Known for their militaristic and disciplined culture. Originally from the planet Palaven, Turians are best known for their military culture. They are sometimes seen as imperialist or rigid by other races.

Turians typically stand over 180cm tall, have two long, proportionately thick fingers and an opposable thumb on each hand, each tipped with talons, and a set of mandibles around their mouths. The most distinguishing feature of Turians is their metallic carapace, which contains trace amounts of thulium. The Turians evolved this trait as a defense against the greater levels of solar radiation that penetrate their homeworld's weak magnetic field. Turian features are avian, making them resemble humanoid birds or raptors, however unlike most Earth avian creatures, Turians are viviparous and give birth to live young. Some scientist claim that Turian remind of the evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs. Turians are also recognisable by their voices, which have a distinctive flanging effect. Males and females do not differ greatly in physical appearance, but female Turians lack the crest of horns found in the males of the race. The lifespan of a Turian is comparable to that of a human.

Since the Unification War, Turians normally wear elaborate tattoos marking their colony of origin, though it is not known which markings distinguish which colony. These markings are usually white — particularly on Turians with darker carapaces — but can be of various colours. As a point of interest, the Turian term “barefaced” refers to one who is beguiling or not to be trusted. It is also a slang term for politicians.

Turianss exhibit the characteristics of predators rather than those of prey species. Their forward-facing alert eyes give the impression that they possess outstanding eyesight and their teeth and jaws mimic the structures possessed by apex predators such as crocodiles or ancient, carnivorous dinosaurs. Needless to say, their talons on both their feet and hands seem capable of ripping flesh. As such, their diet is primarily meat-based. Their slender bodies also seem to suggest that they are also capable of moving at high speeds.

The Turian homeworld, Palaven, has a metal-poor core, generating a weak magnetic field and allowing more solar radiation into the atmosphere. To deal with this, most forms of life on Palaven evolved some form of metallic “exoskeleton” to protect themselves. Their reflective plate-like skin makes Turians less susceptible to long-term, low-level radiation exposure, but they do not possess any thick “natural armor”. A Turian's thick skin does not stop projectiles and directed energy bolts though it does help against lesser threats. Turian blood has a dark blue colouration.

Although life on Palaven is carbon-based and oxygen-breathing, it is built on dextro-amino acids. This places the Turians in a distinct minority on the galactic stage; the Quarians are the only other sapient dextro-protein race. The food of Humans, Asari, or Salarians (who evolved in levo-amino acid-based biospheres), will at best pass through Turian systems without providing any nutrition. At worst, it will trigger an allergic reaction that can be fatal if not immediately treated. Some accounts suggest that the Turians have a digestive system similar to birds and reptiles on Earth, some of whom swallow stones to help break down harder foods in the stomach.

Turian civilization spans fifteen thousand years of history.

The Turians had already discovered FTL and spawned colonies throughout the corner of the galaxy when the Humans came to galactic stage. At about the time the humans were forming federation, the Turians were embroiled in a bitter civil war next door. The Unification War, as it was later named, began with hostilities between the colonies furthest from the Turian homeworld, Palaven.

These colonies were run by local chieftains, many of whom had distanced themselves from the Hierarchy. Without the galvanizing influence of the government, the colonies became increasingly isolated and xenophobic. Colonists began wearing emblems or facial markings to differentiate themselves from members of other colonies and open hostilities became common.

When war finally broke out, the Hierarchy maintained strict diplomacy and refused to get involved. After several years of fighting, less than a dozen factions remained and the Hierarchy finally intervened. By that time, the chieftains were too weak to resist; they were forced to put an end to fighting and renew their allegiance to the Hierarchy. Though peace was restored, it took several decades for animosity between colonists to fade completely. To this day, most Turians still wear the facial markings of their home colonies.

In 55 BE, a Turian force opened fire on explorers from an as yet unknown race: humanity as a result of failure to communicate while approaching a Turian base. Later investigations blame many factors, but most prominent was likely the xenophobia of the Human commander. One human starship managed to escape and warn the Empire, which retaliated and destroyed several Turian vessels. The situation quickly escalated to war.

Over the next several weeks, the locally outnumbered Empire lost multiple scouting parties and patrols to Turian offensives. The conflict came to a head when a Turian fleet broke through Imperial lines and besieged the human colony of Shanxi. With no other options, the Imperial garrison on Shanxi surrendered, and the Turians proceeded to occupy the world, confident that the majority of Imperial forces had been defeated. However, one month later the Empire's Second Fleet caught the Turian occupiers by surprise and evicted them from the planet. Both sides began preparations for a protracted interstellar war.

Before that could happen, the Salarians, who did not like the idea of a huge war on their doorstep, intervened and revealed the full military dispositions and production rates along with expected losses on both sides to the warring parties. This caused both sides to stop and think before launching their attacks. Both came to the conclusion that the probable losses were not worth it.

Terms of peace were negotiated and the conflict effectively brought to an end. Mistrust between both races would linger for years to come.

Turians are noted for their strong sense of public service. It is rare to find one who puts his needs ahead of the group. Every citizen from age 15 to 30 serves the state in some capacity, as anything from a soldier to an administrator, from a construction engineer to a sanitation worker. Turians have a strong inclination toward public service and self-sacrifice, so they tend to be poor entrepreneurs. To compensate, they accepted the mercantile volus as a client race, offering protection in exchange for their fiscal expertise.

Turian society is highly regimented and very organized, and the species is known for its strict discipline and work ethic. Turians are willing to do what needs to be done, and they always follow through. They are not easily spurred to violence, but when conflict is inevitable, they only understand a concept of “total war.” They do not believe in skirmishes or small-scale battles; they use massive fleets and numbers to defeat an adversary so completely that they remove any threat of having to fight the same opponent more than once. They do not exterminate their enemy, but so completely devastate their military that the enemy has no choice but to become a colony of the Turians. It is theorized that another conflict between the rapidly advancing humans and Turians could annihilate a large portion of known space.

The Turian military is the center of their society. It is not just an armed force; it is an all-encompassing public works organization. The military police are also the civic police. The fire brigades serve the civilian population as well as military facilities. The corps of engineers builds and maintains spaceports, schools, water purification plants, and power stations. The merchant marine ensures that all worlds get needed resources.

Other species see Turians as “men of action”. Since their culture is based on the structure of a military hierarchy, changes and advances accepted by the leadership are quickly adopted by the rest of society with minimal resistance.

While Turians are individuals with personal desires, their instinct is to equate the self with the group, and to set aside all personal desires for the good of all. Turians are taught to have a strong sense of personal accountability, the 'Turian honor' that other races find so remarkable. Turians are taught to own every decision they make, good or ill. The worst sin they can make in the eyes of their people is to lie about their own actions. Turians who murder will try to get away with it, but if directly questioned, most will confess the crime.

The Turian economy is slightly smaller than that of the Empire. For many years, development was hampered by cultural disinterest in economics. When the Turians accepted the Voulus as a client race, business development improved.

The military is supported by a well-developed infrastructure. Manufacturers such as Armax Arsenal and the Haliat Armory produce advanced, reliable equipment. Voulus manufacturers have been known to produce cheap knock-offs of Turian equipment.

Turians believe that groups and areas have “spirits” that transcend the individual. For example, a military unit would be considered to have a literal spirit that embodies the honor and courage it has displayed. A city's spirit reflects the accomplishments and industry of its residents. An ancient tree's spirit reflects the beauty and tranquility of the area it grows within.

These spirits are neither good nor evil, nor are they appealed to for intercession. Turians do not believe spirits can affect the world, but spirits can inspire the living. Prayers and rituals allow an individual to converse with a spirit for guidance or inspiration. For example, a Turian who finds his loyalty tested may appeal to the spirit of his unit, hoping to reconnect with the pride and honor of the group. A Turian who wishes to create a work of art may attempt to connect with the spirit of a beautiful location.

Turians enjoy absolute freedom of religion and can practice whatever appeals to them so long as it does not impede anyone's ability to perform their duties. There are many practitioners of the Asari siarist philosophy. Since opening dialog with the human Empire, some Turians have embraced Confucianism and Zen Buddhism.

In the past, Turians believed that titans strode across Palaven, reaching for the heavens. They worshiped these deities and communicated with them at a structure called Temple Palaven. The temple was tended to by a religious order called the Valluvian Priests, who wear special purple robes which obscure their forms. In order for Turians to join this order, they had to be considered worthy enough through some action. When the Turians spread out from Palaven and discovered other life among the stars, however, they sealed Temple Palaven because they no longer needed legends to prod them upward. With the temple abandoned, eventually the Valluvian Priests fell into legend.

The Turian government, known as the Turian Hierarchy, is a hierarchical meritocracy. While it has great potential for misuse, this is tempered by the civic duty and personal responsibility Turians learn during their childhood.

Turians have 27 citizenship tiers, beginning with civilians (client races and children). The initial period of military service is the second tier. Formal citizenship is conferred at the third tier, after boot camp. For client races, citizenship is granted after the individual musters out. Higher-ranked citizens are expected to lead and protect subordinates. Lower-ranking citizens are expected to obey and support superiors. Promotion to another tier of citizenship is based on the personal assessment of one's superiors and co-rankers. At the top are the Primarchs, who each rule a colonization cluster. The Primarchs vote on matters of national importance. They otherwise maintain a “hands-off” policy, trusting the citizens on each level below them to do their jobs competently.

Throughout their lives, Turians ascend to the higher tiers and are occasionally “demoted” to lower ones. The stigma associated with demotion lies not on the individual, but on those who promoted him when he wasn't ready for additional responsibility. This curbs the tendency to promote individuals into positions beyond their capabilities. Settling into a role and rank is not considered stagnation. Turians value knowing one's own limitations more than being ambitious.

Turians enjoy broad freedoms. So long as one completes his duties, and does not prevent others from completing theirs, nothing is forbidden. For example, there are no laws against recreational drug use, but if someone is unable to complete his duties due to drug use, his superiors step in. Judicial proceedings are 'interventions.' Peers express their concern, and try to convince the offender to change. If rehabilitation fails, Turians have no qualms about sentencing dangerous individuals to life at hard labor for the state.

The Turian imperial anthem is called “Die for the Cause.”

Although they lack the brutality of some races, the refined biotic skill of other, and the adaptability of the humans, the Turian military has formidable discipline. Officers and NCOs are “lifers” with years of field experience. Enlisted personnel are thoroughly trained and stay calm under fire. Turian units don't break. Even if their entire line collapses, they fall back in order, setting ambushes as they go. A popular saying holds: “You will only see a Turian's back once he's dead.”

Boot camp begins on the 15th birthday. Soldiers receive a year of training before being assigned to a field unit; officers train for even longer. Most serve until the age of 30, at which they become part of the Reserves. Even if they suffer injuries preventing front-line service, most do support work behind the lines.

Command and control is decentralized and flexible. Individual squads can call for artillery and air support. They make extensive use of combat drones for light duties and remote controlled fighters for heavier, and practice combined arms: infantry operates with armor, supported by overhead gunships. Strategically, they are methodical and patient, and dislike risky operations.

Tradition is important. Each legion has a full-time staff of historians who chronicle its battle honors in detail. The oldest have records dating back to the Turian Iron Age. If a legion is destroyed in battle, it is reconstituted rather than being replaced.

The Turians recruit auxiliary units from conquered or absorbed minor races, like the Volous. Auxiliaries are generally light infantry or armored cavalry units that screen and support the main battle formations. At the conclusion of their service in the Auxiliaries, recruits are granted Turian citizenship.

Turian wars are often marked by citizen resistance. Most Turian families keep small arms in their homes and take basic training courses that include instruction on how to create simple anti-vehicle explosive devices. To suppress citizen militias, the Turian Hierarchy makes use of “execution squads” known as hastatim. First, “safe camps” are established in cities to incentivize surrender. Next, hastatim soldiers are deployed door-to-door; anyone who refuses to be transported to a safe camp or demonstrates hostile intent will be shot. Hastatim burial units then retrieve and cremate the bodies. This approach is necessary because without the safe camps, no Turian would ever surrender, and without the hastatim, it would take years for a population to be pacified.

The mainstay of the Turian infantry is the Phaeston assault rifle, a light, accurate, and versatile weapon that nonetheless packs more punch than other rifles of its size. Other Turian weapons include the Krysae anti-materiel sniper rifle, and the ML-77 Missile Launcher, manufactured by Armax Arsenal, one of the Turian military's main suppliers. Vehicles the Turians employ include the A-61 Mantis Gunship, a versatile multi-role aircraft, the C77 Tyrus, a light but durable 13-ton infantry fighting vehicle, an APC variant of the M-080, the Jiris Infantry Fighting Vehicle, a hovercraft capable of traversing most terrains and engaging enemies at 20 kilometers with its missiles.

The Turian navy is divided into at least 320 fleets. They have considerable numbers of ships in the battleship class, military estimates put the current total fighting power at about 120% of the human active fleet and 80% of the total human fleet as they do not have a huge reserve fleet like human do.