Pond (Shakespeare's Planet)

Ponds are a sapient species whose bodies are made entirely out of liquid. All Ponds scattered on multiple worlds are part of a single unified mind centered on their home planet, whose surface is covered by a sapient ocean of Ponds.

Biology
All Ponds everywhere are part of the same superorganism, which can separate portions of itself of any size and keep them in communication with the main body by transmitting periodic telepathic signals, even at interstellar distances. Despite being a liquid, Ponds can turn themselves into a sphere and roll over the ground to move around. The ocean on their home planet regularly detaches individual Ponds to be launched to space towards other star systems, where they settle on habitable planets.

Ponds appear to be scavengers. They will absorb any dead meat that falls into them, but are completely harmless for living creatures, save for their noxious stench. While they superficially resemble ponds of water, they differ in several ways, including their foul stench, which can be extremely unpleasant to Carnivores and Humans. At first glance, Ponds might appear to be made of placid dark water, without vegetation or scum, but also thick and murky like a soup, with a strong surface tension and almost black in color. Objects dipped into a Pond will come out still dry. Ponds feel warm and slippery to the touch, and are more cohesive than most liquids, as parts of them can be held in one's hand without slipping through one's fingers.

Appearances

 * Shakespeare's Planet, by Clifford D. Simak (1976)