Ferengi

The Ferengi are a sapient humanoid species that originated on the rainy planet Ferenginar. The Ferengi culture is wholly centered on economy, and their economy is centered in the principles of capitalism, with financial success being a Ferengi's primary goal in life.

Biology
Like many sapients in the galaxy, the Ferengi have a typical humanoid body plan, with the main differences being either internal or located on the head. In the Ferengi's case, their most remarkable features are their extremely large ears, or lobes (bigger in males than in females), which give them a hearing range much greater than that of Humans and most other species. They have a large bulbous head, wrinkled nose, sharp teeth and their skin is orangy-brown and hairless. Their diet is omnivorous and includes invertebrates native to their homeworld (they will not eat insects from other planets, though) and an algae-based soft drink known as Slug-o-Cola.

The Ferengi's brain is essentially different from that of most other humanoids. Their large skulls hide a four-lobed brain which cannot be properly read even by naturally telepathic species. Other traits include six toed-feet, blue nails, ascending ribs, two sets of lungs (upper and lower) and a particularly fast heart rate. They also have specialized cells in their blood called pyrocytes, which can cause severe allergic reactions on Human skin.

Like most humanoids, Ferengi have two sexes, male and female. However, their social norm dictates that females are restricted to being at home, and are not allowed to actively participate in business, especially not to earn profit.

Culture and society
The principles of free market and the individual pursuit of profit are the pillars of almost every aspect of the Ferengi society, including their politics, religion, ethics and relationship with other species. Like the Vogons, they are also quite bureaucratic in nature, asking even casual visitants for formularies and admission fees. The Ferengi government is called the Ferengi Alliance and is headed by a Grand Nagus. Ferengi were also the inventors of synthehol, a non-addictive substitute for alcohol.

The Ferengi's ultimate business code is the Rules of Acquisition, which includes over 280 rules, number one being "Once you have their money, you never give it back". Although Ferengi ethics allow, and even encourage such things as distrust, greed and exploitation practices, they cannot be truly described as an immoral race. It would be more accurate to say that their moral code is very different from that of other species. Like Vulcans value logic and Klingons value honor, the Ferengi value profit more than anything else.

While early encounters with the Federation often saw Ferengi acting as pirates, thieves or smugglers, there are limits to what kinds of criminal activities they will be willing to engage in, even for profit. Unlike Humans, Ferengi have never in their history engaged in such appalling practices like slavery, genocide or racial intolerance. Although in the 22nd century some of them did get involved in the slave market of other species, they've never been known to enslave their own kind, and even Odo (who disapproves of Ferengi practices in general) admits that Ferengi wouldn't sell out their own world for profit like the Bajoran Collaborators did during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. In terms of physical combat, Ferengi are typically unaggressive, which might have to do with them not being particularly strong or tough, compared to other humanoids. They will always try to remain neutral in interstellar conflicts: a position that allows them to keep commercial routes with both sides. Ferengi esteem their purchasers and will try to maintain a good relationship with all other races, even though their dishonesty is well-known throughout the Alpha Quadrant.

The metaphasic shield technology, which allows a spaceship to travel into a star's corona, was invented by the Ferengi scientist Dr. Reyga in 2369. Uncharacteristically for a Ferengi, Reyga had no intention to profit from his invention and shared his research with other species.