| Description | Saurian, Bipedal |
| Size | Large |
| Skin Pigment | Green/Brown |
| Hair | None Evident |
| Distinguishing Features | Scaly hide, with small tail. Sharp teeth and small horny growths on head. Their eyes have a faceted covering. |
| Series | TOS: "Arena" |
| Planet of Origin | S'sgarnon |
| Quadrant | Beta (assumed) |
| Background | The Gorn are a strong, hardy race of fierce warriors,
developed a culture that stresses strength, courage, and the natural dominance
of the fittest. The Gorn Alliance is controlled by two Autarchs,
one who represents the Gorn home world and the other who represents the
Gorn colony worlds. No state of war exists between the United Federation
of Planets (UFP) and the Alliance, thanks of negotiations begun after the
initial contact at Cestus III. Peace negotiations have progressed
on Clanhaven, a UFP world close to the frontier. The Frontier Accord
limits the buildup of military shipping in the disputed space, and a joint
commission has been working slowly at designating an agreeable boundary,
though no final agreement has been reached.
Negotiations have progressed slowly because the Gorn are split between those who would negotiate peacefully with the UFP and the "actionist" faction who believe in direct confrontation. Both factions agree on the premise that the Federation must not hinder Gorn expansion and fulfillment of their "Manifest Destiny", but they differ on the methods to be used. |
| Editors Notes | The Gorn evolved on a planet with greater gravity than Earth and with a harsher climate, which accounts for their greater endurance. Most Gorn have a bad (and quick) temper, and can go berserk if enraged. All Gorn are enticed by the smell of blood, and will fight even harder if they 'smell' a kill coming. The preoccupation with is not as strong with them as it is for Klingons and Romulans, but the Gorn prize physical strength and endurance over intellect. Even Gorn engineering is of the 'push hard until it moves' variety. Gorn physiology is not very well suited to speaking other languages. The Gorn tongue is forked, like a snake's, and all "s" sounds will have a hissing property. Gorn have the sharp teeth and claws of their ancestors. Their body is very resilient, and they heal quickly. Their scales give them a form of mild armor plating naturally. |