my hot take cardassian headcanon is that they aren’t reptiles (as someone who has owned and cared for reptiles).
1) they don’t get impaired by heat or cold! sure, it’s canon that they prefer warmer temperatures, but reptile sensitivity to temperature is far greater than what we see in canon.
2) they can breed with Bajorans without medical intervention— that means bajorans, who are definitely mammals, have more genetic proximity to Cardassians than humans have to Vulcans.
3) natima lang’s boobs. need i say more?
so my theory is that cardassians are mammals with scales, like pangolins.
✨ Cardassians but iridescent like birds feathers and their unifoms out of Anodized titanium. ✨
This is inspired by how Garak describes Cardassians.
Saying that Romulans are dull and gray compared to Cardassians + Describing their neck ridges as having evolved for fighting + Saying Gul Dukat had the longest neck of any Cardassian.... So I decided to exagerate all of those things.
While I'm working on a new oil painting it's time to post some old sketches. And since winter holidays are coming... So introducing Dukat enjoying traditional Earth winter stuff.
I love that Star Trek went out of their way to establish that Cardassians love making choose your own adventure novels that kill their enemies just in case they're out of office but someone needs murdered