- "The Leerans were amphibians. They could travel in water or on land, although they built their cities underwater. But the terrifying thing was that the Leerans possessed limited but very real psychic powers."
- ―Ax
Leerans are a sentient aquatic amphibious race from the planet Leera.
Physiology
Leerans are an aquatic amphibious race described as looking like giant yellow frogs. They have four tentacles for arms, large green eyes, big flipper feet, and a head that slopes back into a rounded node. Leerans naturally possess advanced psychic powers and are able to read the minds of creatures within a few yards of themselves.[1] Additionally, like most amphibians, Leerans are able to regenerate lost or damaged portions of their bodies. At one point, a pair of Leeran-Controllers (in a moment where their Yeerks panic and lose some control) ask the Animorphs to bite off the brain lobe at the back of their heads (while the Animorphs were in shark morph) to free them from the Yeerks that currently controlled them. At first the Animorphs did not want to do this as they believed that it would kill the host Leerans, however the Leerans reassured them that it is safe and that they would not die.[2]
The Leerans worship a god called Cha-Ma-Mib. Leeran speech appears to be composed entirely of monosyllabic words, each consisting of two letters. However, as they speak, the listener can hear (or feel) the meaning that is being conveyed, as is usual with thought-speak; however, Leeran thought-speak goes even deeper than that, and Leerans are also able to sense emotions, as well as thoughts that other beings do not "say."[2]
Originally, Leerans needed to go on land to mate, but technology now makes that unnecessary.[2]
Leeran-Yeerk Conflict
- "Leeran-Controllers would be able to see past morphs and into the mind inside. It would be impossible to fool them for long. And if Leeran-Controllers were ever brought to Earth, their powers would soon reveal the truth of the Animorphs."
- ―Ax
Leera, the Leerans' homeworld, is a planet mostly covered in water and is home to huge variety of underwater life. Most of the planet is covered in water, but there is one small continent and a few islands here and there. The Leerans make their homes underwater of the coast in huge lavish cities. The oceans of Leera are as clear as air; one can see for miles in any direction.[2]
The Leerans adaptability and advanced psychic powers makes them very desirable Yeerk hosts. However, their telepathy also makes it impossible for the Yeerks to invade the Leera secretly and silently as they have done on Earth. For this reason the Yeerks intended to genetically modify hammerhead sharks with brains large enough to be infested to serve as underwater shock troops on Leera. Visser One was personally overseeing this project and brought several Leeran-Controllers to Earth with her.[1]
While attempting to shut down the Yeerks' underwater research facility where they were enhancing the hammerhead sharks, the Animorphs had their first encounter with Leeran-Controllers, but generally managed to stay far enough away from the Leerans to ensure that their secrets were kept. One Leeran-controller attempted to inform Visser One that she was facing a human during a confrontation between Visser One and an 'Andalite Bandit', but fortunately the 'bandit' in question was Marco in his gorilla morph; Visser One assumed that the Leeran-Controller had made a mistake and was judging the other being based on his current shape, buying Marco time to take the Leeran out before it could explain itself. A Leeran-Controller subsequently saved Visser One when the base was destroyed.
Later the Animorphs accidentally travel to Leera, where they are influential in aiding the Andalites and Leeran forces in ending the Yeerk occupation of Leera by ensuring the destruction of the only Leeran continent after the Yeerks had landed their forces on it en masse, the Leerans being perfectly happy underwater and their technology having advanced to the point that they would have no need for the continent for such activities as laying eggs. During their time on Leera Jake, Marco, Cassie and Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill also acquired Leeran morphs to pass through a Leeran city after freeing a group of Leeran-controllers from their Yeerks by literally biting the Yeerk out.[2]
Leeran terminology
- Bright Hole: Leera's volcanic past created large, underground bubbles in the rock that contain phosphorescent minerals and bio-organisms.
- Cha-Ma-Mib: The only known god of the Leerans. (They are one of only two alien species shown in the series to have a religion, the other one being the Hork-Bajir). Mentioned in The Decision.
- City of Worms: A large Leeran city. It resembles a giant, multi-colored shell full of holes for entrances. Its name is derived from the fact that hundreds of giant, electric-blue eels constantly swim around the city.
- Leera: The Leeran homeworld. It is mostly covered with water, aside from a single continent (now destroyed) and a few islands.
Morphing
Acquiring
- "I reached and pressed my hand against a Leeran's slimy yellow flesh."
- ―Ax
Jake, Cassie, Marco and Ax acquired Leeran morphs in The Decision, in order to get into the City of Worms undetected.[2]
Usage
While stranded on Leera, Jake, Cassie, Marco and Ax were granted permission by four Leerans, whom they freed from Yeerk control, to acquire and morph them in order to get to the City of Worms without raising suspicion. While in Leeran morph, the Animorphs discovered that they could reach other's minds, although to their relief they discovered that they could turn the ability off. Due to the snapback effect that these morphs are no longer usable.[2]
Known Morphers
Appearances
- The Escape
- The Warning (mentioned)
- The Underground (mentioned)
- The Decision
- The Departure (mentioned)
- The Reunion (mentioned)
- The Familiar (hallucination/flashback)
Trivia
- Cassie once said that her mom's marine biologist friend would cut off her arm to spend an hour in Leera's oceans.
- A few Leeran children are a part of the Evolutionist Front in The Familiar.
