If a suit is ever damaged, it can compartmentalize and prevent the spread of contaminants like viruses or microbes that could make their way into the suit’s environment. To protect themselves from the disease that exists outside Rannoch, Quarians live in sophisticated enviro-suits. However, the viruses and microbes that existed on their homeworld at least had some benefit to them, leading to a symbiotic relationship between them and their environment. Their immune systems have always been weak, even before they had to flee Rannoch to get away from the Geth. Players never really get a chance to see what Quarians look like beneath their suit, save for one picture of Tali’Zorah during her romance storyline, and that’s because Quarians are extremely hesitant to take off their suits. The most interesting and talked-about aspect of the Quarians is their weak immune system.

The Quarian diet on the Flotilla is largely vegan, as it was found livestock didn’t provide enough nutrients when compared to how much space they inhabited on the ships. If they want a change from that, they can eat specially fortified Turian foods. When on Pilgrimage, Quarians are issued a refined paste that they can eat during their travels. To Quarians, human food could be poisonous and trigger a deadly allergic reaction if not treated. Quarians and Turians are categorized as “dextro-protein” species, meaning that they have to eat a special kind of food that differs from the food humans and Asari eat. Similarly to humans, Quarian blood is also red. Interestingly, male Quarians lack a third toe. Quarian physiology differs from humans, though, because they’ve only got three thick fingers on each hand and three toes on each foot. They’re also one of the few alien species that have hair. Compared to humans in Mass Effect, Quarians are noticeably shorter and leaner but have extremely similar facial structure.

Mass effect quarian armor