Andorian


 * Not to be confused with Andoran.

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

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

Andorians, with a higher metabolic rate than Humans, are especially vulnerable to phase pulse infection; even minor phase injuries can 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 can still thrive, despite losing 10% of their body weight in two days.

Since Andorian physiology makes intravenous injection impossible, physicians administer medication through intermuscular injections instead.

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

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

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

Blood
Andorians are true bluebloods: their blood displays nonviscous, translucent qualities, and skin abrasions show as dark blue. Andorian tongues and gums alternate from dark blue to pink.

Andorians have 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'.

Culture and society
Andorians are 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 influences social reputation. Deploring dishonesty -- and never fighting without reason -- Andorians are nonetheless capable of duplicity. They consider themselves deeply emotional, passionate, even violent; not known for their charity or sympathy, they place a high value on family. Imperial Guard members who die far from home can count on their companions to transport a body part back to the Andorian ices.

Traditions
A crucial part of Andorian tradition is 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 -- bounds this code. Such a fight can be called off if one combatant disables the other enough to prevent its continuance. Though Ushaan can be called by someone to avenge a personal loss, there exists a right of substitution wherein each combatant can offer up a replacement; and married combatants can postpone duels indefinitely if they have no children to continue their claims.

Andorian weddings commonly require four people. Females enjoy an equal position in society, and as soldiers are as capable as males.

Andorians commonly refer to Humans as "pinkskins" due to their color.

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