Yridian The Yridians were a warp - capable race from the Yridian homeworld in the 24th century . They were regarded as information merchants and smugglers , and were generally considered devious and untrustworthy . ( ; ) Physiology . Yridians were humanoid s who were usually bald , others had black or brown curly hair . They had wrinkled skin . They also had large rodent - like pointy ear s but small eye s and nose s . All Yridians had an indented ridge running across the full length of their heads and extending down their nose . Most Yridians had no thumbs , and possessed only four fingers on each hand . History and politics . It was not known if the Yridians had a central government . The Yridians encountered by the Federation appeared to be loosely aligned and concerned with their own interests , often serving as hired agents for other races and operating as groups or individuals . ( ) They were often unwilling to reveal information they collect without payment . Despite their reputation , the Yridians were often seen on space stations and planets within Federation space . ( ; ) However , the shady dealings of some Yridians earned them arrest warrants issued by governments such as the Klingon Empire ( ) and their trading goods were often confiscated . ( ) " In an alternate timeline the first Human encounter with this race took place during the 2160s when explorers found notes about the Yridians in the Vulcan database . " ( ) At some point before the 2360s , the Federation believed that the Yridian race went extinct . This disappearance was so total that it even convinced the Borg , who designate the Yridians as Species 6291 , that the species was no longer in existence . However , Rudolph Ransom , a Starfleet exobiologist , discovered that there were some still alive and carried out first contact . This act directly led to his promotion to the rank of captain . ( ) After this point Yridians were encountered throughout Federation space . A group of Yridians learned of the research of Dr . Richard Galen sometime prior to 2369 . The Cardassian Gul Ocett purchased the information they had obtained , and the Yridians later attacked Galen ' s shuttle to steal further data . Their ship was destroyed by the before it could return to the Cardassians with its findings . ( ) In 2370 , Starfleet caught Yridians acting as a third party , shipping weapons from the Cardassians to Bajoran extremists . ( ) A group of Yridians bought magnesite ore , stolen from a Pakled mining colony in the Kalla system , from the Duras sisters in 2370 . ( ) The Yridians were known to be targets of Maquis raids in late 2370 as Starfleet put together a Yridian convoy as lure for a Maquis attack . The convoy of six ships left Deep Space 9 for the Demilitarized Zone , destined for Cardassian space , carrying a supply of isomiotic hypospray s , plasma flare s and quarantine pod s . ( ) An unnamed Yridian had dealings with Elim Garak , and in 2371 Garak identified the Yridian as someone who would want him dead . ( ) Two Yridians used a gravimetric scanner to cheat on Quark ' s dabo table in 2373 . ( ) An Yridian worked for Quark in 2373 . ( ) In early 2374 , during the Dominion occupation of Deep Space 9 , an Yridian was seen in Quark ' s . ( ) Culture . A Yridian called Paltriss created several rings , later known as the Rings of Paltriss . They became extremely valuable and , as such , were removed from the Yridian homeworld over time . In 2370 , Quark came into possession of forty - two of them . ( ) The Yridians exported several beverages to the Federation , Klingons , and Ferengi , including Yridian tea , Yridian ale , and Yridian brandy . ( ; ) The Yridian yak was also well known . ( ) Technology . The Yridians operated their own design of starship , used as both a destroyer and as a freighter . ( ) Others were known to operate small warp - capable shuttles . ( ) Appendices . Background information . While known to be hailed from a world only explicitly described as the Yridian homeworld , the species might be connected to Yridia or the nearby Yridia Nebula . has previously been established as the name of their planet in the DS9 novel " Hollow Men " . A Yridian was briefly considered as a regular character on . ( " " , p . 177 ) According to the script for " Accession " , the species name was pronounced as " yir - ID - ee - uhn " . The Yridians might possibly hail from the star Yridia ' s system . Apocrypha . In " Star Trek Online " , the Yridians are a minor non - playable race . They are currently in game as opponents in a few missions , or as crew on the player ' s ship .