Hermat
Hermats are a hermaphroditic race native to the Alpha Quadrant. In addition to having both male and female sexual organs, they also possess razor-sharp canine teeth, reflecting the predatory origins of their species. They also have a heightened olfactory sense, enabling them to track an individual by their scent. When the situation calls for it, they can run on their hands and feet, faster then typical humanoids. However, they also have a relatively short life-span, averaging just 40 years.
Hermats, as a race, tend to keep to themselves. Their tendency toward segregation from the rest of the Federation is well known. While Hermats are not necessarily xenophobic, they have some difficulty relating effectively to members of other species. As of the 2370's, there were still few Hermat members of Starfleet. They are renowned for their versatility and ingenuity.
They have developed a unique set of pronouns to accommodate their dual-sex status: 'hir' rather than 'him' or 'her'; 'hish' for the possessive forms of 'his' and 'hers'; and 's/he' (with a separately accented H) rather than 'she' or 'he' to simplify communications with divided-sex species and preserve their uniqueness.
The Hermats are governed by the Hermat Directorate, ruled by the Hermat Elders.
- Hermats were first introduced in New Frontier novel Into the Void, in the person of Burgoyne 172. Burgy, as s/he is known to hish friends, is currently the only Hermat command level member of Starfleet.