Puppeteers

Pierson's Puppeteers, often known just as Puppeteers, are highly intelligent non-humanoid tripedal herbivores in the Ringworld Universe.

A technologically advanced race descended from twin-necked herd herbivores, and noted for their so-called cowardice. Their commercial empire directly and indirectly controls events throughout Known Space and beyond, and Puppeteer plots are behind many of the larger events in Known Space.

Puppeteers are extremely long-lived, with a lifespan of at least several centuries and as a result the Puppeteer homeworld has a population of over a trillion.

The Puppeteers have been a spacefaring race since before the appearance of Humans on Earth. Humans met Puppeteers in the early 26th century.