Viscid

[Serenitis]

function Tinker.disposition(species)
if (species.type=='Viscid')
return 'Like'
end

[sishelper]

The Gardeners Research Notes on planet Visteon

... seems populated with class 3 life only, no intelligent species for uplifting ...
--- today our food and supplies audit found large quantities missing, investigation started in all research bases...
--- colonists seem fond of a local yellow blob which they sometimes pet because it purrs when offered food...
... gene modifications on the yellow blobs in order to use them as work force showed unproductive, the critter seems to have a special genetic mechanism to rewrite its own genetic code back into only eating and purring...
...yellow blobs are everywhere now, but strangely research and observation on their mating habits yielded no results. Yet there are much more of them now...
... Mayday. Mayday - we have to evacuate the planet. Supplies are critically low. The Yellow blobs started eating the organic parts of our equipment. Slicing them with our blasters only splits them into two perfectly functional individuals. I guess we know how they breed now...
... this is our last message, they are in the evacuation ship now. Freeze guns only make them bigger. Flamethrowers only make them faster. The bullets they happily absorb. I have ordered a nuke strike on our current location. There is no escape. Dont let them move to space!

[PrivateHudson]

Your research note mentioning viscids' "purring" has shed light on their mystery. How come colonists armed to the teeth can't protect their supplies from silly blobs? The answer is, they aren't even trying. I guess, viscids possess some form of telepathic influence. They "purr", colonists say mi-mi-mi and willingly feed them. Then request even more food from metropolis and falsify the reports. Apparently, Arda Seed persuasion matrix is derived from viscids ability (or the device even contain a live viscid), since they both effect individuals of all races equally.

[Arioch]

Not sure what being armed has to do with it. Vermin don't generally steal supplies while you're looking.

[PrivateHudson]

I mean armed with all possible security anti-steal equipment.

[sishelper]

to resolve your argument we can check the Encyclopedia

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

viscid /ˈvɪsɪd/
adj: having a glutinous or sticky consistency
noun: yellow blobby proto-intelligent species from planet Visteon. Vis - comes from vision and Cid - comes from cytoplasm. In general they are just several eye cells floating in an yellow cytoplasm gel and can pass through any opening as wide as one of their eye cells, which includes door gaps or air vents. Always hungry. Do not leave your fridge open.

[sishelper]

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Arda Seed Persuasion Matrix
device: a device gifted from mysterious Arda Seed race. Used for persuading old or ugly forms of life to like you. Device is gelly and yellowish. You need a plastic bag or bowl to transport it.

hmmm...

[gaerzi]

Vis - comes from vision and Cid - comes from cytoplasm.

That's a weird etymology. Especially when viscid is actually an existing word with a clear etymology related to "viscous".
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/viscid

1. Thick and adhesive. Used of a fluid.
2. Covered with a sticky or clammy coating.

[sishelper]

the adjective meaning as you described is there in the Hitchhiker's guide
the noun etymology however seems an addition as we all know the HGttG is the ultimate knowledge base of the Galaxy.
Maybe you've only checked Encyclopedia Galactica where only the adjective meaning is listed.
I quote the difference between EG and HGttG so you can understand:

The Encyclopedia Galactica used to be the standard repository of all knowledge and wisdom in the universe. That is, until the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy came along. The Guide scores higher that the Encyclopedia in two respects. First, the Guide is slightly cheaper; and second, it has the words “Don’’t Panic” inscribed in large, friendly letters on the cover.

Here’s what the Encyclopedia Galactica has to say about alcohol. It says that alcohol is a colorless volatile liquid formed by the fermentation of sugars and also notes its intoxicating effect on certain carbon-based life forms.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy also mentions alcohol. It says that the best drink in existence is the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. It says that the effect of drinking a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.

[Captainspire]

To bad there is no way to research exterminate or communicate with the viscid. They could be used to research harder to kill ground troops (if killed) or have a funny way to get them to board a transport and infest enemy planets (communicate).

[PrivateHudson]

Reducing such funny species to a planet special would be sad waste of a lore potential.

[username]

I think there should be a special occurrence if all of a planet's pop slots become filled with Viscids.