Heptapod

Heptapods are a fictional alien species originating from the novel "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang and its film adaptation "Arrival." In these works, heptapods are depicted as intelligent, non-humanoid beings with a unique circular language and a non-linear perception of time. They possess seven limbs, hence their name, and communicate through complex, logographic symbols that represent entire concepts or sentences rather than individual words.

The heptapods' most striking characteristic is their perception of time. Unlike humans, who experience time sequentially, heptapods are believed to perceive all moments simultaneously, past, present, and future. This ability is directly linked to their language, which is written in a circular manner, reflecting their holistic understanding of events. Their physical appearance is often described as resembling large, seven-limbed cephalopods, with a body structure adapted to their home planet's environment. Their motivations and intentions in "Arrival" are initially a source of mystery and concern for humanity, but ultimately revealed to be driven by a desire to share their unique temporal understanding.