An exoskeleton is an external alternative to the skeleton of most vertebrates. All arthropods (insects, arachnids and crustaceans) have exoskeletons as do many other invertebrates and some species with internal skeletal structures also sport exoskeletons.
Like a skeleton, exoskeletons support the body but also often work as a from of armor.
Most (if not all) insectoid species possess exoskeletons, as do the Ascendants, the Tholians and the Lirin. (DS9 novel: Rising Son; ENT episode: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II"; EV comic: "Our Dearest Blood") The Lirin exoskeleton was composed of chitin. (EV comic: "Our Dearest Blood")
Borg drones also featured exo-plating, which carried out a similar armor function to exoskeletons. (TNG episode: "Q Who?" et al.)
In the 2260s decade, Iotian villagers adapted technology from the crashed New Paris yacht Amadeus Mozart to make an artificial exoskeleton supersuit for orphaned survivor Manfred de Voop. Antigrav technology allowed it to fly up to 700 kilometers per hour, and synthetic musculature enabled it to lift up to five metric tons. It had its own life support within a self-regenerating force field. It was also armed with a stun weapon in each arm and a reconfigured type-1 phaser in the belt buckle. (FASA RPG module: Another Piece of the Action)
Appendices
External links
- Exoskeleton article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Exoskeleton article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.