Gedd
Encyclopedia
Gedds are a species of aliens
in the Animorphs book series. They evolved on the same planet as the Yeerk
s. The Gedds are a primate
-like species, with terrible vision and bad motor skills. They served as the first host
s for the parasitic Yeerks.
Gedds are described as being like 3 foot (0.9144 m) yellow-eyed monkeys. For no coherent biological reason, the Gedds evolved with one leg significantly shorter than the other, restricting them to an inefficient limp. Compared to humans, they are slow, weak, and nearly blind, but they are capable of accepting a Yeerk, they are numerous enough to be infested (relatively) easily, and offer a young Yeerk the magic of vision.
Gedds and Yeerks evolved together naturally, and at some point, Gedds became the species Yeerks first learned to control as hosts. When the first Andalite
s arrived on the planet they were aware of the Yeerks' use of Gedds, but Prince Seerow, leader of the mission, felt this symbiotic relationship was understandable considering the Yeerks' weak natural forms. The books are not quite clear on the exact intelligence level of the Gedds, i.e., whether or not they can be considered sentient, although #6: The Capture
describes a Gedd as having feeling both fear and bewilderment, as well as having a name. As described in the Andalite Chronicles, Gedds are easily intelligent enough to speak Galard, although they find this physically difficult, and often lengthen (or even add in) Rs to their speech.
Gedd-Controllers were used in the founding days of the Empire, when, armed with knives, clubs, and a single Andalite handheld Shredder
they slaughtered two dozen Andalite warriors and seized the Andalite ships stationed on the Yeerk homeworld to fly into the night. In these early days, any Yeerk considered important enough to have a Gedd host was considered very fortunate, but by the time the main events of the series took place, Gedd-Controllers were very low-level, as better hosts, such as Hork-Bajir and humans, were available.
Extraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
in the Animorphs book series. They evolved on the same planet as the Yeerk
Yeerk
Yeerks are a fictional extraterrestrial species from the book and television series "Animorphs" written by K. A. Applegate and published by Scholastic.-Biology:...
s. The Gedds are a primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
-like species, with terrible vision and bad motor skills. They served as the first host
Host (biology)
In biology, a host is an organism that harbors a parasite, or a mutual or commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment and shelter. In botany, a host plant is one that supplies food resources and substrate for certain insects or other fauna...
s for the parasitic Yeerks.
Gedds are described as being like 3 foot (0.9144 m) yellow-eyed monkeys. For no coherent biological reason, the Gedds evolved with one leg significantly shorter than the other, restricting them to an inefficient limp. Compared to humans, they are slow, weak, and nearly blind, but they are capable of accepting a Yeerk, they are numerous enough to be infested (relatively) easily, and offer a young Yeerk the magic of vision.
Gedds and Yeerks evolved together naturally, and at some point, Gedds became the species Yeerks first learned to control as hosts. When the first Andalite
Andalite
The Andalites are a fictional alien race of grazers in the Scholastic book series Animorphs.-Biology:The Andalites are fictional aliens from the book series and TV series Animorphs....
s arrived on the planet they were aware of the Yeerks' use of Gedds, but Prince Seerow, leader of the mission, felt this symbiotic relationship was understandable considering the Yeerks' weak natural forms. The books are not quite clear on the exact intelligence level of the Gedds, i.e., whether or not they can be considered sentient, although #6: The Capture
The Capture (Animorphs)
The Capture, published in 1997 and written by K.A. Applegate, is the sixth book in the Animorphs series. It is narrated by Jake. The Capture is due to be re-releasd by Scholastic in March 2012.-Plot summary:...
describes a Gedd as having feeling both fear and bewilderment, as well as having a name. As described in the Andalite Chronicles, Gedds are easily intelligent enough to speak Galard, although they find this physically difficult, and often lengthen (or even add in) Rs to their speech.
Gedd-Controllers were used in the founding days of the Empire, when, armed with knives, clubs, and a single Andalite handheld Shredder
Andalite terminology
A compilation of Andalite terminology used throughout the Animorphs series.*Andalite Homeworld: The name of the native planet of the Andalites is not given in the series, and is simply referred to as the Andalite homeworld. It possesses more than one sun, which gives its sky a red-gold hue, and the...
they slaughtered two dozen Andalite warriors and seized the Andalite ships stationed on the Yeerk homeworld to fly into the night. In these early days, any Yeerk considered important enough to have a Gedd host was considered very fortunate, but by the time the main events of the series took place, Gedd-Controllers were very low-level, as better hosts, such as Hork-Bajir and humans, were available.