Tafarian

Tafarian is a fictional species featured in the science fiction novel "The Mote In God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. The Tafarians are an insectoid species originating from the planet Mote. They are characterized by their collective intelligence and their unusual reproductive cycle, which involves a period of communal gestation and a highly organized society. Their society is rigidly structured, with individuals fulfilling specific roles from birth. The Tafarians have a complex and ancient history, having developed advanced technology over millennia. Their primary motivation is survival and expansion, which leads to their encounters with humanity in the novel. Their appearance is often described as spindly and multifaceted, with multiple limbs and sensory organs adapted to their homeworld. The Tafarians represent a sophisticated alien civilization with motivations and behaviors that are distinctly non-human, posing a significant challenge to the human protagonists. Their culture emphasizes efficiency and long-term planning.