Durlan

The Durlans are a sapient extraterrestrial species of shapeshifters from the planet Durla.

Biology
Durlans can shape-shift at any moment, for any length of time and with little limitation on size or shape. As such their physical appearance is in constant flux. Their native chosen form is a giant mass of tentacles hidden under robes. By the 30th Century the Durlans are required by the United Planets to have a default form when off world, this form being that of an orange humanoid with large eyes and two antennae on their heads.

Powers and abilities

 * Shape-Shifting: Durlans possesses the ability to transform their bodies' size, shape and color to mimic any person, creature or object in the universe. A Durlan is able to reconstitute even if they are are reduced to a liquid form.
 * Elasticity: Having a malleable form, Durlans can stretch and extend their form despite being in a solid form.
 * Enhanced Senses: Durlans can scan objects and/or living forms and store their shape into their brains. Scanning with their antennae takes only a few moments and the Durlan can take that form at any time.
 * Mimicry: The Durlans are natural mimics with most being able to act like the person or animal they have morphed into. They are able to alter their vocal cords to sound like anyone, although the imitation is still limited by the Durlan's own personal knowledge of their language and speech patterns.

Weaknesses

 * Power Duplication Limitation: Durlans are limited to the physical capabilities of the form they take. For instance, they cannot gain a Kryptonian's enhanced cells. However, they can fly like a bird and/or sting like a bee.
 * Yorggian Fever: A Durlan disease that can be fatal for some. It freezes the infected Durlan in whatever form they are in at the time. The disease also affects the person's memory, wiping out whole portions of a person's life. One of the most famous sufferers is R.J. Brande, he was trapped in Human form for many years.
 * Cancellite: An artificial chemical which freezes Durlans in the shape they are currently in.

Culture and society
Because their shapeshifting ability allows them to mimic other races, most of the galaxy fears and mistrusts the Durlans. It is known that their mimicking powers can be destroyed by disease (as in the case of R.J. Brande), and extreme doses of radiation (which happened to Chameleon Boy while on Takron Galtos, but he later had them restored by immersing himself in the energies of an ancient Durlan shrine). Two appearances tend to dominate—skinny orange humanoids with antennae and purple-cloaked masses of green tentacles. They typically return to one of these two forms when caught.

History
Once an advanced technological society, the Durlans destroyed their civilization in a war that lasted six minutes (the "six minute war"). Since this time, Durla has been a wasteland, and its people live in a near-barbaric state, using their shapeshifting ability to survive. A few notable Durlans have escaped the planet and gone on to greater things, including R.J. Brande and Chameleon Boy. Long ago in the past, they visited Earth and pretended to be the Greek gods.