''
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...
'' is a
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
media franchise that began with
Gene Roddenberry
Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Sr. (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American television screenwriter, producer, and creator of ''Star Trek: The Original Series'', its sequel spin-off series ''Star Trek: The Animated Series,'' and ''Sta ...
's launch of the
original ''Star Trek'' television series in 1966. Its success led to decades of films, novels, comics, and spinoff series. A major motif of the franchise involves encounters with various alien races throughout the galaxy. These fictional races are listed here.
Noted ''Star Trek'' races include
Vulcans
Vulcans, sometimes referred to as Vulcanians, are a fictional extraterrestrial humanoid species in the '' Star Trek'' universe and media franchise. In the various ''Star Trek'' television series and films, they are noted for their attempt t ...
,
Klingons
The Klingons ( ; Klingon language, Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''.
Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the Star Trek: The Original Series, original ''Star Trek'' ('' ...
,
and the
Borg
The Borg are an alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe. The Borg are Cyborg, cybernetic organisms (cyborgs) linked in a Group mind (science fiction), hive mind called "the Collective". The Borg ...
.
Some aspects of these fictional races became well known in American
pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop!, a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Albums
* Pop (Gas al ...
, such as the
Vulcan salute
The Vulcan salute ("🖖") is a hand gesture popularized by the 1960s television series ''Star Trek''. It consists of a raised hand with the palm forward and the thumb extended, while the fingers are parted between the middle and ring fing ...
and the Borg phrase, "Resistance is futile."
''Star Trek'' aliens have been featured in
'' Time'' magazine, which described how they are essential to the franchise's narrative.
Key
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
Kazon
The Kazon aliens were introduced on ''
Star Trek: Voyager''.
Kelpien
The Kelpiens lived on the terrestrial planet
Kaminar
The second season of the American television series '' Star Trek: Discovery'' is set a decade before the events of the ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' and follows the crew of the USS ''Discovery'' as they meet the crew of the USS ''Enterpris ...
, the earth from which Commander Saru hailed in ''
Star Trek: Discovery''. The Ba'al suppressed the Kelpiens for many generations. This race used its technological superiority to feast upon the Kelpien people and prevent them from experiencing Va'Harai and gaining greater consciousness. In S2E7 of ''Discovery'', "Light and Shadows," the Kelpiens, with the help of an energy source associated with the Red Angel, all experienced Va'Harai. They lost their innate fear of the Ba'al. After that, they plan to live in peace with their former tormentors.
Klingon
The Klingons are a warrior race. Their popularity is strong for a fictional race, and they had real language written for them that is spoken in the real world, unique among science fiction aliens.
Kzinti
The Kzinti are feline warriors that appear in the TAS episode ''
The Slaver Weapon
"The Slaver Weapon" is the fourteenth episode of the first season of the American animated science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Animated Series''. It first aired on NBC on December 8, 1973, and was written by Larry Niven. It wa ...
'', who originated in
Larry Niven
Laurence van Cott Niven (; born April 30, 1938) is an American science fiction writer. His best-known works are ''Ringworld'' (1970), which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards, and, with Jerry Pournelle, ''The Mote in God's Eye'' ...
's
Known Space
Known Space is the fictional setting of about a dozen science fiction novels and several collections of short stories written by Larry Niven. It has also become a shared universe in the spin-off ''Man-Kzin Wars'' anthologies. The Internet Spe ...
universe. The Kzinti had four wars with humanity. According to Sulu, the last one was 200 years before their appearance in the episode. In the STP episode ''
Nepenthe
Nepenthe ( grc, νηπενθές, ) is a fictional medicine for sorrow – a "drug of forgetfulness" mentioned in ancient Greek literature and Greek mythology, depicted as originating in Egypt..
The carnivorous plant genus '' Nepenthes'' is ...
'', Riker says that Kzinti are present on the titular planet.
O
Organian
The Organians'' are
incorporeal
Incorporeality is "the state or quality of being incorporeal or bodiless; immateriality; incorporealism." Incorporeal (Greek: ἀσώματος) means "Not composed of matter; having no material existence."
Incorporeality is a quality of souls, s ...
energy creatures ("pure energy, pure thought") with no precise physical location in the universe. After the climax of the episode "
Errand of Mercy
"Errand of Mercy" is the twenty-sixth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by Gene L. Coon and directed by John Newland, it was first broadcast on March 23, 1967. It was the first ...
," Spock comments that they are "as far above us on the evolutionary scale as we are above the amoeba." They assumed humanoid form to "interact" with the Federation representatives and the Klingons. They render all weapons belonging to the opposing parties inoperable through extreme heat and then vanish.
The Organians were a race of beings who had evolved into pure conceptual beings, the essence of thought with no human bodies. In some ways, they were similar to
Q for power levels and abilities. In the novel ''
Q Strike'', the Organians appear to observe a battle between members of the Q Continuum and other seemingly omnipotent beings from the ''Star Trek'' universe. The original Q identifies them after being asked by Captain
Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, most often seen as the captain of the Federation starship . Played by Patrick Stewart, Picard has appeared in the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (''T ...
who they are and is rather dismissive, remarking that "compared to their code of noninvolvement, your Prime Directive is practically an incitement to riot."
The Organians also appeared on ''
Star Trek: Enterprise
''Star Trek: Enterprise'', titled simply ''Enterprise'' for its first two seasons, is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It originally aired from September 26, 2001, to May 13, 2005 on Uni ...
'' in the episode "
Observer Effect Observer effect, observer bias, observation bias, etc. may refer to a number of concepts, some of them closely related:
General experimental biases
* Hawthorne effect, a form of reactivity in which subjects modify an aspect of their behavior, in ...
," where they observed members of the crew infected with a silicon-based virus to decide whether or not they should make
first contact with humans. They did not technically appear onscreen; they only manifested themselves by possessing the bodies of several members of the ''
Enterprise
Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to:
Business and economics
Brands and enterprises
* Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company
* Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company
* Enterpris ...
'' crew.
In 2017, ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' ranked Organians the 20th best aliens of the ''Star Trek'' franchise. In 2020, ''ScreenRant'' ranked them the 5th smartest aliens of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.
Orion
Orions'' are a green-skinned, humanoid alien species in the ''Star Trek'' universe. An Orion was first portrayed as an illusion in the original ''Star Trek'' pilot. Still, he was seen in the broadcast series when this original pilot was incorporated into a two-part episode (episodes 11 and 12) in the first season. Orions have also been portrayed in ''
Star Trek: The Animated Series'', ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', ''
Star Trek: Voyager'' and ''
Star Trek: Enterprise
''Star Trek: Enterprise'', titled simply ''Enterprise'' for its first two seasons, is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It originally aired from September 26, 2001, to May 13, 2005 on Uni ...
''.
Rachel Nichols played Orion
Starfleet
Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduc ...
cadet Gaila in the 2009 ''
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...
'' film.
P
Q
Q
R
S
Son'a
Once members of the
neo-luddite
Neo-Luddism or new Luddism is a philosophy opposing many forms of modern technology. The term Luddite is generally used as a pejorative applied to people showing technophobic leanings. The name is based on the historical legacy of the English Lud ...
race the
Ba'ku, the Son'a were
exile
Exile is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suf ...
d from their home planet by their fellows for trying to overthrow the leadership and embracing more advanced technology. Now separated from the
rejuvenating properties of the Ba'ku planet, they attempt to avoid death through medical procedures. The Son'a use of technology, including weaponry, was banned within the Federation. Nonetheless, in 2375 the Federation allied with the Son'a to take advantage of their technology to gather rejuvenating 'metaphasic particles' emanating from the
rings
Ring may refer to:
* Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry
* To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell
:(hence) to initiate a telephone connection
Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...
of the Ba'ku planet, which is in Federation space. After the operation, which involved the
forced relocation
Forced displacement (also forced migration) is an involuntary or coerced movement of a person or people away from their home or home region. The UNHCR defines 'forced displacement' as follows: displaced "as a result of persecution, conflict, g ...
or
genocide
Genocide is the intentional destruction of a people—usually defined as an ethnic, national, racial, or religious group—in whole or in part. Raphael Lemkin coined the term in 1944, combining the Greek word (, "race, people") with the Latin ...
of the Ba'ku, was called into question and stopped by the crew of the Enterprise, a number of the Son'a reintegrated into the Ba'ku population. Others later joined the
Dominion
The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire.
"Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 ...
. The Son'a have subjugated two peoples as their slaves: the Ellora and the Tarlac.
Species 8472
Species 8472 appeared in four episodes of ''Star Trek: Voyager''. While passing through
Borg
The Borg are an alien group that appear as recurring antagonists in the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe. The Borg are Cyborg, cybernetic organisms (cyborgs) linked in a Group mind (science fiction), hive mind called "the Collective". The Borg ...
space, ''Voyager'' encounters Species 8472, a race that surpasses the Borg in combat prowess.
T
Talaxian
On ''
Star Trek: Voyager'', the ship's cook
Neelix
Neelix () is a character in the science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Voyager'', played by actor Ethan Phillips since the series' inception. Neelix is an alien native to the distant far side of the galaxy, who has joined the crew of t ...
is a Talaxian, first appearing in "
Caretaker
Caretaker may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''The Caretaker'' (film), a 1963 adaptation of the play ''The Caretaker''
* '' The Caretakers'', a 1963 American film set in a mental hospital
* Caretaker, a character in the 1974 film '' ...
".
In 2017, ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' ranked Talaxians the 21st best aliens of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.
Tellarite
The Tellarites first appeared in "
Journey to Babel
"Journey to Babel" is the tenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek''. Written by D. C. Fontana and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast on November 17, 1967.
In the episode, ...
." They have a facial appearance created by having the actors wearing converted pig masks. Culturally, they are known for their love of arguing and blunt, forceful speech, which most other cultures would consider rude; if Tellarite speech is answered in kind, they will typically consider it an honor. A Tellarite also appears in "
Whom Gods Destroy" and "
The Lights of Zetar" and in the animated episode "
The Time Trap
"The Time Trap" is the twelfth episode of the first season of the American animated science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. It first aired in the NBC Saturday morning lineup on November 24, 1973, and was written by American actres ...
."
Tellarites did not appear in the TNG-era shows, but on ''
Enterprise
Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to:
Business and economics
Brands and enterprises
* Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company
* Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company
* Enterpris ...
'' they are a significant part of several episodes, becoming one of the founding species of the
United Federation of Planets
In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'' the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated. Commonly refe ...
. They also appear in
''Discovery'', in which Gorch, a Tellarite
Starfleet
Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduc ...
admiral, is depicted. The animated series ''
Lower Decks'' depicted a Tellarite captain in the episode "
Moist Vessel." In the animated series
'' Prodigy'' one of the main characters, Jankom Pog, is a 16-year-old Tellarite.
In 2017, ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' ranked Tellarites the 25th best aliens of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.
Talosians
These appeared in "The Cage" pilot and "The Menagerie" and are noted for their powers of illusion.
In 2017, ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' ranked Talosians the 16th best aliens of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.
Tholian
The Tholians are an extremely xenophobic, non-humanoid hermaphroditic species with a propensity for precision. They first appear in the original series episode, "
The Tholian Web
"The Tholian Web" is the ninth episode of the Star Trek: The Original Series (season 3), third season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek''. Written by Judy Burns and Chet Richards and dir ...
," where Spock remarks when fired upon by the Tholians: "The renowned Tholian punctuality." Tholian biology required high temperatures around 480 Kelvin (207 °C, 404 °F). They could tolerate lower temperatures for a brief period; if they were exposed to temperatures around 380 Kelvin or less, their carapace would crack. This was painful or distressing; a
Tholian subjected to such a temperature regime could be coerced to cooperate. In temperatures even lower, a Tholian would freeze solid and shatter. (ENT: "Future Tense," "In a Mirror, Darkly")
Tribble
Tribble
Tribbles are a fictional alien species in the ''Star Trek'' universe. They were conceived by screenwriter David Gerrold and first appeared in 1967, in the fifteenth episode of the second season of '' The Original Series'', titled " The Trouble wi ...
s are a small, harmless species noted primarily for their ability to reproduce extremely quickly. For never revealed reasons, they are hated by (and hate) the Klingons. Three ''Star Trek'' television episodes featured them: "
The Trouble with Tribbles
"The Trouble with Tribbles" is the fifteenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by David Gerrold and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast on December 29, 1967. In ...
" (1967), "
More Tribbles, More Troubles
"More Tribbles, More Troubles" is the fifth episode of the first season of the animated American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. It first aired in the NBC Saturday morning lineup on October 6, 1973, and was written by David G ...
" (1973) and "
Trials and Tribble-ations
"Trials and Tribble-ations" is the 104th episode of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the sixth episode of the fifth season. It was written as a tribute to the original series of '' Star Trek,'' in th ...
" (1996).
Trill
The Trill are a humanoid species. A small minority, after a rigorous selection process, are permitted to join with a sentient, intelligent symbiont. The symbiont is long-lived and can pass from host to host, carrying all the prior host's memories, skills, and experiences. Trill symbionts are also capable of joining with human hosts.
The Trill made their debut on television in the ''
Star Trek: The Next Generation'' episode "
The Host" (May 11, 1991), and were further developed in ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. The Trill
Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax , played by Terry Farrell (actress), Terry Farrell, is a fictional character from the science-fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''.
Jadzia Dax is a joined Trill (Star Trek), Trill. Though she appears to be a young ...
is the 8th host of the symbiont
Dax
Dax or DAX may refer to:
Business and organizations
* DAX, stock market index of the top 40 German companies
** DAX 100, an expanded index of 100 stocks, superseded by the HDAX
** TecDAX, stock index of the top 30 German technology firms
* Dax ...
, and together they are one of the main characters of ''Deep Space Nine'' for the first six seasons; when Jadzia is killed,
Ezri Dax
Ezri Dax () is a fictional character who appears in the seventh and final season of the American science fiction TV series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Portrayed by Nicole de Boer, she is a counselor aboard the Bajoran space station ''Deep ...
, becomes the next Dax host for the seventh and final season. This species was also briefly represented as a holonovel character corresponding to Ensign Harry Kim on ''
Star Trek: Voyager'' in "
Author, Author" (April 18, 2001).
Adira Tal, a human joined with a Trill symbiont, appears in the third season of ''
Star Trek: Discovery''. A Trill doctor, Naáshala Kunamadéstifee, appears in ''
Star Trek: Picard'', and several Trill also feature in ''
Lower Decks''.
Trill have been studied in analyzing the biology of ''Star Trek'', especially regarding the symbionts.
[The Biology of Star Trek -Susan C. Jenkins, Robert Jenkins 1998](_blank)
(Page 89)
There are two contrasting concepts for Trill. One is that a symbiont is essentially an alien person;
nonetheless, the joined Trill still mixes the original person with the memories and some of the personality of the symbiont.
Only a tiny percentage of Trill are joined, and being accepted for the process is considered an honor.
For joined Trill, a symbiont's memories, and to some extent personality, are synthesized with the existing Trill's character.
Joined Trill have been studied in the philosophies of ''Star Trek'', in particular, whether a person is essentially the sum of their memories (the philosopher Locke's "memory theory").
This concept was explored in the ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' television episode "
Dax
Dax or DAX may refer to:
Business and organizations
* DAX, stock market index of the top 40 German companies
** DAX 100, an expanded index of 100 stocks, superseded by the HDAX
** TecDAX, stock index of the top 30 German technology firms
* Dax ...
."
(see )
The contrasting philosophy of the symbiont is called "functionalism," according to ''Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant'', in which people are defined by their actions as opposed to memories. The symbionts have been dismissed as "just memories"
rather than an actual person, although in other cases they are described as a "sentient symbiotic organism."
V
Vidiian
The Vidiians are encountered in the Delta Quadrant by ''Voyager''.
Vorta
Vorta are a member race of the
Dominion
The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire.
"Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 ...
. One family of then-primitive Vorta once saved one of the Changelings, the rulers of the Dominion. For this, they were genetically engineered into an intelligent species thoroughly loyal to the Changelings and, since then, acted as Dominion administrators, field commanders, scientists, and diplomats. They have direct authority over the Jem'Hadar and are tasked with dispensing doses of Ketracel White to them.
In 2017, ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' ranked the Vorta the 15th best aliens of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.
Vulcan
Vulcans are an advanced, brilliant, warp-capable humanoid species from the planet Vulcan. In the past, they were emotional and highly violent until the philosopher
Surak convinced most of them to strive to suppress their emotions. War broke out between Surak's followers and those who refused to accept his teachings. Eventually, the latter left Vulcan; one of these factions became the Romulans.
While modern Vulcans still feel emotions, they consider it shameful to display or be governed by them. They seek to act by logic alone.
X
See also
*
List of fictional extraterrestrials
This list of fictional extraterrestrial species is subsidiary to the lists of fictional species and is a collection of various notable extraterrestrial species that appear in various works of fiction. It is limited to well-referenced example ...
References
Further reading
*
External links
{{Star Trek
Star Trek aliens
aliens
Alien primarily refers to:
* Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country
** Enemy alien, the above in times of war
* Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth
** Specifically, intelligent extrate ...