[wydfre]

What about Portia[0]? I have often read about the intelligence and eyesight that jumping spiders have.

My pet theory is that invertebrate intelligence is more popular in the universe and among galactic federations or what have you.

[0]: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.5680...

[plutonorm]

Why would aliens follow standard invertebrate non invertebrate evolutionary lines? I can imagine a world where vertebrates are generally smaller and simpler creatures. What if insects had evolved efficient lungs and vertebrates had not?

[porkbrain]

Blindsight by Peter Watts is a great sci-fi novel in which the author explores an idea somewhat similar your pet theory.

[ravi-delia]

The sequel actually goes there by name

[gpderetta]

I did not enjoy exchopraxia as much as blindsight, but loved the treatise on the portia spiders.