Basahm

Short for "Big Ass Scary as Hell Monster," a name given to this creature by the original Starfleet survey team to encounter it. The basahm is ten feet tall and five feet wide. Its mouth, which is filled with sharp, pointy teeth, takes up the creatures entire torso. Basahms are nocturnal and practically invulnerable to phaser fire. The original survey team, which Alexander Rydell was on, was able to kill one at phaser setting twelve. Rydell and Lisa Beck faced down a basahm when Lt. James Terris stranded them on Nu Epsilon Twelve. Fortunately, they were rescued before the basahm could make a nice meal out of them. (Star Traks 5 [TRK])