Sarrian

The Sarrians are a sapient species native to the hellish world of Sarr; a small planet in close orbit around a huge blue star. As a result, their biology is based on an alternative biochemistry that only works under extremely hot temperatures (by Human standards).

Biology
Sarrians breathe gaseous sulfur and drink copper sulfate, both of which are naturally cycled by their planet's biosphere, similarly to how oxygen is cycled on Earth.

Physically, Sarrians are quasi-humanoid bipeds. Their legs have three joints, and they have two pairs of tentacles serving as arms. They are slightly shorter than the average Human, have flat nose-less faces and two eyes that move independently from each other.

Curiously, despite having an extremely different metabolism, they are also susceptible to the addictive effects of the Earth plant tobacco (which obviously becomes a gas in their environments).

Culture and society
Sarrians appear to be a generally peaceful people with strong scientific curiosity, although criminal activity is known to exist in their society as much as in any other.

Although a spacefaring species, Sarrians are not fully familiar with the diversity of alien life, and are particularly surprised to find that life based on water is even possible. They view Earth as an uninhabitable "iceworld", although the word is a translation liberty since "ice" is obviously not part of their daily experience; "solid sulfur world" would be a more literal translation of how they think of the planet.

Appearances

 * Iceworld, by Hal Clement (1951)