In the Star Trek universe there are dozens of alien races. The series and films were always about exploring space and making contact with new and exotic life forms. The budgets on the original television series were small and makeup artists didn't have much to work with, so when aliens appeared on the show they looked a lot like humans. By the '80s and '90s there was more money to spend and things changed radically. Extraterrestrials were made more realistic and intimidating in some cases. Here is a list of species fans have come to know over the years.
The Bajorans
Apart from their rippled noses, Bajorans were virtually identical to humans. They suffered under Cardassian rule, and when the occupation ended Bajor didn't recover for a long time. Their religious beliefs set them apart from other alien races. To the Bajorans, the Prophets were gods who resided in the wormhole near Deep Space Nine.
The Borg
They elicited fear and loathing from everyone who had encountered them and survived. Borg drones traveled the galaxy looking for new species to assimilate, and it was useless to bargain or negotiate with them. The Federation starship U.S.S. Voyager ran into these cybernetic beings many times in the Delta Quadrant, the region of space from which the Borg originated.
The Cardassians
These reptilian looking aliens were, of course, the looters and pillagers of the Bajoran home world. Cardassians were routinely hostile to the Federation, and allied themselves with the Jem'Hadar during the Dominion War. The legal system on their planet was swift and ruthless. Everyone who had committed a crime was given a guilty verdict before the trial ended.
The Ferengi
They came from a world that was outside the boundaries of Federation space. The Ferengi were obsessed with capitalism, and easily recognized by their large ears and lobed foreheads. Although they weren't belligerent, these ugly beings developed a reputation for dishonesty and cowardice.
The Klingons
Klingons were proud, boisterous and concerned with honor more than anything else. Klingons were once sworn enemies of the Federation, and throughout the Trek franchise they showed little interest in diplomacy. Instead, they preferred to be respected for their combat skills. A favorite weapon was the bat'leth, a curved sword with pointed edges.
The Q
These mysterious beings came from a dimension beyond the known universe. The Q character most widely known to Star Trek fans was played by John de Lancie, and he appeared on ST: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Q loved to show up unannounced and amuse himself by making playful insults and serious threats. Among other things, he had the ability to stop time, travel through time and reverse death.
The Romulans
Although they were related to Vulcans, Romulans lived on a world controlled by a government with fascist tendencies. They were more dangerous than Klingons because they would plot the downfall of an enemy in silence, waiting for the right time to strike. Relations with the Federation were always rather tense.
The Vulcans
Vulcans were green blooded, logical and disciplined in telepathy. They had emotions but learned to suppress them, making them cool and visibly aloof. There were times when humans found Vulcan stoicism irritating.
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