Tythonian

The Tythonians were a species of aliens from Tythonus, notable for their huge size and longevity of life.

Biology
The Tythonians were massive, blob-like organisms, sometimes hundreds of feet long. They were glowing green and had an outer membrane that was deeply creased. They had no true limbs, but had two large pseudopods. One pseudopod was shaped like the letter Y, while the other was simply a large tube. They had no vocal cords and communicated with the aid of Tythonian Communicators. Tythonians could live for forty thousand years.

Tythonians subsisted on chlorophyll and mineral salts, which they could absorb through their skin. Their mineral rich diet allowed them to weave a special, extremely tough material from their tube-like pseudopods. This material was self-regenerating and could fulfil a variety of functions. (DW: The Creature from the Pit)



Technology
Tythonian technology was usually based on materials that they could naturally weave. Erato travelled in a massive egg-like craft of this material, with a photon drive made of other metals. Tythonians could also control the paths of neutron stars, which they used in times of war. The Tythonians made use of Tythonian Communicators to speak with other species. (DW: The Creature from the Pit)


 * Tythonians seemed to have limited dexterity, which would have made the construction of the communicators difficult. Possibly, the communicators were made by another species to facilitate interactions.

History
At some point in history, the planet Tythonus was running out of chlorophyll for food. The Tythonians discovered that Chloris was rich in plant life and could use the metals of Tythonus. The Tythonians sent Erato to try to set up a trade agreement, but he was captured by Lady Adrasta and was trapped in a mine for fifteen years.

Erato was eventually saved by the Fourth Doctor, but the distress signal of his spaceship was picked up by the Tythonians, who launched a neutron star at its sun. With the help of Erato, the Doctor was able to save Chloris and set up a trade agreement. (DW: The Creature from the Pit)