The Ralis Scale is a scale used to measure the average intelligence of a species. This scale takes into account a number of factors, as species that tend to do well in one area, will also do well in other areas. Individuals may score higher or lower than average on this scale. It is based on an A to Z scale with A being the lowest score, and Z being the highest score. Even though species that score an A have the lowest score, they are still sapient and fully capable of forming and maintaining a civilization.
An important thing to know when classifying species in this scale is that it is independent from technological advancement, meaning that a primitive civilization could score higher than a space-faring one. Often, the words "early," "mid," and "late" will be placed before the letter classifying a species. This is mostly to account for minute differences in species as well as variation within them. For instance, some individuals of a species could score Late J, while others score Early K.
The X, Y, and Z categories are almost exclusively used for super-intelligences, such as The Brains. Any species or individual that transcends even the category of Z, are called Hyper-intelligences. It is unknown if a natural organism can evolve to be this intelligent, as even a planet-spanning hivemind does not have enough intelligence to score higher than Z.
For species that are below "A," there is a distinct scale as well. This scale, called the Pre-intelligence Scale is similar in the way it arranges species. The lowest score is an PA, for "Pre-Intelligent A." This score is typically reserved for bacteria or similar. The highest score, PZ, is controversial, as some of the PZ species have been noted to develop fire and tool-usage. As such, even rudimentary technology is not enough to make a species truly sapient.
Rankings For Self-Aware Species
Below are some examples of species on the Sapient Ralis Scale.
Zyvoori: Late-J to Mid-K
Chukulakans: Mid-K to Early-L
Shevins: Late-K to Early-L
Oneru: Late-K to Mid-L
Hydrosapiens: Mid-L to Early-M
The Brains: Late-L to Mid-M
Humans: Early O to Late O
Delvans: Late-M to Mid-N
Ski'pec : Mid-L to Early-O
Zythyns: Early-P to Late-Q