Foy

Foys are a species of large alien creatures, described as the highest social class on the planet Sortibakenstreete.

Biology
Foys are large creatures with a gnarled tree-like appearance and a lipless mouth which doesn't move when they speak.

The number five is present in several aspects of Foyan biology. They have five hearts, five bulging eyes located on mobile eyestalks, and need five individuals to reproduce. For reproduction to be successful, the five Foys need to stay in mental contact with each other for the duration of a year.

Foys are biologically immortal, which is believed to be due to some unknown biochemical or physiological peculiarity of their large hearts. They can induce death voluntarily when they lose their will to live, which can happen, in some cases, after a failed attempt at the mental connection necessary for reproduction.

Culture and society
Foys consider it a taboo to have their bodies dismembered after death (such as to donate an organ), and are also distressed by the idea of dying away from their homeland.

They have a profound admiration for Earth sciences and are known to respect the beliefs and myths of other species.

Appearances

 * "Death of a Foy", by Isaac Asimov (1980)