Dentarians

The Dentarians are a pre-warp civilisation encountered by the crew of the Boudicca during their first contact mission with the Mithgiln.

Homeworld

Planet: Dentarit (native: D'Ntharret)

Translation: "home ground" or "home land"

(Astronomical, geophysical and geopolitical data appended for conciseness)

NOTE: All of the following information is based on data gained from the Mithgiln, and from such observation as could be made by the crew of the USS Boudicca via sensors and interception of Dentarian communications. It is therefor subject to review and alteration as further observation allows. This summary is intended for use by Federation observers to assist in initial infiltration /only/, and is not intended to be a definitive or limiting manual.

Physiology:

The Dentarians are a pseudo-saurian race, with characteristics of both mammalian and reptilian species. They are warm-blooded omnivores, generally humanoid in build. Dentarians have four-fingered hands and four-toed feet, both with vestigal claws little different from the nails common to humanoid races. Facially, they have two eyes with slit-type irises set in forward-facing, binocular positions; two ears with jutting, cup-type pinnae, and a subdued nose with two nostrils. Their jaws are a little heavier than is commonly found in known humanoid races, with dentation comprising the full range of omnivore types, though slightly weighted towards the carnivorous. Dentarians stand between 1.6 meters and 2.2 meters in height; females tend toward a more uniform height of about 1.9 meters, with the males generally tending toward the extremes.

They are hairless, with a mildly pebbly-textured skin possessing the last vestiges of ancestral scales. Older Dentarians sometimes produce short, featherlike growths from the vestigal scales in a band of varying width from the occipital region of the head down to the lower back. Skin coloration and coloration patterns vary, though earth tones predominate. Most Dentarians have some vividly contrasting color bands or patches, such as white or red or yellow. Sexual dimorphism is also evident in coloration patterns, which vary from region to region across the planet.

Dentarian primary and secondary sexual characteristics are similar to most Federation humanoid races, though Dentarian females have four mammary glands instead of two. Dentarians reproduce quasi-oviparously, normally laying small clutches of eggs about two (Federation standard) months after a successful mating. Clutches normally number from two to five eggs, which need only moderate attention during the remaining gestation period, which lasts another eight months. Dentarians do not experience seasonal mating periods, and are sexually active from the onset of puberty (approximately 15 standard years/14 Dentarian years) until about age fifty. Both male and female Dentarians undergo a form of menopause, ending the reproductive portion of their lifespans. Dentarians have an approximate lifespan of about 70 standard years.

Dentarians are not physically exceptional, unlike, for example, the reptilian Gorn, noted for their great physical strength and slow movement.

The Dentarian diet is full-range omnivore, although they require a certain amount of actual meat consumption to remain healthy. Their present industrial situation, with a large amount of preserved and so-called "artificial" foods, is causing a variety of health concerns throughout Dentarian society.

Sociology:

Dentarian culture is far from homogeneous on any scale; there are at least 77 significant political powers on the planet, five major religious or philosophical movements, evidence of sexual, physiological and economic stratification of varying degrees within the socio-political matrix, and an age bias against older (generally enfeebled) Dentarians. However, it should be noted that all of these factors are fairly moderate in intensity, with relatively little strife stemming from friction between factions. Most problems are political, derived from the interaction of the three major political powers. There is a strong feeling of personal privacy throughout all Dentarian cultures which seems to be inherent in the mental makeup of virtually all Dentarians (at least, it does not /appear/ to be sociological), and serves to moderate all of the previously noted influences.

Dentarians are, conversely, unusually intimate physically. Dentarian culture is rife with touch-based contact. The predominant greeting throughout all parts of Dentarit is a two-handed clasp, made with both arms akimbo, forearms raised up, palms forward. The clasp is made while both parties are in extremely close ventral proximity (i.e., face-to-face, almost nose-to-nose). The greeting is often and easily modified (one-handed and no-handed) depending on a variety of circumstances, but is almost always based on the root greeting. Kissing is intensely personal and performed only in deeply romantic situations, and never publicly. Dentarians do not seem to be strongly gregarious - no more so than Terran humans, for example - but they seem to take much greater pleasure in close company when they do congregate. Dentarians have a much smaller "personal space" than most Federation humanoids.

Dentarian clothing is diversely utilitarian: that is, a wide variety of clothing is worn to accommodate specific needs, such as working conditions or weather extremes. All clothing is colored to suit the needs and the wearer's own personal sense of style, as well as the job (much as certain color/style patterns are employed in the Federation to denote occupation). However, the normal Dentarian outfit, worn globally when weather permits and utilitarian garb is not required, seems to be a kilt-like garment for both males and females, with an additional upper garment resembling a front-only bodice for females. A variety of belt-pouches and sporran-like purses are normally worn as well. Foot gear is only used when necessary; Dentarians tend to go barefoot whenever possible, and shoes, sandals, boots, etc. are removed before entering a dwelling.

Dentarians do not seem to use makeup or tattooing [NOTE: some exceptions apparent; possibly military? further data required], or indulge in ostentatious social costuming. They do have a strong affinity for perfumes, and all Dentarians can be found applying perfumes on themselves several times a day for a variety of circumstances; the perfume types vary according to the social situation. Most Dentarians carry at least four different kinds of perfume at all times.

Credits

This race description was created by John O'Neill, who plays ACSO Ens Carlyle Deston aboard the USS Boudicca