I'm in need of a human Star Trek encyclopedia

[Viva Sativa]

I need help identifying the creature on the cover of "The Vulcan Academy Murders" perched on a large rock. Throughout the book the only animals mentioned that correlate with the story are the sehlats and the le-matya, both of which have previously been illustrated as mammals while the animal in question is somewhat reptilian. From the extensive research I've done it has to be a shatarr or a nightclaw if it's native to Vulcan. It may be a non-canon creature and whoever had drawn the cover was given the artistic license to add his or her own imaginary beasts.

I plan on getting said creature tattooed so before I do I'd like to know more about it.

 

[Maurice]

Google Le-Matya and the very first entry that comes up should answer your question.

In the script of "Yesteryear", the species name Le-matya is consistently underlined, like no other word in the teleplay. Also, the script states, "A Le-matya is a creature resembling a mountain lion... but it is huge, has an almost impenetrable leathery gray hide, and the poison of its claws and fangs is lethal." The creature was evidently animated with more colorful skin shades. For the Le-matya's growl, the quite famous call of Godzilla was used. (Trek Navigator: The Ultimate Guide to the Entire Trek Saga, p. 272) The novelization of "Yesteryear" (in Star Trek Log 1) is consistent with the scripted description of the Le-matya, referring to it as having a "leathery-grey hide."

 

[Therin of Andor]

I need help identifying the creature on the cover of "The Vulcan Academy Murders" perched on a large rock.

As mentioned in a different thread, cover artist Boris Vallejo took considerable license with his Trek character artwork. Pretty sure it's meant to be a le-matya. Perhaps a juvenile (maybe they lose their dorsal fin as they mature?).