Anatomy of a Tribble

[Mistral]

http://www.neatorama.com/2010/04/19/the-anatomy-of-a-tribble/

Someone has too much time on their hands...

 

[Marten]

Lovely.

 

[Maurice]

That's from the 70s Star Trek Medical Reference Manual.

 

[scotpens]

Yes, I recognized the illustration instantly. For those unfamiliar with the Starfleet Medical Reference Manual, it also has sections on the anatomy and physiology of Vulcans, Klingons, Tellarites, Gorns and other intelligent species, as well as Hortas, Denebian Slime Devils and Blastoneurons (the alien parasites in "Operation: Annihilate!", otherwise known as Flying Fake Dog Vomit).

 

[Too Much Fun]

If they were really built like that on the inside, I don't understand how so many people (i.e. Captain Kirk in his chair) could have accidentally sat or stepped on them and not killed them instantly in "The Trouble with Tribbles".

 

[Maurice]

Well, they are alien life forms...maybe they're made up of stuff that doesn't easily rupture and has the consistency of a rubber ball. Or Kirk killed the one sat on.