Sirian (The Age of the Pussyfoot)

Sirians are a sapient, spacefaring civilization which made first contact with Humans at the end of the 25th century. They inhabit twelve planets in the Sirius System, ten of which orbit Sirius A, while the other two are in a Trojan orbit with Sirius B.

Biology
Sirians are large, tentacled creatures covered in green fur. They have a pointed head encircled by a ruff-like structure with numerous small twinkling eyes. They find the Earth's atmosphere corrosive and can only survive there inside life support tanks.

Culture and society
Sirians are a warrior culture with heavily fortified planets, and are known to engage in elaborate combat exercises.

In the year 2527, the relationship between Humans and Sirians was tense. Despite the fact that neither could live on the other's worlds, both species saw the other as a potential threat.

Appearances

 * The Age of the Pussyfoot, by Frederik Pohl (1965)