What are the Saiyans?

The Saiyans are a race of aliens from the planet Vegeta. They are born with a monkey tail, and have the property that they become giant apes upon viewing the full moon.

The tail is prehensile (they can sieze or grasp), but is sensitive, and when it is grasped, they become weak. The tail can be removed, which prevents the ape transformation.

With a lot of training, they can become Super Saiyan, where their hair becomes golden and more spikey, and their attacks are more powerful. There is a third level, known as SS3, where their eyebrows disapear, and their hair becomes incredibly long and even more spikey.

Super Saiyan 2 Gohan