These are the Terran invertebrates with the greatest potential (though none of them are currently suitable for uplift at a level of technology lower than that normally associated with a Galactic Unified Institute of Standards and Inter-Species Trade Technical-Economic Index of 13). Most cephalopods lack shells. Among cephalopods the foot of the mollusk body-plan is divided into several sucker-bearing tentacles. Cephalopods occupy a secondary role to fish in Earth's oceans and are the only effective competition for most niches otherwise dominated by fishes. The gut passes through the center of the brain, which is an impediment to intelligence. Also, cephalopods have no O2 carrying cells, greatly restricting their energy efficiency, and the lack of a skeleton renders their muscles inefficient. (by Robert Shaw, contributing editor)
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