Andorian

The Andorians were a humanoid species from the moon Andoria, homeworld of the Andorian Empire, and one of the founding members of the United Federation of Planets.

Physiology and Biology
Most Andorians were blue-skinned with white or silver hair. An Andorian subspecies called the Aenar had white skin and, unlike blue Andorians, were blind and telepathic. Andorians and Aenar were genetically compatible and could produce offspring.

Andorians, with a higher metabolic rate than Terrans, were especially vulnerable to phase pulse infection; even minor phase injuries could prove fatal. However, they have demonstrated resistance to a wide range of environmental conditions. In a climate where the temperature is near the boiling point of water, an Andorian could still thrive, despite losing 10% of their body weight in two days.

Since Andorian physiology made intravenous injection impossible, physicians administered medication through intermuscular injection instead.

Antennae
Andorians had two supercranial antennae that aided in balance. If one was lost -- a humiliating experience -- an Andorian became partially disabled in the short term, and unable to fight, but could adapt to its loss within a day. Antennae took up to nine months to regrow, though electrical stimulation and cranial massage therapy could cut regeneration time in half.

The twenty-second century Andorian Shran, reflecting on his own stub, demonstrated that antennae were moved by voluntary muscles that could be controlled separately from one another. Such movement could express feelings as well; Andorians could point their antennae at potential mates to signify attraction.

The placement of Andorian antennae had at least four different variations. Shran and others of the 22nd century sprouted antennae from their frontal skullbones. Ambassador Shras and his delegation sported antennae which sprung further back, off their parietal bones. Yet others had longer and thinner antennae.

Blood
Andorians were true bluebloods: Talas' blood displayed nonviscous, translucent qualities, and were as dark blue as Shran's abrasions. Andorian tongues and gums alternated from dark blue to pink.

Andorians had increased perfusion in colder environs. On breathing the freezing air of Andoria, Shran remarked how it 'really gets the blood running'!

Dr Phlox once asserted, 'Andorian metabolism is higher than humans'; keep moving, you'll exhaust him'.

Society
Andorians were a militaristic race, exemplified in small part by weaponry without stun settings. They consider it an honor to serve in their Imperial Guard, and military rank greatly influenced social reputation. Deploring dishonesty -- and never fighting without reason -- Andorians were nonetheless capable of duplicity. They considered themselves deeply emotional, passionate, even violent; not known for their charity or sympathy, they placed a high value on family. Imperial Guard members who died far from home could count on their companions to transport a body part back to the Andorian ices.

Culture and Traditions
A crucial part of Andorian tradition was Ushaan, a code of honor demanding a duel to the death, with combatants pitted against one another using an ushaan-tor iceminer's tool. A vast body of regulations -- up to 12,000 amendments -- bound this code. Such a fight could be called off if one combatant disabled the other enough to prevent its continuance. Though Ushaan could be called by someone to avenge a personal loss, there existed a right of substitution wherein each combatant could offer up a replacement; and married combatants could postpone duels indefinitely if they had no children to continue their claims.

Andorian weddings commonly required four people. Females enjoyed an equal position in society, and as soldiers were as capable as males.

Andorians make prodigious artists; Ezri Dax's mother Yanas Tigan bought handpainted Andorian tiles for her solarium in 2375, and Andor's Academy was widely considered the best art school in the Federation.