The Tessma are a humanoid civilization native to the planet Tessmata IV in the Alpha Quadrant. They are notable for their red eyes, bronze-colored skin, and ridged brows. In the mid-2230s, a Tessma diplomatic delegation to Trill accidentally discovered a new opening into the Caves of Mak'ala. The Trills' intense reaction and protective attitude toward the symbionts living in the caves lead to a diplomatic rift between the two races (see: wikhov'na pan'tisha). (DS9 - The Lives of Dax short story: "Old Souls")