>>212743910
The Crystalline Entity is pretty much an animal that is just looking for a meal, isn't it? At least, that was the assumption but they began communicating with it in that TNG episode, or at least showed that it is capable of and willing to communicate. Wasn't Data confident he would be able to effect some kind of diplomacy with it? Before the lady destroyed it.
Also wasn't that other changeling guy, Lars, or whatever, capable of shifting into space-faring life forms?