A large, white-furred creature with a horn and venomous fangs that lives on the planet Neural, where its bite is usually fatal.
The mugato is a large, ape-like creature native to the planet Neural. It walks upright, has white fur and a ridge of spines along its back, and bears a single horn on its head. Its fangs carry a venom that is lethal to humans unless treated quickly, and it is a dangerous predator to the planet's people.
In the episode A Private Little War, James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy return to Neural, where Kirk once surveyed a peaceful hill tribe. A mugato attacks them, biting Kirk before McCoy kills it with a phaser. The poison nearly kills Kirk, and the Kahn-ut-tu healer Nona saves him with a ritual cure. The incident draws Kirk into the conflict on Neural, where he finds the Klingons are arming one side and decides to supply the other in turn.
The mugato became one of the original series' most memorable creatures, though its costume is often noted as a product of the era. The episode itself is regarded as a commentary on the Vietnam War.