Their appearance is similar to a floating spheroid with a filamentous trunk (which appears to be made of a web of tendrils) hanging downwards. They also have what appears to be a pair of glowing eyes and a pair of flat nostrils. The Melkots are powerful telepaths, able to create elaborate illusions which affect even other telepathic species (such as Vulcans). They consider other species as "disease", seeing them as dangerous and belligerent. Alien ships which enter Melkotian territory are given a single warning to withdrawn.