The Ceti Eel appears in the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. It is the only indigenous lifeform of Ceti Alpha V known to have survived after Ceti Alpha VI exploded and sent Ceti Alpha V into a different orbit. Ceti eels incubate their larvae between protective plates that line their backs. The slime-covered larva will seek out a larger animal, enter its skull through the ear and wrap itself around the cerebral cortex. This causes the subject intense pain and makes them very susceptible to suggestion. As the larva grows, the host suffers from insanity and eventually, death.
Khan Noonien Singh and his followers were marooned on this planet by James T. Kirk. Khan's wife, Marla McGivers, was killed after becoming a host for one of these creatures. Twenty more of Khan's people were killed in the same fashion, forming the basis for Khan's vendetta against Kirk. In the film, Captain Clark Terrell and Commander Pavel Chekov were captured by Khan while conducting a close-range sensor scan on the planet. Khan put the larvae into their helmets, where the creatures crawled into the men’s ears and subsequently burrowed into their brains. Terrell later killed himself, but Chekov's larva exited his ear and was disintegrated by a phaser-blast from Admiral Kirk's phaser.
- In popular culture
The educational site AntlionPit refers to the ceti eel as a terrifying creature, and states that it unmistakably resembles an antlion larva.[1]
Plastic toys of ceti eels have been made in full size, and in miniature for sale with Khan dolls.[2] Original castings of the movie prop are also available.[3]
- ↑ Antlions in popular culture
- ↑ Novelties and Toys by Federation Models, and Collectibles - Star Trek II Wrath of Khan at MillionairePlayboy.com
- ↑ Ceti Eel Casting movie props