Quote Originally Posted by Flambard D'Quinceteth View Post
I'd like to reiterate that we're not trying to solve a problem here, or get to the bottom of some great mystery. This is simply an interesting little thought experiment.
What are you on about? This is a matter of the highest import! It could have damning consequences for the Federation Klingon alliance.

Or maybe not really, but it is pretty fun to speculate about. I'm still sticking with Mist (or maybe aliens) though. There just doesn't seem to be any other plausible mechanism for this unless we believe several humanoid species all evolved on the same continent at the same time, as well as some evolving on others. That mist must have some strange mutagenic properties. No wonder people try to live above it or avoid it. Otherwise you might have humans born with tails and rats born with no tails. Next thing you know, mutant humans are mating with mutant rats and that's just icky.