Minbari - Biology

Biology

The Minbari are humanoid in appearance. Unlike humans, Minbari are generally bald; however, some males are capable of growing facial hair. They have light-toned skin and a large external bone crest on the back of their heads. Minbari have ears similar in shape to human ears, but smaller and located just above the neck on each side of the head. Minbari have a longer life span than humans do, living as long as 120 standard Earth years and, in some cases, even longer.

The Minbari sense of taste is not as developed as that of human beings but they have a more acute sense of hearing. Because of this weak sense of taste, Minbari prefer hot, spicy foods. Minbari do not drink beverages containing alcohol because it affects their systems in such a way that causes psychosis and homicidal rages, even in small amounts. Minbari also have a lower tolerance for hot and humid weather than humans, due to their race having evolved on the seventh planet of the Minbar Solar System, where one-quarter of the planet's surface is dominated by the Northern Polar ice cap.

The notable bone crest structure on the back and sides of their head is an extension of their skull. Minbari are born with smooth heads; the bone crest grows over time. Female Minbari have a smooth bone crest which tapers to a single point at the back of the head; males typically have crests which taper to several points along the bone, although smooth bones crests among males (especially from the worker and religious castes) are not uncommon. Interestingly Warrior Caste females are known to have "masculine" headcrests, as seen with the males of their caste.

The Minbari physically have more stamina than humans, and can sustain injuries that would be fatal to a human. They are physically stronger than humans, as demonstrated by Lennier lifting a human male by the neck with one arm in one episode. Their headbone protects their cranium and brain from impacts that would be fatal to other races. Minbari can also tolerate a much greater blood loss than humans can. Dr. Franklin of Babylon 5 theorized that this was one of the reasons why the Minbari were so successful in the Earth-Minbari War - they could survive injuries and battle wounds that would kill or incapacitate a human, and they could keep fighting longer than most human soldiers could.

The Minbari reproduce sexually, in a manner similar to that of humans; their sexual anatomy is also similar to that of humans. As a rule, Minbari do not mate outside of their species, believing that it would disrupt their racial purity. However Ambassador Delenn married former Earthforce Captain John Sheridan (later President of the Alliance), and their union produced a son, David. This would normally be impossible, as Minbari and humans are not genetically compatible, but Delenn's transformation into a Human/Minbari hybrid, in addition to the fact that she was a descendant of the "Minbari not of Minbari" (Jeffery Sinclair, former CO of Babylon 5, who went into the past and was transformed himself into a Human/Minbari hybrid - Valen) made it possible for her and Sheridan to have a child together.

As with Humans and most other sentient species in the Babylon 5 universe, a small percentage of the Minbari population are telepaths. They seem to be evenly divided among all three castes, though most of them are expected to live as part of the Religious caste from birth. For Minbari, telepathy is seen as a gift from the Universe, and telepaths are highly honored in Minbari society.

A million years in the future, the Minbari will eventually evolve to First One status, as do the humans ("The Deconstruction of Falling Stars").