Xindi - Aquatic The Xindi - Aquatics were a non - humanoid race that evolved to living underwater . They were one of the six original species of Xindi , with whom they shared a common gene tic ancestry . Overview . Unlike the Reptilians and the Insectoids , the Aquatics were complicated and enigmatic and were known to over - analyze , taking an excruciatingly long period of time to come to decisions ; they once took six days just to agree to attend a specific meeting of the Council . However , the Aquatics ' prudence was at times what kept the Council from breaking apart , which is why Degra had them build the weapon . ( ) They responded better to visual stimuli and were extremely suspicious of the spoken word . They admired boldness and confidence and treated hushed tones with suspicion . In 2154 , one of their representatives to the Xindi Council was Kiaphet Amman ' sor , a member of the extremely wealthy Ibix Dynasty . She wielded considerable power within the Xindi hierarchy . ( ) Physiology . The Aquatic females were larger and had rougher skin than the males who were more slim and had smoother skin . Females had a more humanoid - looking face , whereas male faces were rounder . They had slit - like irises in their eye s and were capable of seeing far better , underwater , than humanoids were . Aquatics had three fingers on each forelimb , ending in short fingernail - like claws , with webbing in - between for easier swimming . Their skin was a greenish shade and had blotches of olive . Like all Xindi , they had a fold at the top of their cheekbone . They had tails for maneuverability and their hind limbs were fins . Language . Xindi - Aquatic communication was highly complex and , since the Aquatics were underwater beings , they did not use their mouths . When using the past tense , they switched to SONAR . ( ) Aquatics learned the Human language in 2154 in order to communicate with that species . ( ) History . During the Great Diaspora in the 2030s , the different Xindi species engaged in a civil war that ended with the destruction of their homeworld . The Xindi - Aquatics , like all the Xindi , had to colonize other worlds in order to survive . Thanks to the Guardians , they were able to find habitable worlds . The Xindi were then taught to think of the Guardians as god - like beings . In the 2140s , the Guardians warned the Xindi Council that , unless they destroyed Earth , the Human s there would destroy their future homeworld . The Aquatics were originally against the building of such a weapon ; however , they changed their minds after the Guardians presented a visual record of their future world ' s destruction . They eventually agreed to create it and were assigned to build the Xindi weapon , because they were the most level - headed and efficient . The weapon was built underwater on Azati Prime . ( ) In late 2153 , they agreed to the launch of a miniature prototype weapon , which killed seven million people on Earth . This led to the Humans sending into the Expanse to stop the weapon . Throughout the following year , the Council monitored their advancement , as the Reptilians and Insectoids suggested alternate ways of exterminating the Humans . At the Council meetings , the Aquatic councilors were often the more balanced and level - minded members , suggesting that they continue monitoring them instead of sending a fleet to destroy them right away . ( ) In 2153 , after finding the location of the weapon , Captain Jonathan Archer , of the Earth ship " Enterprise " , tried to use the Insectoid shuttle to get into the weapon and destroy it , but was captured before he could do so . While he was away , the Xindi - Reptilian s and Insectoids opened fire on " Enterprise " , nearly destroying it . ( ) Degra didn ' t trust Captain Archer , but couldn ' t let go of the possibility that he was telling the truth that the Guardians manipulated the Xindi . In early 2154 , after the Xindi Council ordered the Reptilians to cease their attack on " Enterprise " , Degra had the Aquatics , the only ones he could trust , transport Archer back to " Enterprise " . After he briefly regained consciousness aboard their vessel , he was put in an escape pod and left adrift for " Enterprise " to find . ( ) The Aquatics finally decided to help the Humans , when " Enterprise " promised to destroy the Sphere network . As a result , the Aquatics sent several of their ships with " Enterprise " , the Arboreal s and the Primate s , in their concerted effort to fight the Reptilians and the Insectoids . Ultimately , most of their fleet was defeated when the Sphere - Builders triggered the spheres to create massive anomalies , which breached the hulls of the Aquatic ships , releasing water into space . After the destruction of the Xindi weapon , an Aquatic cruiser towed the " Enterprise " back to Earth . ( ) Technology . Although Xindi - Aquatics attended the meetings of the Xindi Council in a large , they also had ships of their own . The Xindi - Aquatic ships were the most powerful and largest of the Xindi races , but compared to Primate and Insectoid ships , they were among the slowest and least maneuverable . Aquatic starships had to have every compartment filled with water for its crew . However , there was at least one room that could be used to house a humanoid and filled with breathable air , and that had a window to water for Aquatics to talk with them . ( ) The largest of their cruisers resembled huge Terran manta rays and were large enough to comfortably accommodate an vessel in its aft cargo hold . They were extremely powerful in comparison to those of other Xindi , destroying several Reptilian and Insectoid ships with ease at the final battle against the Xindi weapon . It was only because of the immense anomaly field that they were disabled . The Aquatics were the inventors of the biometric hologram , which was used to train Xindi surgeons . The Xindi Council chambers were also fit with biometric holograms , as they were used to project viewscreens and images of Human physiology for use in the creation of a bio - weapon , as attained by Rajiin . ( ) Appendices . Background information . When Executive Producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga were deciding on which species should comprise the Xindi , they found selecting aquatics to be an easy choice . According to Braga , this was " because – just thinking about Earth – you can imagine sea mammals possibly evolving to a higher intelligence . " Furthermore , the executive producers decided that the Xindi - Aquatics , like the Xindi - Insectoids , would be computer - generated characters ( the fact they were was noted in the final draft scripts of and ) . ( ) Precisely how to depict the Aquatics at first represented a puzzle . Executive Story Editor André Bormanis offered , " " That was one of those things that , you know , conceptually seemed like , ' Well , wait a minute . How are we gonna pull this off ? You know , we ' re not gonna be able to see these guys very often because it ' s gonna be a very expensive effect . ' But , you know , they found a way to [ do ] it . " " ( audio commentary , ENT Season 3 Blu - ray special features ) Instrumental to the design process was some conceptual artwork created by Visual Effects Producer Dan Curry . " " I first did some sketches that looked like a cross between a mermaid and the ' Creature from the Black Lagoon , " " he observed . After receiving constructive feedback on these illustrations from Berman and Braga , Curry proceeded with the design , taking inspiration from wildlife . " " I went back , looked at different sea creatures and was inspired by an aquatic reptile called a ' . " " ( ) Accounting for this inspiration , Curry noted , " " I wanted something that had that kind of prehistoric look , but I made it mammalian rather than reptilian . " " ( " " , issue 65 , p . 10 ) He continued , " " Instead of having it be four - flippered – and knowing that our alien aquatics have a technological culture , which means they must have hands , opposable thumbs and manipulate machines – I took a mosasaurus body from the armpits down , changed the tail structure somewhat and the rear flukes , and gave it arms – but arms more like a whale fluke for swim and guidance , assuming propulsion would be primarily from its tail . " " ( ) Explaining why the Aquatics had to look like they could operate technology , Curry elaborated , " " Since it ' s a sentient species it was important to me that it looked intelligent . The other Xindi species had to be able to relate to it and respect it . If it didn ' t look wise it would be sushi ! " " ( " " , issue 65 , p . 10 ) After Curry made several changes to the Xindi - Aquatic body that differentiated it from that of a Mosasaurus , attention turned to the face of the Aquatic . " " Then we gave it more of a Xindi face – more smooth in a way , partway between a whale and a reptile , " " Dan Curry pointed out . ( ) The emphasis on creating the Aquatics as intelligent - looking creatures helped shape the design of their faces ; Curry took inspiration from animals he regarded as having this quality , including whales , dolphins and elephants , the latter of which he had worked with while living in Thailand . Considering how elephants influenced the facial design of the Aquatics , Curry reckoned , " " I think that led us to a kind of - like skin texture and the way the eyes are set . " " More specifically , the designers repositioned the Aquatics ' eyes from being on the sides of the head , where many sea creatures ' eyes are also set , to a forward - looking position . " " Moving the eyes forward so it has stereoscopic vision helped with that sense of wisdom here and it also gives it a little bit more of an anthropomorphic quality . " " ( " " , issue 65 , pp . 10 - 11 ) Eventually , Dan Curry illustrated another concept drawing to show precisely what he planned . This was signed off by the executive producers without them requesting any further changes . From there , the concept was taken to CGI vendor Eden FX . ( " " , issue 65 , p . 11 ) The magazine " " ( issue 65 , p . 11 ) credited modeler David Morton with the modeling of the Aquatics and animator Eric Hance with the computer - generated rigging that allowed the creatures to be animated . However , Doug Drexler ' s blog stated it was CGI Animator Sean Scott who modeled the Aquatics , with additional assistance from Morton . credited Morton for texturing both genders of the species and Scott for animating the CGI model of the female Aquatics . While texturing the Xindi - Aquatics , David Morton mainly looked at dinosaurs , but also took cues by studying the makeup for the Xindi - Reptilian s . " " We tried to keep a lot of the shadowing , the detail and the wrinkling around the eyes , " " stated Morton . Of the male Aquatic , he said , " " I didn ' t want the male to look like a ' happy turtle , ' but he didn ' t need to be " too " scary : I just wanted a sense of giving him some timeless age – and a bit of an orangutan look around the face , even though he ' s a lizard . " " ( ) Dan Curry commented , " " Dave ' s [ . . . ] [ Aquatic ] facial textures made a huge difference and gave it a feeling of intelligence . Using those textures , giving the skin the proper amount of crenellations and folds and the way the gills move . That was Dave ' s artistry . " " ( " " , issue 65 , p . 11 ) The producers concluded that the Aquatics should behave in a certain manner . Sean Scott explained , " " They were very insistent that the Aquatics didn ' t ' act ' so much as that they ' spoke and floated . " " ( ) Dan Curry recollected , " " We didn ' t want it to move like an excited guppy . We looked at research on tails and stuff but mostly I think I just went in and mimed how I wanted it to move ! " " ( " " , issue 65 , p . 11 ) Finding an effective means to portray the Aquatics talking turned out to be a challenge . " " We had to have it where they would talk , but we didn ' t want a mouth that would open and close : we felt it would look silly underwater , " " recalled Dan Curry . " " So [ Supervising Producer ] Peter Lauritson had the idea that we would make the gill area behind the cheeks expand and contract , as if somehow it could force water through membranes the way hadrosaurus would force air through their crests , or the way certain species of frog will use their throats to generate sound . " " ( ) Inserting appearances of the Aquatics into episodes was hugely expensive . " " I remember the discussions and the production meetings about how many seconds each shot [ of the Aquatics ] would be , [ . . . ] because , you know , [ . . . ] you paid for the computing time , " " Co - Executive Producer Chris Black recollected . " " [ It ] was hundreds or thousands of dollars an hour for someone to sit at a computer and animate these things and you had to be really judicious about it . " " Nonetheless , there was a lot of reuse in the footage of the Aquatics . " " They ' re like a GIF ; they would just sit on a little loop and you would cut back at them , " " continued Black , " " but even burning them in [ replacing blue screen which had been used during production ] , I remember , cost money . " " ( audio commentary , ENT Season 3 Blu - ray special features ) Very little was used to substitute the Aquatics while filming proceeded . " " They had , like , a big fish bowl where they told you what was in it , " " remembered Degra actor Randy Oglesby . " " I don ' t think there was anything in it but you just learned that was your point of focus and you had something to look at and then you just imagine , you know , what somebody ' s saying the lines of , off - camera , and you ' re able to hear and focus on that . " " ( " In a Time of War , Part Three : Final Conflict " , ENT Season 3 Blu - ray special features ) At one stage , Archer actor Scott Bakula expressed approval of the physical design engendered by the Aquatics , enthusing , " " I do love the look of them . " " ( ) The Aquatics ( in common with the Insectoids ) were also highly praised though considered to be " kinda weird " by Consulting Producer David A . Goodman and Director David Livingston , the latter of whom remarked , " " I like the fish . " " ( audio commentary , ENT Season 3 Blu - ray special features ) For Chris Black , seeing the Aquatics in their underwater habitat , such as in , always slightly reminded him of the Guild Navigators from " Dune " , which are likewise shown lurking in murky tanks . André Bormanis approved of the look of the Aquatics , admitting a " love " of their appearance and saying they look " great . " Black concurred , " " It does look great , and especially considering how far the technology has advanced since then . " " Bormanis agreed with this viewpoint . ( audio commentary , ENT Season 3 Blu - ray special features ) Dan Curry regarded the Aquatics as having " beautiful facial textures . " He went on to say , " " The final version [ of the Aquatics ] is a tribute to those great animators . " " ( " " , issue 65 , p . 11 ) Brannon Braga was likewise happy with the depictions of the Aquatics , stating , " " I liked the way we used the Xindi - Aquatics . " " ( ) Braga also once joked that , instead of having had the Xindi - Primates befriend the " Enterprise " crew , " it ' s kind of a shame " that the Starfleet officers " couldn ' t befriend the fish people . " However , he then went on to say , " " That would have been too expensive . " " ( " The Xindi Saga Begins " , ENT Season 3 DVD special features ) Braga was also impressed with the Xindi - Aquatic cruiser . ( ) Apocrypha . In the chronology set out by the Pocket Books ' series of novels , the Xindi - Aquatics were not the first aquatic species depicted as peacefully co - inhabiting a planet with another species and being encountered by the NX - class " Enterprise " . In the novel " By the Book " ( set in 2151 ) , " Enterprise " encounters a water - faring alien race called the that share a with a species known as the . The novelization of and ( entitled " " ) refers to the lights being dimmed in the Xindi Council ' s inner sanctum , the room lit only by graphics from a cartographic presentation , as being " in deference to the aquatic members of the group . " This suggests the Xindi - Aquatics had some sight difficulty , either in general or merely outwith their watery surroundings , or preference for darkness when viewing displays external to that environment . In the same novelization , the Aquatics are referred to as having been the first , from an evolutionary perspective , of the Xindi to have gained intelligence . The book also states that their development as a relatively peaceable society was a result of not being land - based and that the Aquatics insisted on political representation " only when the land - based [ Xindi ] races began to despoil their waters . " A later statement explains , " " Aquatic politics were based on equality and consensus , a concept foreign to the land - based species . " " The novelization also describes the Aquatics as rarely speaking and having " soft , translucent dorsal fins , " which flowed " delicately above them " while they made rapid turns , and " pale , moon - shaped and - colored faces , " beneath which were bubble - producing gills . There was , apparently , no clear physical distinction between the members of the species , with no way to tell the males apart from the females .