Star Trek: 10 Fascinating Alien Species Fans Know Nothing About

Part of the magic of Star Trek is the aliens and worlds that come with it. While fans adore the characters on the ship, half the fun is all the new people and cultures they meet. Since its conception, Trekkies have absolutely fallen in love with the Klingons, Borg, Trill, and so many more that they met along the way.

However, not all species got the Vulcan treatment. So many fascinating species met during these adventures of the Enterprise, Voyager, Defiant, and Discovery were introduced but disappeared before fans could learn much, if anything, about them.

Here are 10 (of many) fascinating alien species fans know nothing about.

10 Salt Vampires (TOS: "The Man Trap")

Quite literally the first alien Kirk and co. ever faced, the salt vampire was a very mysterious (albeit alluring) antagonist. All fans know about the salt vampire is that it needs salt to live, it will suck it from any living host, and it has illusionary telepathy. Though it initially appeared to the crew as Nancy Carter, it transformed throughout its episode-long human hunt.

Despite the fact Professor Robert Carter lived with it for a year, this "last of its species" creature passed on with its people's secrets so no one will ever understand their complexities. Did they always hunt people for salt? Was this just salt-lust brought on by starvation? Did the salt vampire care for Robert Carter or just used him for resources? The Trek fandom will likely never know.

9 Barash (TNG: "Future Imperfect")

One of the most twisty, confusing episodes of TNG's run involved Riker, Romulans, Minuet, and a little boy named Ethan. At first, it seems like Riker has lost his memory of his promotion, wife, and son. Then, it seems he was kidnapped by Romulans. Turns out after that, it was nothing like that and he was kidnapped by a young boy. To clarify, a young, abandoned alien boy.

Though fans learn to sympathize with Ethan (later known as Barash),  they know little to nothing about his fascinating past. His people had amazing neural and illusionary tech and he's all alone in the galaxy. Fans learned his people were hunted, but past that he's a mystery. A more concerning mystery is where they ended up taking the poor kid if his people were brutally massacred. What is he capable of? What are his strengths? And will those enemies come back if they find out he still lives?

8 Xyrillians (ENT: "Unexpected")

While the original Enterprise had a bit of time to learn about the Xyrillians, they don't know nearly enough. Why? Well, the Xyrillian/human hybrid out there is more than enough reason.

This race was filled with engineering specialists and the ability to mate in a very unique way. They have an almost reptilian look and impregnate men through skin pockets. The crew may have spent a whole episode with them, but considering what happened, fans definitely would want to learn more. They're a fascinating bunch. And, moreover, how did Trip end up pregnant? How is that hybrid baby doing? Why are the two species compatible and how well will those previous compatibilities mesh into adulthood?

As interesting as the situation was, fans didn't get nearly enough information.

7 Titans (TNG: "Skin of Evil")

TNG made a daring move when it offed one of its main cast members in the first season. However, their mode of ending Tasha Yar's tenure as security chief deserved more explanation.

Yar was attacked by a creature called Armus, the dark remnants of a Titan race that used to be on the planet. These Titans were powerful and grand, but they'd expel their "badness" like lizards shed skin. Armus, the leftovers of a Titan, acted on evil instincts.

The episode is bizarre enough. Unfortunately, the lack of information about titans (and never learning anything more) only makes the situation all the more confusing. These fascinating powerhouses deserved more explanation.

6 Crystalline Entity (TNG: "Lore")

Data and his brother, Lore, have one of the most interesting dynamics in the entire show. The thing that divides them so much, though, is the fact Lore feels like humanity is weak and traitorous. Data, alternatively, sees the good in them. Both stances are understandable, considering the different ways they were treated.

Lore and Data's first conflict, though, culminates in Lore offering up the Enterprise crew to the Crystalline Entity, a hungry creature floating in space, searching for human energy to devour.

While Picard and co. repel the creature, fans learn little to nothing about the entity other than how it looks and its telepathic connection to Lore. For such a monstrosity, there should be more to learn: where did it come from, why is it like this, how can it communicate?

5 Species 8472 (VOY: "The Scorpion")

In Voyager, this enigmatic species was the main villain for quite a few episodes. However, other than their biologically based technology and xenophobia, fans learn little about them. Considering their unique origins in fluidic space, they could have been a fascinating long-term villain for Voyager. Perhaps, as the Borg craze dulled down, they could have filled that space. Instead, Voyager dumped them back into fluidic space and fans learned little more about this super-powerful species.

Pity, considering how fascinating their design, backstory, and biological systems were.

4 The Kradin ( VOY: "Nemesis")

The first and most distinguished parts of the Kradin are their faces, which look suspiciously like the Predator aliens from the movie series of the same name. However, otherwise, the story only tells fans about their adversaries. The entire episode is about a group of humanoids determined to eradicate the Kradin. They're even willing to kidnap and indoctrinate people to do so.

Other than the fact the Kradin aren't as evil as they're made out to be, Voyager fans really learned nothing about them. We have no clue how they ended up in this conflict, how they're surviving it, and what their culture and people are actually like. Creators shouldn't just pull Predator look-alikes in the franchise without some awesome backstory.

3 Tamarians ( TNG: "Darmok")

Few species captured the fans' attention like the cryptic Tamarians. Also called the Children of Tama, these honorable people spoke in allegories and references instead of classic sentences. Picard spent an entire episode trying to work with the Tamarian captain, trying to decipher what he was saying. After all, they had to communicate before a mythical monster came the next day.

Many people consider "Darmok" to be one of the best TNG episodes ever. Despite this, though, the Tamarians are never seen again. Fans only see a glimpse into their fascinating traditions and language before they disappear. This species deserved so much more exploration into their stories and culture, both of which enraptured fans for decades to come.

2 Tosk (DS9: "Captive Pursuit")

Deep Space 9 sees their resident everyman, Miles O'Brien, helping a skittish alien repair his ship. Through some good, ole-fashioned engineering bonding, Miles and Tosk become friends. So much so that Tosk eventually reveals that his race is raised to be prey for violent hunters. They give an individual a ship and a few days, then start hunting them down.

While Tosk refuses asylum from The Federation, he accepts Miles' help and escapes to live another day.

Why wouldn't he want to protect himself? Why is this such an important part of their culture? How did this inter-species dynamic happen? Fans would love to know more, but we never see Tosk (or the Tosk, as they're named) ever again.

1 The Kobali (VOY: "Ashes to Ashes")

Trekkies have never met any species that reproduces as the Kobali do. These people take the corpses of other species and reanimate them, turning them into one of their own.

Despite having a whole episode associated with them, fans learn little else about the Kobali. They clearly have their own culture and customs, but the story focuses on the romance between Harry and Lindsey.

While it's always fun to see Harry Kim's heart get broken, the Kobali really deserved more investigation. How did they come to be? And how do they do it? There are so many questions that deserve answers.

Source: screenrant.com