Cardassian

The Cardassians were a militaristic, reptilian Alpha Quadrant power who once occupied Bajor and later allied themselves with the Dominion before a crushing defeat that devastated their civilization. Elim Garak arose as a prominent leader during the reconstruction process. (DS9 novel: A Stich in Time)

Physiology
The Cardassian head and torso has an array of prominent ridges which are of cartilage construction and evolved as a defence against predatory attack. These ridges grow more prominent as young Cardassians develope through adolescence. Cardassians are a reptilian species but also have many features common to mammals, there skin is only scaled around there ridges, females have breast like protrusions on there chests and all Cardassians have hair usually in shades of brown, black or purple. Females have a blue colouration in the dip of skin between ridges on there foreheads. (DS9 novel: A Stich in Time)

History
The Federation's first contact with the Cardassian Union was in 2327. Within the next 20 years, peace talks would fail, leading to the Federation-Cardassian War. (novel: Articles of the Federation)

Mythology
Mogrund - A spiky lump of a creature with several red eyes from Cardassian myth – occasionally returns from the spirit world to correct the moral balance of the world. Cardassian children are warned bad behaviour would result in a visit from the Mogrund. (DS9 novel: A Stich in Time)

Other Information
An insult used by at least the Klingons when referring to Cardassians is 'Spoonheads'.