The Tribbles

> *Tribble was the colloquial name for the species with the scientific names Tribleustes ventricosus and Polygeminus grex. Tribbles were small, non-intelligent lifeforms originating from Iota Geminorum IV. Known for their prodigious reproductive rate, these round, furry creatures emitted cooing sounds while touched, which had a tranquilizing effect on the Human nervous system.*
> *--Memory Alpha*
>
>

The tribbles are the most popular creature in Star Trek.A tribble is in shape of a furry ball and is known for its remarkable rate of reproduction.Given enough food,one tribble can reproduce into hundreds and even thousands.However in Short Treks,things are a little bit different.

## CONTINUITY PROBLEMS

**P1** **The Reproduction Rate of the Tribbles**

In canon Star Trek,the tribbles are born pregnant and thus have a remarkable rate of reproduction.And this feature seems to be possessed by the species ever since the beginning of the species.However,in DIS universe,Short Treks:"The Trouble with Edward" to be exact,the tribbles used to have a very slow rate of multiplication before an idiot scientist Edward Larkin modified its genetic structures and made it capable of reproducing at a high rate.

**P2 The Requirement of Food of the Tribbles**

In canon Star Trek,the tribbles need adequate food to grow and reproduce and thus they become a great threat to ships carrying grains.But in SHO,the tribbles seem to be able to live,grow and reproduce even without any food at all!They seem to be fed by air in SHO!

**P3 The Imformation of the Tribbles**

In the remarkable TOS episode "The Trouble with Tribbles", Captain James T. Kirk seems that he has never heard of the species.But from the SHO episode we can know that the tribbles are already known during the 2250s.

## POSSIBLE EXPLAINATIONS

**E1 The tribbles mentioned in SHO and those mentioned in TOS do not belong to the same race.**

This explaination is a little bit farfetched for the tribbles in two series do not only have the same name but also have the same features.However,considering that this is not the first time that ST introduces us two different species with the same name,and the tribbles in SHO could be a subspecies of the ones in TOS,this explaination does have certain chances to be true.Yet,this explaination does not explain P3.

**E2 The Federation covered the event in SHO up and thus there left no records in Starfleet Database about the trbbles.**

This is an explaination trying to explain P3,but still a farfetched one.There is no need for the Federation to cover the event up,and even so there is great difficulty in erasing imformation about a whole species from Starfleet Database.

**E3 The tribbles in SHO are actually a slow-breeding subspecies of the tribble race and the fast-breeding subspecies wasn't known in 2250s,and the genetic modifications Edward made to them made them breed faster and require no food.**

This seems like a more reasonable explaination.And this explaination perfectly explains P1 and P2.

**E4 The tribbles weren't a well-known species in 2260s and Kirk did not bother to search the database when the tribbles were brought aboard in the TOS episode.**

This explaination marvellously explains P3.Though it is doubtful because it would be normal for Kirk to search the database for a creature unknown to him.

## SUMMARY

After consideration,I believe that E3 and E4 can best explain the 3 problems.E1 seems a bit farfetched.And if we accept E2,then the Federation is further more untrustful,and I don't want to see this happen.

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