The Alpha Centaurans were a hexapod species, known for their nervous temperaments.
Biology
The Alpha Centaurans were hexapods with tentacle-like limbs, each tipped with claws. Their heads were featureless except for a large eye. (DW: The Monster of Peladon) They were normally green in colour, though they would change in hue to match their mood. (MA: The Dark Path) Red, pink and black was for anger, purple was for sadness and yellow was for fear or nervousness. Alpha Centaurans could be incapacitated by a blow to the side of the head. (NA: Legacy)
- Though hexapods, none of the six limbs are used for walking. A full view of them suggests they have a pair of prolegs.
Despite their female-like voices, Alpha Centaurans were hermaphrodites and should properly be referred to as "it". Nevertheless, the Doctor generally used the masculine to refer to the Federation ambassador to Peladon. (DW: The Monster of Peladon) Every few years, they would develop certain urges and, if convenient, they would create an offspring. (NA: Legacy)
Culture
The Alpha Centaurans were known for being hypochondriacs. Alpha Centaurans never drank alcohol and could not see the appeal of it. (MA: The Dark Path) The Alpha Centaurans were greatly opposed to scandals and would do anything to cover them up. (NA: Shakedown) Apparently they enjoyed playing table tennis, having an Table Tennis Club. (DW: Robot)
History
Before 2050, the Alpha Centaurans were one of the many races attacked by the Anubians. (K9TV: The Curse of Anubis)
Though Alpha Centaurans could be found in the Earth Empire, (NA: Original Sin, Shakedown, BNA: Mean Streets) they became full members of the Galactic Federation. (DW: The Monster of Peladon)
On the ship Piri Reis, the cultural advisor was a Alpha Centauran named Epilira. It was later removed from existence by the Darkheart. (MA: The Dark Path)
During the entrance of Peladon into the Galactic Federation, Alpha Centauri acted as a diplomat. (DW: The Curse of Peladon) It later stayed on during the later war with Galaxy 5. (DW: The Monster of Peladon)
On the planet New Old Detroit, an Alpha Centauran named Hecto Shellac was such a brilliant lawyer that countless gangsters sought to use him to escape justice. Desperate for retirement, he prepared a World Bomb - capable of altering the whole planet according to the user's mind - to keep them off his back. His dangerous actions were stopped when the Doctor activated it and envisioned a beautiful world with grass fields. Hecto survived, albeit somewhat humiliated. (DWM: The Deep Hereafter)