Le-matya
A fierce orange-skinned hunting cat that inhabits various regions on Vulcan, the le-matya is known for its lightning-fast reflexes and poison-tipped claws. The cats are known to attack anything they see or smell. The deadly nerve toxins in their claws can kill a small animal within minutes, or paralyze a human. Because they attack anything they encounter whether they are hungry or not, no le-matya are allowed on any of Vulcan's nature preserves; if one ranges onto a preserve it is removed as quickly as possible.
Le-matya are known to live in the deserts near ShirKahr, and travelers beyond the city's walls should take care. Le-matya that live in the volcanic plains tend to be larger and even more aggressive toward Vulcans and offworlders they may encounter, killing solely so they can drink the blood of their victims. Specimens as large as 90 kilograms have been reported in the vicinity of the Cheleb-khor desert.
Desert variety
- Size: 10-15kg, 1m long
- Form: quadruped feline, orange & green skin, large ears, fanged & clawed
Volcanic Plains variety
- Size: 75+ kg, 2m long
- Form: quadruped feline, orange & green skin, large ears, fanged & clawed
More information on le-matya can be found at Memory Alpha.