I'm trying to compile a list of 50 of the most notable and distinctive species in all the series and movies for a small project I'm doing. What I mean by distinctive is that they are easily identified in a simplified form. For example: Betazoids and Iotians don't qualify because they don't look much if any different from Humans, but Bajorans and Vulcan do qualify. I already have a list of well over 50 species, but what I need help with is if I happened to overlook any important ones. In this list, the first section is what I am definitely using, the second section are strong maybes, and could be switched with the third section. The fourth section lists those that I am not going to use for various reasons. Definitely yes: #/Species/Series 1 Andorian TOS 2 Bolian TNG 3 Borg TNG 4 Cardassian DS9 5 Cheron (Bele) TOS 6 Cheron (Lokai) TOS 7 Ferengi TNG 8 Gorn TOS 9 Human ALL 10 Klingon TOS 11 Mugato TOS 12 Orion TOS 13 Pakled TNG 14 Q TNG 15 Romulan TOS 16 Romulan (Nero) ALT 17 Soong-type android TNG 18 Tholian TOS 19 Tribble TOS 20 Vulcan TOS 21 Bajoran DS9 22 Caitian TAS 23 Denobulan ENT 24 Edosian (Arex) TAS 25 Jem'Hadar DS9 26 Lurian (Morn) DS9 27 Planet Forbidden! Movies 28 Talaxian VOY 29 Tamarian TNG 30 Tellarite TOS 31 Trill DS9 32 Vorta DS9 Strong maybe: 33 Balok puppet TOS 34 Benzite TNG 35 Kazon VOY 36 Keenser ALT 37 Long-face ALT 38 Madeline ALT 39 Nibiran ALT 40 Salt vampire TOS 41 Species 8472 VOY 42 Talosian TOS 43 Tarchannen III TNG 44 Voth VOY 45 Xindi Aquatic ENT 46 Xindi Arboreal ENT 47 Xindi Insectoid ENT 48 Xindi Primate ENT 49 Xindi Reptilian ENT 50 Zakdorn TNG Possibly switched with previous section: 51 Bynar TNG 52 Kelvin doctor ALT 53 Suliban ENT 54 Traveler TNG Not using: 55 Aenar ENT 56 Founder DS9 57 Horta TOS 58 Kelvin bridge alien ALT 59 Moto ALT 60 Ocampa VOY
Caitians, Ariolo, Bzzit Khaht, Arcadians, Zaranites, Arkenites, Xelatians, Efrosians, Grazerites, Kasheeta, Rhaandarites, that guy Kirk kicked in the grobjes on Rura Penthe, the "Silent Enemy" invaders, the giant-eyed nurse from AbramsTrek played by Sonita Henry, Axanarri...I mean, you got a LOT of work ahead of you, Bubba.
Thanks! I'd question whether some of the background aliens count as "notable", but you did give me a few to add. I just gotta figure out which other ones I have to knock off the 50!
The Metrons. Under "un-named species" there would be Trelane's species. We've seen Q children and they do not need a thing in the wall to help them.
The thing that springs to mind when reading your list is the Q. You say your rules require the species to be easily distinctive...we frequently see the Q in a human form so that is not distinctive. Unless you are counting them as pure energy? I'd be tempted to switch them for the Kazon who are, in my opinion, very distinctive. Also interesting that you included tribbles. So Humanoid is not a requirement? In which case you may want to consider targs and beagles.
Oh, not to worry, Q will be quite recognizable! Plus, the Kazon are in the "strong maybe" right now, and will likely stay in the top 50. Doesn't have to be humanoid (i.e. Tholians), but I'd prefer to keep it to sapient species. Tribbles just happen to be an exception.
Moving away from obvious humanoids, what about the Sheliak from TNG's "The Ensigns of Command"? The Excalbians from TOS's "The Savage Curtain"? The Cytherians from TNG's "The Nth Degree"? The Voth from Voyager's "Distant Origin"? If you like the Q, how about the Organians from TOS's "Errand of Mercy" (in their non-corporeal form)?
If you're going to include the tribble, then what about the mugatu? Also, the single-celled amoeba from "Immunity Syndrome" and the flying puke from "Operation Annihilate"
I don't have any species to add, but I would suggest you consider not splitting the Cheron and the Romulans into two entries. The whole point of the Cheron episode was that they were exactly the same species with purely superficial differences. And I don't even really understand what the original reasoning is for splitting 'Nero-romulans' from original timeline romulans in the first place. They're all still Romulans. Just as Kirk and Co are still the same Humans/Vulcans, and still fighting the same Klingons. Now that I think about it, I suppose you might also want to consider the Remans. Also, non-humanoid or not, any list that didn't include the Changelings/Founders would be lacking.
Dikironium cloud creature Medusans Excalbians (Yarnek) (DrCorby mentioned them) Vendorians The Skorr The Kzinti The Companion* Cosmic cloud from "One of Our Planets Is Missing"* * - maybe not species per se
Mister Homn's species. I have wondered if Mister Homn's species is the same one that created Ruk, the android from What Are Little Girls Made of. Based on the similar appearances.
Ted Cassidy played both Lurch in the Addams Family TV series and Ruk on Star Trek; and Carel Struycken played both Lurch in the Addams Family movies and Mr. Homm on TNG
Thanks for the suggestions! But perhaps an idea of the style I'm going for here is in order, to help explain. In 2006, I created this image in celebration of TNG's 20th anniversary: (<Click for bigger) I've thought for several years now that I should create something similar for Trek's 50th, but with a different style, but still simplified: Maybe seeing this will help explain why I've made some of the choices I have so far, and why I've ruled out certain ones.