Crotonite

Crotonites are a sapient, spacefaring species which flies on large wings and thrives in atmospheres that are considered poisonous by other races.

Biology
Crotonites are small predatory bat-like creatures with six limbs, consisting of a pair of stubby legs, a pair of slender arms with clawed didactyl hands, and a pair of membranous wings, much larger than the rest of their bodies. Their heads are narrow, with a curved bony crest on top, beady bright-orange eyes, and an elongated chin. They have no teeth. Their bodies are covered in silver-grey or brown fur. Their eyelids blink from below.

Crotonites inhabit warm worlds with thick atmospheres rich in ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. They spend most of their lives airborne, feeding on smaller creatures that they capture in mid-flight. They only eat live prey. For cultural reasons, they refuse to eat anything without wings.

Crotonites have two brains, consisting of a cephalic brain that processes cognition, and a much larger additional brain inside the thorax, which handles less sophisticated body functions. Their respiratory system is unconnected to their digestive tract, meaning that they can't choke on food. They are oviparous, and have a natural lifespan shorter than that of Erthumoi. The presence of alcohol in their blood makes them resistant to freezing by preventing damage caused by the crystallization of water. Like Erthumoi, Crotonites sleep and experience dreams. Their eyes produce tears as an emotional response.

Culture and society
Crotonites are nomads, with no permanent cities. They make nests in trees and build temporary settlements out of twisted fibers. Their psychology is considered unpredictable compared to other races, and even potentially dangerous, due to their xenophobic hate of everything wingless. They only prey on animals with wings and refuse to consume meat from wingless species. They don't even bother to hide their disgust and contempt for the wingless sapients, and refer to them with undignified terms such as "groundcrawlers", "mud-lickers" or "land-slugs".

Appearances

 * "They Hide, We Seek", by Robert Silverberg (1990)
 * "The Diplomacy Guild", by David Brin (1990)
 * "Myryx", by Robert Sheckley (1990)
 * "The Burning Sky", by Poul Anderson (1990)
 * "Island of the Gods", by Harry Turtledove (1990)
 * "Mecca", by Allen Steele (1991)
 * "Thirty Pieces", by Harry Turtledove (1991)
 * "Phases in Chaos", by Hal Clement (1991)
 * "The Soul of Truth", by Karen Haber (1991)
 * "Winging It", by Janet Kagan (1991)
 * "The Reinvention of War", by George Alec Effinger (1991)
 * "Breakups", by Harry Turtledove (1992)
 * "One Man's Meat", by Lawrence Watt-Evans (1992)
 * "Fighting Words", by Janed Kagan (1992)
 * "Water of Life", by George Alec Effinger (1992)
 * "Liquid Assets", by Rebecca Ore (1992)
 * "Unnatural Diplomacy", by Karen Haber (1992)
 * Fossil, by Hal Clement (1993)
 * Murder at the Galactic Writers' Society, by Janet Asimov (1995)