Chimerex

The Chimerex are a species of sentient, highly intelligent slug-like creatures that possess the bodies of other beings in order to travel greater distances, forming a symbiotic relationship with their hosts.

Description
Resembling slugs physically, the Chimerex possess brains that rival those of augmented humans. They emerged as a sentient species after developing a symbiotic relationship with the Jomboli Great Ape - Chimerex would act as the primate's 'brain', the Jomboli Great Ape allowing itself to be 'piloted' by the more intelligent creature. The intelligence the Chimerex possessed allowed the Jomboli to lead a life of luxury - instead of developing their own minds, evolutionarily speaking, they simply allowed the Chimerex to do the mental work, while the Jomboli did the physical. Better hunting, shelter and mating were all afforded by greater intelligence. The Chimerex meanwhile were afforded excellent protection from within the apes' chest cavities, using the bodies of the creatures as a sort of vehicle to complete their tasks in day to day living. Though Jomboli lead natural lives of sixty to eighty earth years, Chimerex can live for as long as three or four hundred, 'piloting' six or seven apes in its natural lifespan. Chimerex are naturally inquisitive and love exploring in all its forms.

History
By 7 AR, one Chimerex known as Ral had been bonded to the Jomoli Great Ape Patha as Ral Patha for eighteen years, though he had lived for around three hundred years in total, occupying a multitude of hosts.