Naxian

Naxians are a sapient, spacefaring species of serpentine creatures, notable for their innate ability to detect the emotions of other beings.

Biology
Naxians are carbon-based and seem to require the same environmental conditions as Erthumoi. They are sinuous, serpentine, warm-blooded creatures, measuring 2 to 4 meters in length, which coil themselves when relaxed. Their faces are black with golden streaks, and their bodies are either pink or red with yellow stripes. While they appear limbless, they do have retractable grasping organs. Their faces consist of a blunt snout and two glowing eyes. Their mouths contain teeth and a tongue. Their diet is omnivorous and includes tubers.

Naxians have a natural form of empathy which allows them to read the emotions of other beings, including other species, even when all they have to work with is a stationary image on a screen.

Appearances

 * "They Hide, We Seek", by Robert Silverberg (1990)
 * "The Diplomacy Guild", by David Brin (1990)
 * "Myryx", by Robert Sheckley (1990)
 * "The Burning Sky", by Poul Anderson (1990)
 * "Island of the Gods", by Harry Turtledove (1990)
 * "Thirty Pieces", by Harry Turtledove (1991)
 * "The Soul of Truth", by Karen Haber (1991)
 * "Keep the Faith", by Lawrence Watt-Evans (1991)
 * "The Reinvention of War", by George Alec Effinger (1991)
 * "Woodcraft", by Poul Anderson (1991)
 * "Breakups", by Harry Turtledove (1992)
 * "One Man's Meat", by Lawrence Watt-Evans (1992)
 * "Water of Life", by George Alec Effinger (1992)
 * "Liquid Assets", by Rebecca Ore (1992)
 * "Unnatural Diplomacy", by Karen Haber (1992)
 * Fossil, by Hal Clement (1993)
 * Murder at the Galactic Writers' Society, by Janet Asimov (1995)