Sqid

The Sqids are a technologically, culturally, and biologically primitive race of octapods from an unnamed planet. The appearance of a sqid is highly distressing to creatures from Earth, owing to a combination of general grossness and chromatophores that mimic impossible geometries. The only Sqid to have left their homeworld is Sam Starfall, the most infamous non-violent criminal of the planet Jean.



Biology
Sqids share many traits with terrestrial squids, such as chromatophores, regenerative capacities, and death after mating. Because of this last trait, all sqids are adoptees raised by infertile individuals.

Sqids are universally palatable to terrestrial animals regardless of natural diet. This danger is amplified by the fact that they can easily be defeated in a fair fight by even a human child. Between this, their horrible appearance and atmospheric incompatibilities, it is necessary for a sqid to be wearing a pressurized suit in an Earthlike environment.

Sqids have the natural ability to enter suspended animation for an unspecified amount of years, which allowed Sam Starfall to survive stowing away on a human spacecraft.

Society
Sqid culture is tribalistic, with the main interactions between tribes being larceny, mischief, and retribution. Their exact technological state appears to be analogous to the nineteenth century, but scientists have concluded that their technological advancement will take fives times longer than it did for the human equivalent because of their nature.