wow, it works

code/modules/client/preference/preferences.dm

@@ -2084,7 +2084,7 @@ var/global/list/special_role_times = list( //minimum age (in days) for accounts
 
 /datum/preferences/proc/copy_to(mob/living/carbon/human/character)
 	var/datum/species/S = all_species[species]
-	character.change_species(S) // Yell at me if this causes everything to melt
+	character.change_species(S.type) // Yell at me if this causes everything to melt
 	if(be_random_name)
 		real_name = random_name(gender,species)
 

code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human.dm

@@ -1275,9 +1275,6 @@
 		to_chat(usr, "<span class='notice'>[self ? "Your" : "[src]'s"] pulse is [src.get_pulse(GETPULSE_HAND)].</span>")
 
 /mob/living/carbon/human/proc/set_species(datum/species/new_species, default_colour, delay_icon_update = FALSE)
-	if(new_species == dna.species.type)
-		return
-
 	var/datum/species/oldspecies = dna.species
 
 	if(oldspecies)
@@ -1295,7 +1292,7 @@
 
 		oldspecies.handle_pre_change(src)
 
-	dna.species = new new_species.type
+	dna.species = new new_species()
 
 	tail = dna.species.tail
 

code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species/species.dm

@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 	var/blurb = "A completely nondescript species."      // A brief lore summary for use in the chargen screen.
 	var/butt_sprite = "human"
 
-	var/primitive_form            // Lesser form, if any (ie. monkey for humans)
-	var/greater_form              // Greater form, if any, ie. human for monkeys.
+	var/datum/species/primitive_form = null          // Lesser form, if any (ie. monkey for humans)
+	var/datum/species/greater_form = null             // Greater form, if any, ie. human for monkeys.
 	var/tail                     // Name of tail image in species effects icon file.
 	var/datum/unarmed_attack/unarmed                  //For empty hand harm-intent attack
 	var/unarmed_type = /datum/unarmed_attack