Targhee Moonbeast

Targhee Moonbeasts are a non-sapient species.

Biology
Native to the planet Targhest IV, the Targhee Moonbeasts are bipedal mammalianoid creatures with a kangaroo-like body plan, a pair of large eyes and long thin antennae. Despite their large size, they are able to climb trees and prefer tropical environments such as jungles, in which they live and forage in small packs.

This species is most notable for the strange transformation that takes place twice a year, when the Targhee moons are aligned in a certain way. For most of the year, the Moonbeasts are diurnal herbivores, feeding principally on nuts and roots, and are preyed upon by cheetah-like animals. However, the lunar conjunction causes the Moonbeasts to switch to nocturnal habits, and then to a carnivorous diet, preying on the same animals that formerly preyed on them.

This change in habits is also accompanied by a physical transformation: their claws and teeth grow sharp, their fur darkens, and their eyes become slit-shaped and acquire the ability to see in the ultraviolet spectrum. "Moon form" Moonbeasts hunt in packs and communicate by braying.

Appearances

 * Star Trek: The Next Generation, s05e21, "The Perfect Mate" (1992)