M-113 salt creatures

M-113 salt creatures are an alien race featured in the Star Trek television franchise. They were introduced in the seson one episode of the original Star Trek series, "The Man Trap".

M-113 salt creatures, commonly referred to as "salt vampires", are bipedal life forms approximately 1.5 meters tall. They are indiginous to the planet designated M-113. Their mottled skin is covered in thick, course hair. They have two fingers and an opposable thumb on each hand, with suckers on the interior of each fingers. They have two toes on each foot. The salt vampires are exceptionally strong and their upper limits are enough to challenge even the physical strength of a Vulcan.

History
At some point in M-113's prehistoric past, these creatures numbered in the millions. By the mid 23rd century however, they were all but extinct. One surviving salt creature was discovered by the husband and wife team of Robert and Nancy Crater in the 2261. Nancy was killed by the salt creature and Professor Crater never recovered from her death.

In 2266, the crew of the USS Enterprise sent a landing party to M-113 to check on Professor Crater's status. The salt vampire, which was also a shape-shifter, murdered several members of the landing party and managed to sneak back aboard the ship.

Notes & Trivia

 * The concept behind the M-113 salt creatures was developed by director Marc Daniels and writer George Clayton Johnson based on concepts originally developed by Gene Roddenberry.


 * "The Man Trap" was adapted by author James Blish in the novel Star Trek 1.


 * The M-113 salt creature was represented in the Star Trek: The Collector's Edition magazine/CD-ROM series by GE Fabbri.


 * Other shape-shifters represented in the Star Trek mythos include the Chameloids, whom Captain James T. Kirk encountered on Rura Penthe in 2293, as well as the Changeling race featured in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who is most often represented by the character of Odo.