Transformer
The Transformers are a species of robots (mostly) originating from the planet Cybertron.
Though this is the most common term for them, there are others, mainly "Cybertron" as a reference to any being whose origin traces back to the planet in question (the adjective form being "Cybertronian").
The name Transformer stems from the species' generally-shared ability to "transform," to change from a robotic primary mode (usually, but not always, humanoid) into an alternate form, generally vehicles, weapons, machinery, or animals. In some continuities this abillity to transform is innate to all members of the species, in others it was a wartime innovation that was adopted by most, but not all, Cybertronians.
Biology
Physical construction
Transformers are living beings, despite their (usually) mechanical bodies. Many continuities portray this life as being granted by a soul-like spark.
Traditionally, Transformers are fully-mechanical beings, but by the Beast Era of the Generation 1 continuity family synthetic flesh has become increasingly incorporated into their construction, often to aid in disguise or survival on worlds inhabited by organic lifeforms. (A version of this technology had been introduced earlier with Pretender Transformers, though in that instance the sythetic flesh was a removable outer "shell").
In the era of Beast Machines, events lead to true organics being infused into Transformers biology down to the cellular level, making them "technorganic" with an increased range of powers resulting. (The "ParasiTech" techonolgy introduced in the Generation-1-based Kiss-Player series seems to have an organic component to it as well.)
Sizes
Transformers are generally large in comparison to Earth lifeforms, (two or three times the height of a human seems to be about average, though depictions vary wildly even for the same character), but a Transformer can be much, much smaller or much, much larger. There are some small enough to fit in a human's palm (see Browning). While the Micromasters and Mini-Cons are two groups whose size range is within normal human standards at a time when most Transformers are larger, human-sized appears to be the norm for Transformers altogether in the Beast Era. Others can be a good deal larger, like the colossal city-bots Metroplex or Fortress Maximus (the latter depending on the continuity). In the Cybertron series, the planet Gigantion is populated by both extremes: robots who tower over "normal"-sized Transformers, aided by their tiny Mini-Con partners.
Variance in form
While many Transformers possess a "humanoid" form with two arms, two legs and a head atop their torso, it is not uncommon at all for there to be extensive variations. Some Transformers do not have a "humanoid" mode at all, rather their "primary" form is that of an animal or vehicle. Generation 1's Ravage, Grand Slam and Raindance, for example, or the Beast Wars Mutants.
Some have unconventional limbs, their hands (or whole arm) replaced with tools, claws, weapons, or some other form of manipulator (like a beast-mode's head!). Some Transformers' lower bodies feature digitigrade legs, or wheels/treads instead of feet, or no discerable separate legs at all. Some even have more (or less!) than the normal number of limbs altogether. This design style became much more common in the Beast Era (Beast Wars Quickstrike and Beast Machines Thrust, for example), and is also common among the Mini-Cons, but Generation 1 is not without its examples (like Shockwave, Scorponok, and Octus).
Transformers' faces also run the gamut of design, from looking like a metal human in a helmet, to faces that can only be described as robotic (again, like Generation 1 Shockwave, whose face consists of little more than a single glowing eye) or animalistic (again, the Beast Era). The Mini-Cons are also notable for more commonly having non-humanoid faces.
The existance and appearence of Female Transformers in most continuities seem to suggest a level of "sexual" dimorphism to the species as well (the term sexual is used in a gender-based, rather than physical sense, see Reproduction for that whole kettle of robo-fish). In almost all cases female Transformers are portrayed as more gracile of form and more rounded and curved in general, often with a more than passing resemblance to an attactive metal human female wearing armor and kibble. There are rare exceptions to this rule (notably Strika and Discharge, though the latter is said to be wearing armor that obscures her true appearence.)
Energy
Unlike humans who need air and water as well as food, generally the Transformer's only major biological need to assure their continued functioning is fuel (though again, even this can vary depending on the fiction). Energon is the most common and prefered form of Transformer fuel, but other alternatives may be substituted if it is unavailable. By the Beast Era, many could ingest organic substances to supplement their fuel needs.
New bodies
It is not uncommon at all for a single Transformer to change bodyform many times across their life-span. The ease of which they can do so depends on the continuity's technology level. In some, changing bodies requires an extensive full-body rebuild and tends to be resource draining and even dangerous. Sometimes, however, all it takes it to transplant their brain or personality program into a compatible new body. Other times, the existing body itself will be "reformatted" on the spot using a scan of a local compatible alt-mode (this is most prevalent during the Unicron Trilogy).
While not entirely 'new bodies' themselves, the Transmetal bodies - caused by exposure to Transwarp quantum surges - somehow 'mutates' the bodies of Transformers in the Beast Era. How this is done on-the-fly with no harm to the Transformer is unknown.
See also
For more information on Transformer biology see:
Culture
The most distinctive facet of Transformers society has been its near-continous state of Civil War.
See also
For more information on Transformer culture see:
Toys
The Transformers were introduced by Hasbro in 1984 with the toyline now known as Generation 1 and have gone through numerous incarnations since, with the latest being Classics.
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