Sheliak
The Sheliak were an intelligent non-humanoid classification R-3 lifeform whose homeworld was located in the Shelia star system. They were warp-capable and their governing body was called the Sheliak Corporate.

Unlike most humanoids, the Sheliak preferred to exist in an environment that was the same temperature as that of their bodies. () 

Similar to dealings with other non-humanoid races, the Federation struggled to deal with the Sheliak, due to a lack of a common point of reference. The Sheliak considered the Federation's languages irrational, and while they had learned several Federation languages, the Sheliak language eluded the Federation. Even telepaths had tried to communicate with the Sheliak without success. Furthermore, the Sheliak considered Humans lower lifeforms and held no compunctions about eradicating a Human "infestation".

Despite these difficulties, the massive Treaty of Armens was signed between the two powers. The Sheliak insisted on a level of complexity in the treaty which would eliminate ambiguity, as they considered Federation language to be "irrational". Three hundred and seventy-two Federation legal experts were sent to draft the treaty. In the treaty, the  ceded several class H worlds to the Sheliak. 

In 2366, the Sheliak decided to colonize one of their planets, Tau Cygna V. Finding a Human colony there, they sent a message to the Federation to remove them, their first attempt to establish contact in one hundred and eleven years. The  received the message and confirmed the presence of the colony. The Sheliak gave them only a few days to relocate the colonists, but logistically that was impossible for the Enterprise. The Sheliak showed no concern for this, and initially refused to grant the Federation any additional time.  Captain Jean-Luc Picard invoked a clause in the treaty that allowed for third-party arbitration, choosing as abritrators a species that was in a six-month hibernation.  Frustrated at the delay but bound to the treaty, the Sheliak colony ship agreed to wait the three weeks Picard asked for to evacuate. () The Sheliak colonists referred to themselves as "the Membership".

People 
 Sheliak director

See also 
 Sheliak language
 Sheliak colony ship

Background information 
According to an internal reference document, listing all the aliens seen in , which was circulated around the time of the production of TNG Season 5, the Sheliak were given the description of "a technological, non-humanoid lifeform of classification R-3, in appearance a wrap of black, mucous-secreting folds appearing as at least a head."

Tau Cygna V was saturated with hyperonic radiation, making it a class H world and one of the worlds ceded in the Treaty of Armens.  Although it is possible that the Sheliak intended to terraform the planet for their needs, the episode suggests that hyperonic radiation was of no concern to their biology.

In Melinda Snodgrass' original draft of the script for "The Ensigns of Command", the Sheliak were instead named the "Hrathan". 

While Data specified the term "Sheliak" to be plural, the Treaty of Armens also at one point referred to them in plural as "Sheliacs".

In a blooper from "Starship Mine", Brent Spiner, as Data, stated, "There is only one way to measure the body temperature of the Sheliak and, uh, I can't say it in mixed company." ("Gag Reel", TNG Season 6 Blu-ray special features)

External link
 

de:Sheliak
es:Sheliak
Species