Your favorite species.

[AFTT47]

1. Manatees.  Gentle, vulnerable, and cute.

2. Meerkats.  Personality in spades.

3.  Those guardians that walk backward through time in Dan Simmons' Hyperion novels.  It's just such an evocative image.

Definite kudos for Manatees. My personal experience is with the Florida Manatee. Such an inoffensive creature. They are so docile, a mother will allow interaction with her baby. They just chill out in Florida Bay and eat sea grass. They do cut one hell of a mean fart. It's to be expected that when a 1200 pound animal cuts one, it's not going to be pretty. Aside from that though, I can't think of any life form that is so inoffensive. Despite their large size, they live their lives without imposing on any other creature.

If there was a universe where a benevolent god created life, such life would all resemble Manatees.