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by Izkata 2079 days ago
For Star Trek, in-universe this happened at least twice. The relevant episodes are TOS 2x22 Return to Tomorrow [0] and TNG 6x20 The Chase [1].

VOY 3x23 Distant Origin [2] also in-universe establishes convergent evolution is very likely to create humanoids (makes no reference to the other two episodes, as far as I remember, but it's kinda wishy-washy in that it could be highly likely because of the two progenitor species).

That said, there's plenty of non-humanoid aliens. Off the top of my head: Q, the Tholians, the Caretaker's species, the two aliens from TOS 2x01 Catspaw (shown to be tiny and kinda birdlike in the final scenes), and Species 8472.

[0] https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Return_to_Tomorrow_(epi...

[1] https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Chase_(episode)

[2] https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Distant_Origin_(episode...

2 comments

I know some people don't like Enterprise, but it IS in-universe, so lets not forget ENT 1x05 Unexpected [0].

I kid; I know you said "at least".

[0]https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Unexpected_(episode)

Oh, I was referring to progenitor seeding specifically. In terms of interbreeding, there's a few more prominent ones: Spock, B'Elanna Torres, and Alexander Rozhenko and B'Elanna's daughter (who are respectively 3/4 human and 1/4 human, showing there likely isn't an infertility problem like with mules [0]).

(Though I admit that the ENT example was certainly unique in the differing biologies)

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mule#Fertility

Dangit I changed the order of "Alexander Rozhenko" and "B'Elanna's daughter" to make it clear they're not related, and forgot to switch the 3/4 and 1/4. Alexander is 1/4 human.
Thanks for this. Definitely curious. (Your comment is so much better than what one could have quickly searched).

Sometimes real constraints (eg costuming/budgets/etc) can result in really clever explanations that strengthen the storytelling/worldbuilding.