Klingon
- Appearance: Mammalian; dark skin, forehead crest, prominent spinal ridges, sharp incisors; on average taller, larger than humans
- QuchHa' minority resulting from modified Qu'vat virus look near-identical to humans
- QuchHa' population reached several million by 2165, but was treated and reverted to HemQuch majority by end of 23rd century (ENT Novel: Live by the Code; TOS Novel: Forged in Fire)
- QuchHa' minority resulting from modified Qu'vat virus look near-identical to humans
- Lifespan: over 150 years (DS9: "Blood Oath")
- Homeworld: Qo'noS
- Low tolerance for cold (DS9: "Change of Heart"; VOY: "Displaced")
- Biological notes
- Magenta blood (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; DIS)
- Multiply redundant biological systems (TNG: "Ethics")
- Two livers, three lungs, eight-chambered heart, redundant neural functions (TNG: "Ethics")
- No tear ducts (VAN Novel: Reap the Whirlwind; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
- Still capable of producing something akin to tears (TNG: "Birthright, Part II"; DS9: "Sons of Mogh")
- Eye lubrication possibly relies on something akin to the Harderian gland given that evolutionary ancestor of Klingons seems reptilian, although this is also not unheard of in mammals (e.g., elephants)
- Keen sense of smell as compared to Humans (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
- Children mature quickly (cf. Alexander)
- Technological notes
- Most Klingon designers tend to work from established, proven designs and expand or improve rather than produce entirely new fundamental foundations (VAN Novel: Summon the Thunder)
- Part of reasoning for basic Klingon ship design being essentially unchanged from 23rd to 24th century
- Most Klingon designers tend to work from established, proven designs and expand or improve rather than produce entirely new fundamental foundations (VAN Novel: Summon the Thunder)
- Cultural notes
- Klingon calendar
- Klingon faith
- Klingon language
- Klingon food
- Originally generally caste-based (ENT: "Judgment")
- c.2100, domination of warrior caste of government, society led to general dissolution of the caste system (ENT: "Judgment")
- Focus on warrior precepts permeated general society, leading to warrior lifestyle seen as ultimate goal
- In core territories, other castes largely viewed in terms of ability to contribute to military goals
- Outside core territories, caste system held less strength previously, little changed (KE Novel: A Burning House)
- c.2100, domination of warrior caste of government, society led to general dissolution of the caste system (ENT: "Judgment")
- Rituals
- vIt 'Iw tay (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
- For those whose biological origins are in doubt, six different warriors will use their personal d'k tahgs to prove they are truly Klingon (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
- Created by High Council following start of deep-cover infiltration by Imperial Intelligence (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
- Commonly applied during Dominion War as a defense against Founder infiltration, though no Founders were uncovered (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
- web'ghIm (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
- Punishment for a member of ones House who has committed a great dishonor (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
- vIt 'Iw tay (TNG Novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace)
- Combat traditions
- Concepts
- batyay'a (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
- Grants a conqueror exclusive dominion over those who they conquered (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
- batyay'a (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
- Martial arts
- Mok'bara (Various)
- Per legends, dates back to the days of Kahless (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: The Edge of the Sword)
- Mok'bara (Various)
- Weapons
- Bat'leth (Various)
- Curved, two-pointed, pointed blade
- d'k tahg (Various)
- One-handed weapon with retractable blade covered by folding hand guards
- mek'leth (Various)
- Two-pronged, one-handed combat blade
- mevak (TOS Novel: The Captain's Oath; DS9: "Sons of Mogh")
- Traditional means of ending the life of another honorably (DS9: "Sons of Mogh")
- Tip of blade divided in two
- One extinguishes the physical life, the other frees the soul to Sto-vo-kor (Designer notes)
- qutluch (TOS Novel: The Captain's Oath; TNG: "Sins of the Father")
- Traditionally a weapon of assassination (TNG: "Sins of the Father")
- tajtik (The Klingon Art of War; TOS Novel: The Captain's Oath)
- Bat'leth (Various)
- Concepts
History
- 2016: First contact with Vulcans, leading to decades of war (ENT Novel: A Choice of Futures; DIS: "The Vulcan Hello"; TNG: "First Contact")
- April 2151: First contact with Humans; Broken Bow, Earth incident (ENT: "Broken Bow")
- November 2154: Qu'vat virus leads to creation of QuchHa' minority class in contrast to HemQuch majority (ENT: "Affliction")
- Early 2290s: Cure discovered for Qu'vat virus; QuchHa' cease to exist. Their former existence is largely denied or kept quiet with outsiders from this point forward. (TOS Novel: Forged in Fire; DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")