Humpback Whale (Star Trek)

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a species of large sapient cetaceans native to the oceans of planet Earth. Their language consists of complex songs which can travel for several miles through the seas.

As Humans failed to recognize the whales as a sapient species, the Humpback Whale was driven to extinction due to over hunting at some point during the 21st century. Only in the late 23rd century it was discovered that the whales were not only intelligent but had made contact with at least one alien civilization before their extinction. When a large alien probe arrives on Earth to communicate with the whales and receives no answer, it threatens to destroy the planet. Fortunately, the USS Enterprise crew returns in time to the late 20th century in order to retrieve two Humpback Whales and bring them to the future to answer the probe, restoring the species' population.

Appearances

 * Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home