Dolphin

Harry Bernard's dolphin sculpture

Dolphins were toothed cetaceans native to Earth.

Species of dolphin included the bottlenose dolphin and the pink dolphin. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; ENT: "Fight or Flight")

During the mid-24th century, Starfleet oceanographer Lieutenant Harry Bernard, Sr. was stationed on Zadar IV with his son Harry. They lived on the beach and Harry Jr. often saw dolphins playing in the ocean. They would later be the inspiration for his first attempt at sculpting. (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks")

There were dolphins aboard the USS Enterprise-D. Geordi La Forge showed some of them to Par Lenor in 2368. (TNG: "The Perfect Mate")

In an alternate timeline created by a time traveling USS Enterprise-C, on board the warship USS Enterprise-D, a reference to "Cetacean Ops" was heard in background bridge chatter. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

In 2369, "dolphin" was a word which appeared to be displayed on a medical analysis, seen by Doctor Julian Bashir while suffering the effects of the aphasia virus. (DS9: "Babel")

The dolphins aboard the Enterprise-D were originally to have been referenced in TNG: "Relics". In the first draft script of that outing, Geordi La Forge remarked to Montgomery Scott, "Wait until you see the dolphins." However, that statement, in the final draft of the script as well as the final edit of the installment, became, "Wait until you see the Holodeck." [1]

The Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual indicates that the dolphins were part of the ship's complement, serving as navigational specialists. This would indicate that they are, in fact, a sentient species. They likely operated out of Cetacean Ops.

Dolphins were also mentioned in the song "Heroes", which was used as incidental music in "Children of Mars".

External link

• Dolphin at Wikipedia