One of the most intriguing aspects of theStar Trekfranchise is how it features memorable characters portrayed by talented actors. William Shatner’s Captain James T. Kirk, Sir Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard, Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine, Nichelle Nichols' Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, and many more have captured fans' hearts over the past several decades. The franchise also contains several fascinating species, including the Vulcans, the Klingons, the Romulans, and the Borg.
The Tiburonians are another interesting species who have made a number of appearances in a few of theStar Trekseries. They are notable in terms of their unique physical appearance and mysterious history since not much is known about them or their planet. For fans who may be unfamiliar with this race, here’s what we know about them.
RELATED:Star Trek’s 26-Hour Day, Explained
Who Are The Tiburonians in Star Trek?
The Tiburonians are a humanoid species that come from Tiburon, a planet in the Beta Quadrant (which makes up a quarter of the Milky Way Galaxy). The planet itself is known for being cold and experiencing pink snow. The Tiburonians are long-serving members of the United Federation of Planets, as seen in the episodes “The Way to Eden” and “The Savage Curtain” inStar Trek: The Original Series.
The Tiburonians are known for having large, fin-like ears, along with some having long hair, and skin tones such as light brown, green, tan, and salmon pink. Some also have a small ridge line across their foreheads and down their necks. Females have large eyebrows, while some males have no eyebrows and are bald. Tiburonians are generally considered easygoing without being formal, and are respectful to others who have open minds as they do.
The Tiburonians are also descendants of humans, despite how different they physically look due to genetic mutation. When Tiburonians die, they quickly decompose (especially in cold weather) and must be cremated during a Tiburonian funeral in thirty-two hours or less. Those in attendance swallow some of the ashes tocherish the memories of the departed.
Why Are The Tiburonians Significant in Star Trek?
While the Tiburonians are considered joyful and pleasantly charismatic, this species also endured some bad history. Fourteen centuries beforeThe Original Series, an authoritarian group called the Ucali waged war on Tiburon in order to take overthe planet’s technological resourcesand rule its citizens in a cruel manner.
One individual who caused ferocity and harm was Zora, a humanoid scientist who was in fact a Tiburonian that conducted heinous genetic experiments on members of her own species. Zora experimented with the body chemistry of various Tiburonian tribes, which would be condemned by future generations. She dismembered and mutilated the anatomy and natural biology of her species. Zora is recognized as one of the most evil members of the Tiburonian species in the episode “The Savage Curtain.”
Despite suffering from warfare and experimentation, the Tiburonians were able to change the culture surrounding the Ucali by tempting them with joy and pleasure. This caused the soldiers and cadets of the Ucali to disobey their harsh and corrupt regime, ending the war and bringing the Tiburon and Ucali tribes together. The Tiburonians weren’t in favor of science for many centuries, but after their long battle with the Ucali, they had to improve the technological infrastructure of Tiburon, sothe planet could survive.
The Impact of Science and Technology on The Tiburonians
Scientists like Neprin (experienced in cybernetics and biophysics) were successful in improving the economy and culture of Tiburon. They allowed the planet to rely on robots, machinery, and labor-saving devices so its citizens could continue to live in a peaceful environment. However, rebels like physicist Dr. Sevrin went against Tiburon because he believed his planet’s over-reliance on technology was weakening its citizens (ironic, since Severin is a technical expert). Sevrin was also against the modern technical society of the Federation, so he started his own philosophical movement called One. Sevrin set out to leave behind feelings of confusion and seek out a new beginning on an uninhabited planet called Eden.
One of the primary reasons the Tiburonians joined the Federation was to ensure their planet’s safety from authoritarian regimes like Ucali, as well asvillainous tyrantssuch as Zora and Sevrin. Another concern for Tiburon was infectious, and incurable diseases like synthococcus novae, which affected the immune systems of thousands of Tiburonians. Sevrin himself contracted the disease, and unsuccessfully tried to find a cure by going to the mythical planet Eden. Despite disapproving of modern technology, Sevrin had to remain in technologically-controlled environments to stay alive.
Along with appearances from characters like Sevrin and Nora in the original series, T’Lor was a Tiburonian Starfleet station officer inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine(appearing in the episode “The Ship”). T’Lor is a minor character who works with an exploration team on the Deep Space 9 station. Unfortunately, T’Lor and his crew are killed by a powerful reptilian military strike force called Jem’Hader while working on a mining operation in Torga IV (the uninhabited fourth planet in theGamma Quadrant) in search for the rich mineral cormaline.
While tyrants and authoritarian rulers tried to overtake Tiburon, the Tiburonians are resilient in their ability to overcome adversity after centuries of hardships due to war and disease. Their advancements in technology, scientific investigations, and explorations with the Federation have made Tiburon culture more positive and joyful over time.
