaxy generation, species are divided into species class groups, parent species and sub-species.

Playable portraits are divided into twelve phenotypes representing the basic commonalities of their biology as well as their closest analogues on Earth, including their morphology or physical form and structure, their developmental processes and their biochemical and physiological properties. The thirteenth Machine phenotype is available either through constructing robot pops or by playing a machine species, and includes mechanical representations of each of the twelve biological phenotypes. Some classes allow access to special traits or civics and/or are only available with DLC.

Species within the same class will be less affected by xenophobia and xenophilia, with the effect increasing if they share the same portrait. If two species are created during galaxy generation with the same portrait and name, one will be considered the subspecies of the other.

A parent species is whichever subspecies can be considered the "default" that other subspecies can be derived from. A sub-species consists of a pop modification template created from the parent species or another sub-species, which can then be applied either through a modify species special project, through Assimilation citizenship, or through pop construction. Subspecies are considered to be the same species for the purposes of xenophobia, xenophilia and species rights. All species templates will also remember the parent species' homeworld, with a +30% habitability bonus if not using the Lost Colony origin.

The portrait of a species can be changed through pop modification if the Genetic Resequencing technology is researched, but the nameset or species class cannot be changed. Some species do not allow changing portraits.

Species classes[]

Species are grouped by species classes, determining the core mechanics and features available to their pops.

Species class	Trait	Phenotype	Upkeep resource	Multiplication	Modification	Additional mechanics
Biological		Any Organic phenotype besides Lithoid	Food	Growth	Genetic	Can create hybrid species with all biological groups
Lithoid	Lithoid	Lithoid	Minerals	Growth	Genetic	Can use some natural resource traits Can use the Calamitous Birth origin
Machine	Machine or Mechanical	Machine	Energy	Assembly	Synthetic
Extradimensional	Extradimensional	Crisis	Energy	Growth	Cannot be modified
Pre-Sapient	Any pre-sapient trait	Any Organic	None	Cannot multiply	Uplifting	Pre-Sapient Strata Does not wear clothes Can be Uplifted into a species of Biological or Lithoid class.

List of phenotypes[]

Each species portrait available to start a new empire will belong to one of the following phenotypes: Arthropoid (insect-like), Avian (bird-like), Fungoid (fungus-like), Humanoid (human-like), Mammalian (mammal-like), Molluscoid (invertebrates), Reptilian (reptile-like), Plantoid (part of the Plantoids Species Pack DLC), Lithoid (part of the Lithoids Species Pack DLC), Necroid (part of the Necroids Species Pack DLC), Aquatic (part of the Aquatics Species Pack DLC), Toxoid (part of the Toxoids Species Pack DLC) and Machine (part of the Synthetic Dawn and The Machine Age DLCs).

Each species can have traits and will have climate preference based on its homeworld.

The first ruler of every empire can be customized.

Humanoid[]

Most humanoid portraits use different models and voices for each gender. Some portraits feature their own diplomacy voices and/or hair customization. (Note: Humanoid shipset and city appearance are accessible only with Humanoids species pack launched.)

Portrait	Female voice sample	Male voice sample

Portrait	Female voice sample	Male voice sample

Mammalian[]

Most mammalian portraits have a unique dialogue when targeted with a diplomacy insult. Some portraits have their own diplomacy voices.

Portrait	Voice sample





All else

Reptilian[]

Some portraits have their own diplomacy voices.

Portrait	Voice sample





All else

Avian[]

Some portraits have their own diplomacy voices.

Portrait	Voice sample



All else

Note: The Chirpy portrait (Massive #16) is available to those who login to their Paradox account while in-game.^[1]

Arthropoid[]

Some portraits have their own diplomacy voices.

Portrait	Voice sample






All else

Note: The Arachnoid (#16) portrait is included only in the Nova Edition or the Galaxy Edition of Stellaris.

Molluscoid[]

Some portraits have their own diplomacy voices.

Portrait	Voice sample




All else

Fungoid[]

Some portraits have their own diplomacy voices.

Portrait	Voice sample



All else

Plantoid[]

The Homo Plantae portrait features hairstyle customization and different models for each gender. (Note: Plantoid shipset and city appearance are accessible only with Plantoids species pack launched.)

Portrait	Voice sample
Any

Lithoid[]

Most portraits have their own diplomacy voices. The Theian portrait features hairstyle customization and different models for each gender.

Portrait	Voice sample

Portrait	Voice sample

Necroid[]

Each portrait has its own diplomacy voice.

Portrait	Voice sample

Portrait	Voice sample

Aquatic[]

Some portraits of this phenotype feature different models for each gender. Each portrait has its own diplomacy voice. (Note: Aquatic shipset and city appearance are accessible only with Aquatics species pack launched.)

Portrait	Voice sample

Portrait	Voice sample

Toxoid[]

Some portraits of this phenotype feature different models for each gender. Each portrait has its own diplomacy voice.

Portrait	Voice sample

Portrait	Voice sample

Machine[]

Machines are not a naturally evolved species but rather an artificial one that can be constructed with the required technology or if by starting as a machine empire. The initial species template created by the Robotic Workers technology or the Mechanist origin will always match the phenotype of the empire's founder species.

Portrait	Voice sample	Original species class
		Humanoid
		Mammalian
		Reptilian
		Avian
		Arthropoid
		Molluscoid
		Fungoid
		Plantoid
		Lithoid
		Necroid
		Aquatic
		Toxoid

Portrait	Voice sample	Original species class
		None









		Any if no DLC

Note: The Cube portrait is available only with Rick The Cube Species Portrait DLC launched.

Minamar Specialized Industries[]

Minamar Specialized Industries is and advanced AI empire that spawns if any other empire has the Payback or Broken Shakles origin.

Extradimensional[]

Extradimensional species are not selectable at empire creation and only appear as the Extradimensional Invaders crisis. However if the Astral Planes DLC is installed, extradimensional pops can be obtained by conquering the Formless or subjugating them and forming a Migration Treaty.

Portrait	Voice sample
All

Unplayable[]

The following species are not playable and will only appear as a crisis or enclave.

Portrait	Voice sample



	Fully voiced dialogue

Cybernetic evolution portraits[]

Cybernetic evolution portraits have 3 possible variants, called evolution stages. Evolution stage 1 is used if the species does not have the Cybernetic, Limited Cybernetic or Ritualistic Implants trait. Evolution stage 2 is used if the species has the Limited Cybernetic or Ritualistic Implants trait. Evolution stage 3 is used if the species has the Cybernetic trait. Evolution stages can be previewed on the ruler at empire creation but afterwards the ruler will still use the evolution stage matching its traits.

There is a similar mechanism for synthetic evolution portraits, with 2 possible variants: Evolution stage 1 for Organic pops, and stage 2 for corresponding Machine & Mechanical pops.

Moreover, as the evolution stage changes, the portraits' diplomacy voices would change as well.

Portrait variants			Voice samples			Phenotype
Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Phenotype
						Mammalian
						Mammalian
						Mammalian
						Reptilian
						Avian
						Mammalian
						Mammalian
						Humanoid
						Arthropoid
						Reptilian
						Reptilian
						Humanoid
						Fungoid

Species-specific text[]

Each species will be assigned a Nameset at generation, which can be chosen from a total of 60 options consisting of four sets for each of the thirteen species phenotypes, in addition to two sets for Hive Minds, two sets for Individualistic Robots, and United Nations of Earth, Commonwealth of Man, Senatus Populusque Romanus, and Cyberpunk sets for Humans. A nameset outlines the different pools of random names used for leaders, ships (disincluding ship prefixes), colonies, and fleets within an empire of that founder species, though leader names will also carry over to full citizenship pops in other empires. Synthetic pops created by organic empires will typically adopt the nameset of the species that created them.

Each phenotype contains a small bank of preset names for the species, homeworld, and home star system in matching sets. Computer-generated empires will always use a matched species-planet-system set in addition to one of the four phenotype namesets. Human empires will instead use either the UNE or CoM namesets at random. The Hive Mind and SPQR sets do not appear except through the custom empire creation options.

Phenotype dialogue[]

When contacted, empires with a high opinion may compliment you while those with a low opinion may insult you. The flavor text depends on the ruler's species. Species that wear and do not wear clothes also have a special diplomatic insult with each other. Species phenotype also determines the name of the pre-FTL world in the starting system of empires with the Fear of the Dark origin.

Phenotype	Compliment	Insult	Fear of the Dark world name
Human	angel	ape	Haven
Humanoid	sphinx	beast troll orc ugly bag of mostly water	Haven
Mammalian	sphinx	beast	Den
Reptilian	dragon	newt lizard	Burrow
Avian	phoenix	bird chicken dodo buzzard	Nest
Arthropoid	scarab	bug	Hidden Web
Molluscoid	kraken	parasite	Mantle
Fungoid	chanterelle	shroom	Hyphae
Plantoid	rose	weed	Pyrophyte
Lithoid	gem	coprolite	Geode
Necroid	specimen	husk	Necropolis
Aquatic	ichthyes merfolk	chum kraken sea beast gooberfish	Anemone
Toxoid	treasure	scavenger refuse defiler reeker filth	Bunker
Machine	elegant automaton technological marvel	tin can toaster

In addition, many messages will use strings specific to species phenotypes to refer to other things (e.g. organs and fossils).

Phenotype	Juvenile	Sound	Organ	Mouth	Ear	Hand	Tooth	Fossil	Remnant
Machine	immature processing unit	whirring clanging wheezing scraping beeping chattering	chipset	energy intake port	audio transducer	grappling clamp	nutrition compactor	rusted component	circuit board
Human	baby	growling grunting yapping yowling mewling	stomach	mouth	ear	hand	tooth	fossil	skeleton
Humanoid	cub	growling grunting yapping yowling mewling	stomach	mouth	ear	hand	tooth	fossil	skeleton
Mammalian	cub	growling grunting yapping yowling mewling	stomach	mouth	ear	paw	tooth	fossil	skeleton
Reptilian	hatchling	hissing coughing whizzing whishing wheezing	venom gland	mouth	tympanum	claw	tooth	fossil	skeleton
Avian	chick	tooting chirping hooting shrieking warbling	gizzard	beak	ear	claw	beak mandible	fossil	skeleton
Arthropoid	larva	clicking cricking cheeping peeping keening	mesenteron	mandible	tympanum	pincer	mandible	shell remnant	shell
Molluscoid	larva	squelching sloshing slurping burping burbling	cecum	radula	aural pad	tentacle	tooth	remnant	faint residue
Fungoid	spore	swooshing squirting swishing dribbling spewing	ascus	gill	sensory hypha	gripper	nutrition absorber	remnant	faint residue
Plantoid	seedling	whispering cracking swishing dribbling wilting	nucellus	calyx	sensory stalk	tendril	root	fossil	dessicated stump
Lithoid	pebble	tapping cracking scraping crackling rapping	vug	maw	vescicle	appendage	masticatory shard	shard	lifeless boulder
Necroid	yearling	creaking murmuring cracking grumbling rasping	brumation sac	maw	ear	claw	tooth	fossil	skeleton
Aquatic	fry	glugging blubbing splashing grunting clicking thwoping trilling blubbering	swim bladder	maw	otolith	grappling fin	tooth	fossil	skeleton
Toxoid	spawn	coughing whizzing wheezing grunting hissing yapping	digestive tract	maw	otolith	grappler	fang	fossil	skeleton