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Memory Alpha

The Mellanoid slime worm was a gelatinous lifeform.

History[]

While taking the Starfleet Academy entrance exam on Relva VII in 2364, Wesley Crusher bumped into a Zaldan named Rondon, who insulted him by calling him a Bulgallian sludge rat and a Mellanoid slime worm. Crusher realized that he was being tested on his ability to interact with other cultures and species, and that the appropriate way for him to respond to a Zaldan was to bluntly confront him. (TNG: "Coming of Age")

In 2383, a Mellanoid slime worm known as Murf was present in the Tars Lamora prison colony. He was taken to the USS Protostar by the Brikar Rok-Tahk. (PRO: "Lost and Found")

Biology[]

Nearly indestructible, slime worms were fond of ingesting random and improbable objects, such as pieces of mechanical equipment or even photon grenades. In the latter case, Murf briefly expanded in size when it detonated before returning to normal size. (PRO: "Kobayashi") The most impressive feat Murf's biology achieved was to safely act as a living containment vessel for an artificial protostar. (PRO: "A Moral Star, Part 1") Slime worms could also survive in the vacuum of space. (PRO: "First Con-tact")

While apparently not sentient, slime worms were able to bond with members of other species and accomplish basic tasks on their behalf. (PRO: "A Moral Star, Part 1")

Murf's cocoon

Murf's coccoon

The worm stage was in fact a distinct juvenile form in the species life-cycle, Mellanoids undergoing metamorphosis at some point after wrapping themselves into a cocoon. (PRO: "All the World's a Stage") As they emerged from their cocoon, Mellanoids then featured a humanoid body shape, with a pair each of arms and legs. (PRO: "Crossroads")

Appendices[]

Appearances[]

  • PRO: Every episode

Background information[]

According to Aaron Waltke, the look of Murf was inspired by Portuguese man o' wars and nudibranchs. [1]

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