Denobulan

The Denobulans are a humanoid species from Denobula Triaxa.

Culture

Denobulans are typically polygamous, where a man typically has three wives, who each have three husbands. This creates extremely large extended families. In addition, Denobulan marriages are not exclusive, and married Denobulans can be intimate with anyone they choose. The females emit powerful pheromones and mating, known as jaa-uu-gah, can require medical supervision. Denobulans typically prefer to be amongst large groups and find solitude uncomfortable. However, Denobluans, at least males, are uncomfortable being touched by persons they are not intimate with.

Amongst Denobulans, it is considered healthy for a person to hallucinate, as it is seen a harmless way to release nervous energy.

The Denobulan lullaby is a form of song. In 2154, Phlox offered to sing the lullaby to Porthos although the doctor remembered that his singing would often make his Denobulan children cry.

Physiology

Denobulans have prominent facial ridges running down either side of the forehead to the cheeks, an enlarged brow ridge under a high receding hairline, a vertical crevice in the center of the forehead and a ridged chin.

They also have a ridges on their back, along the spine. Their toenails are dark brown in color, and they grow so rapidly that they must be groomed once a week. Denobulans also have very long tongues, and they use tongue scrapers. Denobulan males have a line of hair down the middle of their chest, up to their throat.

Denobulans have a unique ability to enlarge their faces. This is an instinct for when they feel threatened. It is likely similar to the defence mechanism of the blowfish, an aquatic lifeform native to Earth. They can have an unusally wide smile for a humanoid.

Denobulans normally require very little sleep, but they do hibernate for five to six days each year (two is sufficient) and they do not talk during meals, as they consider it a waste of time.

History

The Denobulans believed they were the only intelligent species in the galaxy until the B'Saari made first contact.

Denobulans have fought several wars against the Antaran race. The last one was during the late 17th century. Denobulan battle tactics killed 20 million Antarans. The Denobulans demonized the Antarans and made them a faceless enemy. As of the 22nd century, there were still some Denobulans that hated Antarans, although most have outgrown the hatred.

In 2155, a Denobulan ambassador was sent to Earth to join in talks of forming a Coalition of Planets.