| Species Information | |
|---|---|
| Horta | |
| |
| Quadrant: | Alpha Quadrant |
| Star System: | Janus |
| Planet: | Janus VI |
| Species Type: | silicon-based lifeform |
| Discovered By: | USS Enterprise |
| Leader(s): | Prime Mother, Janus Parliament |
| Contact: | 2267 |
| Affiliation: | UFP |
The Horta are silicon-based lifeforms native to Janus VI. They are members of the United Federation of Planets.
Physiology
The exterior of a Horta consists of a ruddy or grey-brown rocky carapace which is highly resistant to damage; anything but the highest phaser settings feels like nothing more than a mild irritation to the Horta. Young Horta have been affectionately described as a glittering pan pizza about half a meter high, however a fully grown adult Horta more resembles a rugged, rounded, glittering shape over a meter tall and two meters broad, patched in rough amethyst, tourmaline and ruby; with dark fringes all around.
The carapace is sprayed with a teflon compound when Horta go offworld, as the oxygen environment favored by a majority of Federation species tends to be corrosive after lenghty exposure.
On their underside, Horta have numerous cilia to move about, protected by a ring of fringes growing from the edges of the carapace.
Nutrition
They fed on rock, and thus they were nourished just by tunneling. Horta tunneled through rock like most humanoids walked through air, moving with the aid of an extremely corrosive acid. They left perfectly round tunnels in their wake.