Tribble
Encyclopedia
Tribbles are fictional asexual animals in the Star Trek
universe who first appeared in the episode titled "The Trouble With Tribbles". They are depicted as small, soft, and gentle, and as producing a soothing purr
ing sound. These traits are said to endear them to most sentient races which encounter them, with the notable exception of Klingon
s, who consider tribbles to be "mortal enemies" of the Klingon Empire, as stated in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
episode "Trials and Tribble-ations".
While appearing in only four episodes and briefly in three of the Star Trek movies, they are one of the most popular and well-known species featured in the Star Trek universe, fairly well known even to casual followers of the series. In 2006, two tribble props from "Trials and Tribble-ations" were auctioned for US $800 to $1,200.
The expression "multiplying like tribbles" has also become commonplace in the context of science fiction or technology.
A family of proteins which have a variety of roles, including involvement in the control of the cell cycle
in the fruit fly
, was named after these fictional animals.
According to Star Trek canon, tribbles are native to the planet Iota Geminorum IV. They are essentially small bundles of fur with no visible external features. The fur of live-action and animated tribbles ranges from solid white to grey, speckled light to dark brown, yellow to reddish orange, and black. According to Leonard McCoy's
dialogue their only two purposes in life appear to be to eat and to reproduce, and they perform both of these functions exceptionally well. McCoy concludes that tribbles use over fifty percent of their metabolism for reproduction and that they are born pregnant. A creature that was genetically engineered to hunt tribbles is introduced in the animated episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles".
, in The Trouble With Tribbles: the Birth, Sale, and Final Production of One Episode mentions that after the episode was aired, people asked him if tribbles were inspired by the flat cats of Robert A. Heinlein
's novel, The Rolling Stones
, which are a similar small, fuzzy creature.
The concept is an old one that predates even the Heinlein novel, since it is central to the story "Pigs Is Pigs
", which was very popular from its first publication in 1905 and beyond.
The name for the creatures was originally "fuzzies," but in order to avoid confusion with the H. Beam Piper
novel Little Fuzzy, Gerrold brainstormed some nonsense words, arriving at "tribble" almost at random.
series and movies, arranged here in their order of production:
television
episode "The Trouble With Tribbles." The episode was written by David Gerrold
, and the original tribble props were designed by Wah Chang
and, according to Gerrold, made by Jacqueline Cumeré.
A human
named Cyrano Jones (acted by Stanley Adams
), a small-time merchant, introduced the tribbles to Captain Kirk's
crew.
Spock
, who is half-Vulcan, explains that the species is not endearing to Vulcans
as they see no useful purpose for tribbles. However, he is caught petting one while claiming, "Fortunately, I am... immune to its effects."
From Klingons, though, tribbles have what appeared to be a mutually allergenic effect; when Jones approached him with one, the Klingon Korax (actor Michael Pataki
) yelled, "Get out of here with that PARASITE!" Later, this same mutual negative reaction unmasks Arne Darvin (actor Charlie Brill
) as a surgically-altered Klingon who had tried to ruin the Sherman's Planet Development Project.
(also known as The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek) episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles
." This time, the tribbles Cyrano Jones brings had been genetically altered so they would not reproduce when fed, but instead simply grow larger. David Gerrold
, who also wrote this story, originally pitched it for the third season of Star Trek: The Original Series
, but it was rejected by the producer Fred Freiberger
who apparently hated the comedic elements that some writers had included in certain episodes.
In this episode, the crew of the USS Defiant
encounter tribbles when they accidentally travel back in time and participate in the events of "The Trouble With Tribbles."
Worf
reveals that tribbles were hunted down and exterminated by the Klingon
Empire; specially trained warriors were sent to kill every tribble in existence, and an armada of Klingon vessels obliterated the tribble's home world, planet number IV of the Iota Geminorum
star system. Klingons are unique among Star Trek's races in their extreme hatred of the creatures as "an ecological menace." The feeling was apparently mutual, because tribbles emit a loud shrieking noise instead of their normal soothing purr in the presence of Klingons. Deep Space Nine
Security Officer Odo, amused by the irony of the fierce Klingons hunting the gentle tribbles, dryly remarked, "Another glorious chapter in Klingon history. Tell me, do they still sing songs of 'The Great Tribble Hunt?'" A number of tribbles were brought back to Deep Space Nine from the past, and the species was re-established, undoing the Klingon Empire's efforts to bring about the extinction
of the tribble.
with tribbles has never been established in canon. Chronologically speaking, the earliest known appearance of tribbles was in the 2003 Star Trek: Enterprise
episode "The Breach" (which takes place in 2152) in which Doctor Phlox
uses them as food for his medicinal pets in Sick Bay. Hoshi Sato
, a human, sees a tribble being utilized by Phlox. Phlox remarks that their populations would be out of control if it was not for the planet's high reptilian populations.
visits the bar.
Enterprise
-D
.
's desk at the Starfleet outpost at Delta Vega.
and as a weapon (transported to the enemy's ship to multiply there and fill it) in Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates
. In Star Trek Online
, tribbles are used as a healing device by petting them while on away missions. Tribbles can also be fed and bred to create rare tribbles with unique abilities.
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
universe who first appeared in the episode titled "The Trouble With Tribbles". They are depicted as small, soft, and gentle, and as producing a soothing purr
Purr
A purr is a sound made by all species of felids and is a part of cat communication. It varies between cats , and from species to species, but can be characterized as a tonal buzzing. Domestic cats purr in a frequency of 25 to 150 vibrations per second...
ing sound. These traits are said to endear them to most sentient races which encounter them, with the notable exception of Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
s, who consider tribbles to be "mortal enemies" of the Klingon Empire, as stated in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
episode "Trials and Tribble-ations".
While appearing in only four episodes and briefly in three of the Star Trek movies, they are one of the most popular and well-known species featured in the Star Trek universe, fairly well known even to casual followers of the series. In 2006, two tribble props from "Trials and Tribble-ations" were auctioned for US $800 to $1,200.
The expression "multiplying like tribbles" has also become commonplace in the context of science fiction or technology.
A family of proteins which have a variety of roles, including involvement in the control of the cell cycle
Cell cycle
The cell cycle, or cell-division cycle, is the series of events that takes place in a cell leading to its division and duplication . In cells without a nucleus , the cell cycle occurs via a process termed binary fission...
in the fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
, was named after these fictional animals.
Physiology
Leonard McCoy
Leonard "Bones" McCoy is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series, McCoy also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books,...
dialogue their only two purposes in life appear to be to eat and to reproduce, and they perform both of these functions exceptionally well. McCoy concludes that tribbles use over fifty percent of their metabolism for reproduction and that they are born pregnant. A creature that was genetically engineered to hunt tribbles is introduced in the animated episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles".
Inspiration
David GerroldDavid Gerrold
Jerrold David Friedman , better known by his pen name David Gerrold, is an American science fiction author who started his career in 1966 while a college student by submitting an unsolicited story outline for the television series Star Trek. He was invited to submit several premises, and the one...
, in The Trouble With Tribbles: the Birth, Sale, and Final Production of One Episode mentions that after the episode was aired, people asked him if tribbles were inspired by the flat cats of Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
's novel, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones (novel)
The Rolling Stones is a 1952 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein....
, which are a similar small, fuzzy creature.
- Look — I thought I was telling the “rabbits in AustraliaRabbits in AustraliaIn Australia, rabbits are a serious mammalian pest and are an invasive species. Annually, European rabbits cause millions of dollars of damage to crops.-Effects on Australia's ecology:...
” story. When rabbits were first introduced to Australia, they multiplied at an incredible rate because there were no predators or natural enemies to keep them in control. It was an ecology story — and a spaceship is the perfect setting for it because a spaceship must be a balanced ecology.
- When it came to designing the creatures though, I had to be simple — they had to be easy to build; they had to be cheap, and they had to be believable. We wouldn’t want to use rabbits for the story — we wanted something … well, gimmicky. We needed a science fiction animal. …
- I had to think — what would be easy?
- Holly ... Sherman had a key ring attached to a ball of pink fuzz. The more I looked at it, the more obvious it became. ...The ease with which a fluff ball could be manufactured made it a natural candidate.
The concept is an old one that predates even the Heinlein novel, since it is central to the story "Pigs Is Pigs
Pigs Is Pigs
Pigs Is Pigs is a story by American writer Elis Parker Butler, first published in 1905.Pigs Is Pigs may also refer to:*Pigs Is Pigs , a 1937 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon...
", which was very popular from its first publication in 1905 and beyond.
The name for the creatures was originally "fuzzies," but in order to avoid confusion with the H. Beam Piper
H. Beam Piper
Henry Beam Piper was an American science fiction author. He wrote many short stories and several novels. He is best known for his extensive Terro-Human Future History series of stories and a shorter series of "Paratime" alternate history tales.He wrote under the name H. Beam Piper...
novel Little Fuzzy, Gerrold brainstormed some nonsense words, arriving at "tribble" almost at random.
History
Tribbles have appeared in several instances in the Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
series and movies, arranged here in their order of production:
Original series
Viewers first saw tribbles in the 1967 Star Trek: The Original SeriesStar Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
episode "The Trouble With Tribbles." The episode was written by David Gerrold
David Gerrold
Jerrold David Friedman , better known by his pen name David Gerrold, is an American science fiction author who started his career in 1966 while a college student by submitting an unsolicited story outline for the television series Star Trek. He was invited to submit several premises, and the one...
, and the original tribble props were designed by Wah Chang
Wah Chang
Wah Ming Chang was a Chinese American designer, sculptor, and artist. He is known primarily for his sculpture and the props he designed for Star Trek , including the tricorder, and communicator...
and, according to Gerrold, made by Jacqueline Cumeré.
A human
Human (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek science fiction universe, Humans/Terrans are one of the races undertaking interstellar travel. Human beings were instrumental in the founding of the United Federation of Planets...
named Cyrano Jones (acted by Stanley Adams
Stanley Adams (actor)
Stanley Adams was an American actor and screenwriter.-Career:Born in New York City, Adams had his first film role in 1952, when he played the bartender in the movie version of Death of a Salesman...
), a small-time merchant, introduced the tribbles to Captain Kirk's
James T. Kirk
James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
crew.
Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
, who is half-Vulcan, explains that the species is not endearing to Vulcans
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
as they see no useful purpose for tribbles. However, he is caught petting one while claiming, "Fortunately, I am... immune to its effects."
From Klingons, though, tribbles have what appeared to be a mutually allergenic effect; when Jones approached him with one, the Klingon Korax (actor Michael Pataki
Michael Pataki
Michael Pataki was an American character actor.-Early life:Pataki born in Youngstown, Ohio. He attended the University of Southern California with a double major in Political Science and Drama...
) yelled, "Get out of here with that PARASITE!" Later, this same mutual negative reaction unmasks Arne Darvin (actor Charlie Brill
Charlie Brill
Charlie Brill is an American actor.His first motion picture was in The Beast of Budapest. He also appeared in Blackbeard's Ghost, The Amazing Dobermans and Off the Wall....
) as a surgically-altered Klingon who had tried to ruin the Sherman's Planet Development Project.
Animated series
Tribbles returned in the Star Trek: The Animated SeriesStar Trek: The Animated Series
Star Trek: The Animated Series is an animated science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe following the events of Star Trek: The Original Series of the 1960s...
(also known as The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek) episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles
More Tribbles, More Troubles
-Plot outline:While the USS Enterprise escorts two robot cargo ships carrying quintotriticale, a new seed grain, to famine stricken Sherman's Planet, it encounters a Klingon battlecruiser pursuing a Federation scout ship...
." This time, the tribbles Cyrano Jones brings had been genetically altered so they would not reproduce when fed, but instead simply grow larger. David Gerrold
David Gerrold
Jerrold David Friedman , better known by his pen name David Gerrold, is an American science fiction author who started his career in 1966 while a college student by submitting an unsolicited story outline for the television series Star Trek. He was invited to submit several premises, and the one...
, who also wrote this story, originally pitched it for the third season of Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
, but it was rejected by the producer Fred Freiberger
Fred Freiberger
Fred Freiberger was an American film and television screenwriter and television producer, with a career spanning four decades including The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Star Trek, and Space: 1999...
who apparently hated the comedic elements that some writers had included in certain episodes.
Deep Space Nine
In "Trials and Tribble-ations" the Deep Space Nine characters were edited into scenes from different episodes of the original series cast.In this episode, the crew of the USS Defiant
USS Defiant
The USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
encounter tribbles when they accidentally travel back in time and participate in the events of "The Trouble With Tribbles."
Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
reveals that tribbles were hunted down and exterminated by the Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
Empire; specially trained warriors were sent to kill every tribble in existence, and an armada of Klingon vessels obliterated the tribble's home world, planet number IV of the Iota Geminorum
Iota Geminorum
Iota Geminorum is a Class G9, fourth-magnitude star in the constellation Gemini. It is called by the proper name Propus, meaning "forefoot" in Latin....
star system. Klingons are unique among Star Trek's races in their extreme hatred of the creatures as "an ecological menace." The feeling was apparently mutual, because tribbles emit a loud shrieking noise instead of their normal soothing purr in the presence of Klingons. Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
Security Officer Odo, amused by the irony of the fierce Klingons hunting the gentle tribbles, dryly remarked, "Another glorious chapter in Klingon history. Tell me, do they still sing songs of 'The Great Tribble Hunt?'" A number of tribbles were brought back to Deep Space Nine from the past, and the species was re-established, undoing the Klingon Empire's efforts to bring about the extinction
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
of the tribble.
Enterprise
The date of first contactFirst contact (science fiction)
First contact is a common science fiction theme about the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrial life, or of any sentient race's first encounter with another one....
with tribbles has never been established in canon. Chronologically speaking, the earliest known appearance of tribbles was in the 2003 Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
episode "The Breach" (which takes place in 2152) in which Doctor Phlox
Phlox (Star Trek)
Phlox is a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, played by John Billingsley.Dr. Phlox is the chief medical officer aboard the starship Enterprise.-Overview:...
uses them as food for his medicinal pets in Sick Bay. Hoshi Sato
Hoshi Sato
Hoshi Sato , played by Korean American actress Linda Park, is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise....
, a human, sees a tribble being utilized by Phlox. Phlox remarks that their populations would be out of control if it was not for the planet's high reptilian populations.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
A few tribbles make brief reappearances at a table when Leonard McCoyLeonard McCoy
Leonard "Bones" McCoy is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series, McCoy also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books,...
visits the bar.
Star Trek Generations
Tribbles can be seen during the evacuation of the U.S.S.USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
-D
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
.
Star Trek (2009 film)
A tribble can be seen purring in a cage on Montgomery ScottMontgomery Scott
Montgomery "Scotty" Scott is a Scottish engineer in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by James Doohan in the original Star Trek series, Scotty also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Relics", and in numerous...
's desk at the Starfleet outpost at Delta Vega.
Video games
Tribbles are used as a form of trade in the computer game Star Trek: Armada IIStar Trek: Armada II
Star Trek: Armada II is a real time strategy computer game published by Activision in 2001, based upon the Star Trek universe. The game was developed by Mad Doc Software. It is the sequel to Star Trek: Armada. Star Trek: Armada II was released by Activision a year after they acquired the full...
and as a weapon (transported to the enemy's ship to multiply there and fill it) in Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates
Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates
Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates is a stand-alone expansion for the computer game Star Trek Starfleet Command II: Empires at War designed by Erik Bethke. The game adds eight separate playable pirate cartels based on the Orion Pirates, who had been frequently fought throughout the earlier games. It...
. In Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online, often abbreviated as STO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios based on the popular Star Trek series created by Gene Roddenberry. The game is set in the 25th century, 30 years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis...
, tribbles are used as a healing device by petting them while on away missions. Tribbles can also be fed and bred to create rare tribbles with unique abilities.
See also
- Wah ChangWah ChangWah Ming Chang was a Chinese American designer, sculptor, and artist. He is known primarily for his sculpture and the props he designed for Star Trek , including the tricorder, and communicator...
- Crystal CavesCrystal CavesCrystal Caves is a trilogy of side-scrolling platform games, developed and published by Apogee Software, released on 23 October 1991. The three episodes have the titles "Troubles with Twibbles," "Slugging it Out" and "Mylo Versus the Supernova."...
- Flat cat
- ShmooShmooA shmoo is a fictional cartoon creature. Created by Al Capp , it first appeared in his classic comic strip Li'l Abner on August 31, 1948, and quickly became a postwar national craze in the USA....
- Tribbles (game)Tribbles (game)Released in 2000 by Decipher Inc., Tribbles is a customizable card game designed around the fictional tribble creatures of the Star Trek television series. While this game is not playable with most cards from the Star Trek CCG, this pre-constructed game could be expanded by collecting the tribbles...
- Parasprites