Andorian: Difference between revisions

   encountered = Encountered by the [[ma:USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)]] ([[ma:TOS|TOS]]: ''[[ma:Journey to Babel|Journey to Babel]]''). First enountered by [[ma:Enterprise (NX-01)|Enterprise (NX-01)]] ([[ma:ENT|ENT]]: ''[[ma:The Andorian Incident|The Andorian Incident]]'')|

The '''Andorians''' are a [[MA:humanoid|humanoid]] species from the moon [[Andoria]], homeworld of the Andorian Empire, and one of the founding members of the [[MA:United Fedderation of Planets|United Federation of Planets]]. The Andorian people have white hair, blue skin and 3 to 4 inch antenna sticking up out of their heads. On the average they tend to be a very tall, slim race. They tend to be 1.7 to 2.1 meters tall. While obesity is not unknown among them, it is culturally condemed by the majority of them.  

Due to the frigid, ozone-rich environment in which they live in which they live, Andorians have evolved a twin-layered [[MA:Circulatory system|circulatory system]]. This system makes [[MA:Intravenous|intravenous]] injection impossible, and therefore physicians must administer medication through intermuscular injection instead. Andorians are true bluebloods, their blood being based on [[MA:cobalt|cobalt]] as opposed to the [[MA:iron|iron]]-based red blood of [[human|humans]] or the [[MA:copper|copper]]-based green blood of [[Vulcan|Vulcans]]. Andorian tongues and gums alternated from dark blue to pink.

Andorians have heightened senses. Their visual ability is astounding and well above that of what is considered as generally accepted levels for normal [[human|humans]]. They also have increased senses of smell and hearing thanks to their ability to recieve addition information with the use of their antennae. This information is usually superior to that which they can recieve from their nose or ears. Antennae are linked to the sinus cavity, and can detect (among other things) temperature change, change in air pressure, subtle variations in air flow and sub-sonic sounds.

Andorians have two supercranial antennae that aid in balance as well as the sensory enhancements mentioned above. If one is lost an Andorian's balance is temporarily disrupted, rendering them unable to fight, but they could adapt to its loss within a day. Antennae take up to nine months to regrow, though electrical stimulation and cranial massage therapy can cut regeneration time in half. While it is true that if they lose their antenna they will grow back in about 9 months, most Andorians prefer not to survive the loss. The loss of an antenna is very similar to being mute, deaf, castrated and mutilated all at the same time in [[human]] terms. It is because of this that most Andorians suffer from a deep and wide spread fear of antenna loss. There is also the fact that while waiting for their antenna to regenerate that they are at a severe disadvantage in situations that require their balance to be unimpaired such as physical combat.  

Antennae are moved by muscles that can be controlled separately from one another. Such movement can express feelings in much the same way as other [[MA:humanoid|humanoids]] use their facial muscles to the same effect. They easily convey such emotions as fear (by quivering), excitement (by standing rigid), confusion (by lashing about), rage (by pressing back against the skull), amusement (by the antenna faceing each other), interest (by curving towards object of interest), tiredness (by drooping) and sexual arousal (by slow writhing). Andorians often point their antennae at potential mates to signify attraction, in fact the most erotic caress or intimate kiss among Andorians involves the touching of the tips of their antennae together. Antennae are considered to be more than just a sensory organ, in fact they are so important to Andorians that touching them without permission is considered to be the ultimate act of rudeness and any threat of injury to their antennae is considered grounds for assault and murder.

The Andorian digestive system can not tolerate chocolate.

Andorians are neither nocturnal or diurnal and can function just as well at any time of the day or night. In fact they can easily survive on 3 to 4 hours of sleep during a standard 32 hour Andorian day.

The remarkable blue color that everyone has come to associate with the Andorians is due to a [[MA:protein|protein]] dye called HZB-41 that is very similar to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin melanin] in [[human|humans]]. This [[MA:protein|protein]] dye is produced by almost every form of animal life on their homeworld. The dye has a very short life span and as such Andorians need to constantly replace this [[MA:protein|protein]]. The most common method is through their diet.  

When an Andorian becomes ill their skin coloration tends to fade. This is because their [[MA:immune system|immune system]] is fighting off the illness and can not produce enough dye to maintain their normal skin color.

*This [[MA:UNited Federation of Planets|Federation]] member-race was the subject of some kind of gender-swapping joke by [[MA:Quark|Quark]] but [[MA:Morn]] was slow to catch; the punchline was "and the Andorian says, 'Your brother? I thought it was your wife!"