The alien species in The Mote in God's Eye is called the Moties. Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's 1974 novel presents humanity's first contact with this ancient species on Mote Prime, a planet orbiting the star known as the Mote in God's Eye.
The Moties are not a single uniform type. Their species has evolved into specialized subspecies, including Engineers, Mediators, Masters, Warriors, Doctors, Farmers, and tiny Watchmakers. Each has a distinct role, appearance, and level of ability. Engineers are known for technical skill, while Mediators specialize in communication and negotiation with humans.
The novel's central tension comes from the Moties' reproductive biology. Most Moties must periodically reproduce or die, creating relentless population pressure. Their civilization repeatedly passes through cycles of growth, war, collapse, and reconstruction. This history is concealed from the visiting humans, who initially see the Moties as friendly, sophisticated trading partners.
The title refers to a Biblical parable and to the star's appearance near the Coalsack Nebula. The other options are character or descriptive terms, not the species' name.