Otarian

The Otarians are a species native to Otari II.

Biology
The Otarians are a terrestrial species, having evolved from aquatic air-breathing ancestors ten million years ago.

History
Since their rise as a intelligent species, the Otarians have lived at the fringes of Otari II's planetary ecosystem which included a handful of island dwellers, scattered across and ocean world.

In 2320 the Otarians were discovered by the United Federation of Planets. Dr. Ganira Lewis started six years of research on the Otarian people.

On April 30, 2326, the USS Enterprise made a small detour from its course to deliver Ensign Laura Herrada to a scientific outpost on the planet who was replacing a assistant for Dr. Ganira Lewis.

On May 11, 2326, Ensigh Herrada reported the death of Dr. Lewis after an she was killed by the Otarians when she entered their Mating Festival in disguise without authorization from Starfleet. Despite her death, Otarian culture remains pristine but this violation of the Prime Directive caused the outpost on Otari II to be shutdown and Ensign Herrada to be retrieved by the USS Bradbury

Culture
Due to the harsh conditions of their world, few Otarians brave the open sea, where larger faster predators rule. But despite their lowly position on the food chain, the Otarians thrive.

Society
According to Ensign Laura Herrada, Otarian matrilineal societies resemble those of the Dolgari, however Dr. Lewis disagreed believing that the similarities were superficial, holding that the Otarian culture is vastly more complex than the Dolgari.

As stated Otarian society is matriarchal, with land-holding females controlling the villages and their crops. Males are itinerant, living in small trading and hunting groups that roam the archipelagos. The two sexes rarely intermingle, aside from the Mating Festivals.