Ferengi

• Appearance: Mammalian
  • Orange to bronze skin
  • Large skull with prominent brow ridge
  • Visibly hairless
  • Large ears
    • Male ears much larger than female
  • Averaging around four feet tall
• Homeworld: Ferenginar
  • Major offworld populations: Throughout the Ferengi Alliance
• Biological notes
  • Distantly related to Dopterians (DS9: "The Forsaken")
  • Four-lobed brain structure (TNG: "Menage a Troi"; DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)
    • Results in resistance to many, but not all, forms of telepathy (TNG: "Menage a Troi", "The Loss"; DS9: "The Forsaken")
  • Incredibly sensitive hearing
    • Frequency response range much wider than most humanoid species (DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)
• Cultural notes
  • Ferengi faith
  • Ferengi language
  • Ferengi food
  • Children (of any species) generally referred to as "grubs" (TTN Novel: Taking Wing)
  • Society largely based on extreme capitalism directed and (minimally) regulated by the Alliance
    • General laissez-faire approach to capitalistic endeavors
  • Those who don't operate under a capitalistic framework known as "val-effs", or "value frauds" (DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)
    • Especially applies to the Federation or other socialistic, currency-free economies (DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)
  • Society and business both guided by the Rules of Acquisition
  • Coming of age traditions
    • At about age 18, following the completion of their Attainment Ceremony, Ferengi males are expected to purchase an apprenticeship from a suitable role model (DS9: "Heart of Stone")
    • Following the completion of their apprenticeship, they sell off all childhood possessions to obtain a starting stake in business (DS9: "Little Green Men"; SCE Short Story: "Caveat Emptor")
      • Coming of age traditions likely apply to Ferengi female children as well following planetary reforms of 2375
  • Traditional greeting consists of touching wrists together with hands apart, fingers curled into the palm (DS9: "Business as Usual"; DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)
  • Guests to a person's home are expected to pay admission of one slip of latinum, in addition to signing a waiver acknowledging responsibility of any missing property (DS9: "Family Business")
    • When greeting a guest, traditional call and response: (DS9: "Family Business")
      • "My house is my house."
      • "As are its contents."
  • Common sayings
    • "Ears open, eyes wide" (DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)
      • Be wary about trusting customers (DS9 Novel: The 34th Rule)