Viprin

Viprins were a non-sapient species which lived over 1.5 billion years ago, and were renowned for their speed. They were the fastest animals known in the Milky Way Galaxy in their era.

An even faster genetically-modified variety was created by the Tnuctipun and used as racing animals by the Thrintun.

Biology
Even in their naturally-occurring form, Viprins were the fastest living creatures known to the Thrintun. They were skeletal white quadrupeds, similar to an albino whippet.

The Mutated Racing Viprin, genetically-engineered by the Tnuctipun, was even faster. It was genetically redesigned to have a narrower head, a more pointed nose with a single nostril acting like a jet nacelle, and microscopically smooth skin that offered almost no wind resistance. More importantly, it had a proboscis-like mouth that led directly to the bloodstream with no digestive system, and fed on artificial predigested food. The absence of a digestive system allowed for more muscle and lung volume.

Viprins were not intelligent enough to be affected by the Thrintun's telepathic powers, which means that they could have survived the Thrintun's galactic genocide. Since they lived over 1.5 billion years ago, however, it is likely that they are now extinct regardless.

Appearances

 * World of Ptavvs, by Larry Niven (1965)