Color ref of Shenka! His markings are tribal based tattoos.
Shenkalyo can't operate tools, so they often have the Syl assist them with their tattoos. Shenkalyo have smooth skin with no scales and so it makes the tattoos easy to implement and see. When Alyoshenka (whose name means something in both Russian and the language of his species, ironically) is older, he will have more tattoos over his shoulders, tail, and ribs. All tattoos are symmetrical.

Alyoshenka means 'guardian of mankind' in Russian, but it means 'child of the Shenkalyo' in his own native tongue.