Denobulan

Denobulans are a spacefaring humanoid species which hails from Denobula in the Denobula Triaxa system (Iota Boötis), located in the Alpha Quadrant.

Biology
Denobulans are humanoids with bony ridges on their heads and spinal columns. They have elongated tongues and flexible faces, which allow them to make exaggerated expressions, such as an inhumanly wide smile. Most notably, they can inflate their faces like a pufferfish when frightened. They can also climb steep vertical surfaces with their hands and feet, without using any special equipment.

Denobulan toenails are dark brown with yellow stripes. Denobulans have to trim their toenails at least once a week because of the extremely fast growth rate of their nails. In male Denobulans, the hair runs down the middle of the chest to the neck. The same brown streaks can be found on the back along the ridges of the spine, as well as on the feet and the back of both hands.

Culture and society
As of the mid-2150s, the number of Denobulans on their home planet was twelve billion, all living on the same continent. Living space was at a premium and the Denobulan culture adopted a close, communal lifestyle. Denobulans usually prefer to be among large groups and find solitude uncomfortable. While they enjoy the company of their own species, Denobulans don't keep pets.

Denobulans are polygamous. A man usually has three wives, each with three husbands. This creates extremely large extended families. In addition, married Denobulans can have intimate relations with whomever they choose. During the mating season, females emit powerful pheromones. During this time, male Denobulans often become aggressive and medical supervision may be required for mating. A Denobulan woman can also choose to marry only one Denobulan man. A Denobulan woman who has only one Denobulan husband can take his name as her surname.

A typical romantic overture for a Denobulan woman is to offer her potential partner a bath of rose petals. The traditional greeting of the Denobulan lovers begins by approaching each other face to face, so that each is not quite touching the other. The Denobulans then smell each other's scent and finally part.

The Denobulans are renowned for their excess of patience. This patience may be reflected in their marital relationship, so that they may be quite content to spend considerable time apart.

Denobulans do not talk to each other during meals together as they consider it a waste of time. Meat is a very popular product among Denobulans. One of the most famous Denobulan dishes is the Denobulan sausage. Also a popular Denobulan delicacy are the kidneys of Denobulan lemurs.

The Denobulans consider hallucinations to be healthy because they are seen as a harmless way of releasing nervous energy.

Denobulan medical ethics regard the patient's will as absolutely binding, including his refusal to be treated or live. This is very different from the Hippocratic Oath followed by many physicians of Earth, which obliges the doctor to treat the patient.

Although Denobulans usually display a full range of emotions, they value optimism and cheerfulness highly. However, they can also be deceitful and their temper can sometimes be furious.

Each year the Denobulans go into a six-day winter hibernation.

Language
Denobulans speak Denobulan language. The Denobulan script consists of lines of connected and disconnected filled circles.

Denobulan is the main language spoken by Denobulans, along with the Federation Standard. Most Denobulans who have grown up on the planet speak both languages. Since the planet joined the Federation, the language has been heavily influenced by the Federation Standard; some Denobulans prefer to speak the Standard, even among other Denobulans. However, having become part of the Federation, the number of people who speak a non-native language has increased significantly.

Appearances

 * Star Trek: Enterprise (2001 - 2005)