Mon Calamari – Scientific Island on SL

The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide is a 2001 book written by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau, and published by Chronicle Books. The book details the wildlife of the Galaxy up to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Information on the habits and habitats of each species is included, and many species are broken down.

The Star Wars universe is a vast and varied place, populated with an amazing array of creatures. These fascinating fauna have been captured here in the only comprehensive annotated field journal of its kind. Many years of extensive study and on-site observation have gone into these renderings, and great risk taken to learn about the natural habitats of all of the creatures. From the ice fields of Hoth and the pastures of Naboo to the concrete jungle of Coruscant and the intense heat and wind of Tatooine, identify and learn about the mating habits, feeding patterns, herding instincts, and defense mechanisms of these incredible beings.

This extraordinary field guide provides the ultimate look at the wildlife of Star Wars.
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:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::ENDOR:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Blurrg:::::::

The Blurrgs were two-legged reptilian beasts that lived on the plains of the forest moon of Endor. They were used by the Sanyassan Marauders living on that moon to do their heavy labor. The Sanyassans originally used them as attack creatures, but they were too slow and calm, so they used them as beasts of burden instead. They controlled them with spiked chain bridles, riding on their backs with stiff saddles.

The blurrg’s huge mouth ate almost anything edible, perfect for clearing savannah grass, weeds, and saplings. Blurrgs were strong yet very slow and stupid—so much so that they walked right into small trees knocking them down. The egg-laying creatures usually produced 5 or 6 babies at a time. In their early years babies stayed very close to their mothers for protection from Boar Wolves. Blurrgs communictated through a series of roars.

During the Clone Wars, clone troopers mounted on blurrgs were used as heavy cavalry on various worlds.

There is a location on the forest moon of Endor named Blurrg’s Isle, which seems to be the home of a significant population of Blurrgs.
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Boar-wolf::::::::

The boar-wolf, or borra, was a predatory animal that lived on the forest moon of Endor.

Boar-wolves were three meters tall. They had much hair, and two tusks. They were sometimes domesticated by the primitive Goraxes, usually by having their mother killed and then being taken away by the Gorax. They would often howl at the gas giant Endor when it appeared in the night sky.

One domesticated boar-wolf chased Cindel and Mace Towani through the forest after they left the home of Deej Warrick, trapping them inside the hollow of a tree trunk. In the morning, Deej and his three sons Wicket, Widdle, and Weechee went searching for the children and found the boar-wolf lurking in the vicinity. Deej and his two elder sons fought the creature using spears. The boar-wolf was ultimately felled by Wicket, who shot it with a poisoned dart from a blowgun.

Upon emerging from their hiding place (from which they witnessed the battle), Mace and Cindel found their father’s life monitor attached to the boar-wolf’s collar, put their by its owner, a giant Gorax who lived in the Forbidden Fortress, as an ornament
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Mantigrue::::::::::

Mantigrues were flying, carnivorous reptavians native to the craggy cliffs and deep woods of Endor’s forest moon. They walked on two legs and had three digits on each leathery wing, used for grasping prey.
Morag, the Tulgah witch, had captured at least one mantigrue, and domesticated it to serve at her command.
For Morag’s pleasure, this particular mantigrue would be unleashed to terrorize Ewoks.
Ewok lore held that mantigrues served the Night Spirit, an invisible evil deity who controlled the night’s darkness.
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Rearing spider::::::::

The rearing spider, also known as the giant cave spider, was a large arachnid native to Endor that got its name from its way of intimidation and attacking, standing on its rear and encompassing its prey with all of its legs. Unlike most spiders, the rearing spider would hunt its prey instead of capturing them in webbing. It could usually be found in desert caves or scavenging the rotten meat left by a Gorax.

In approximately 3 ABY, a caravan in search of two Human children’s missing parents came to the cave fortress of their kidnapper, a Gorax, in the Desert of Salma. Inside the Gorax’s cavernous lair they encountered several rearing spiders. The Ewok priestess Kaink used her magic scepter to momentarily hypnotize one of their pursuers. Just as the spider came out of its hypnotic trance, the Ewok Chukha-Trok cut a main anchoring strand, of the large web the spider was on, with his axe. The spider plunged into a deep crevice, screeching to its death.

During this encounter, another rearing spider was speared in its soft underside by the Ewok Wicket W. Warrick
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Horse:::::::

Horses were domesticated animals used as mounts and beasts of burden on many inhabited worlds in the galaxy.

Horse was the vernacular name for the species used in Basic. The technical term used by scientists was equus. In Ewokese, the species was called “pulga.” A small horse was called a “pony” in Basic and a “gaupa” in Ewokese.

The homeworld of horses is unknown. Since they were common on many Human-inhabited worlds, it is possible they originated on Coruscant, and spread throughout the galaxy alongside Humans. They were present on Bryndar.

When Cindel Towani was befriended by Wicket after her family crashed on Endor, he showed her an Ewok-made pulga statue, which she identified as a horse. Apparently, at least one world visited by the Towani family in the Galactic Empire had horses.

The Ewoks mainly used small gaupas to ride, but also used large pulgas for heavier loads. In the quest to rescue the Towani parents, most of the Ewoks involved rode gaupas, while Cindel and Wicket traveled in a children-carrying basket aboard a full-sized pulga.

The Force-sensitive witches of Dathomir possessed beautiful black horses, which they sometimes rode instead of Dathomiri rancors. Some of the witches, notably Charal, possessed rings of mysterious (possibly Sith) origin with strange Force “magic” properties that allowed the witches to change the physical shapes of both themselves and their steeds.

Charal apparently brought her Dathomiri steed with her to the forest moon. To lure Cindel into a trap, she changed her own shape into a beautiful lady, and her horse into a white steed. Apparently, white horses were considered symbolic of purity and nobility in the Galactic Empire.

The Sanyassan Marauders under King Terak also used large horses as mounts. It is possible they brought these steeds with them to the forest moon, as Charal brought her own horse. The Marauders crashed on Endor almost 100 years before the Battle of Yavin, and the horses and ponies used by the Ewoks may well have been descended from Marauder-introduced stock.
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Bordok:::::::

The bordok was a vaguely equinoid herbivore native to the forest moon of Endor. It was used by Ewoks as a pack animal and a mount when tamed. Very sure-footed, and in spite of their size, they were capable of carrying very large loads.

Although somewhat similar in appearance to horses, bordoks were not true equines. They had upward-curving horns that were short on young and female bordoks but could grow to larger size on an adult male. Bordoks also had split hooves that helped them climb through the trees of their arboreal home.

There were two species of bordoks: The lesser bordok grew to no more than 1.5 meters tall at the shoulder. The rarer greater bordok could reach twice this size. Both species were fairly intelligent, and were not startled easily. However, they did instictually become more skittish at night due to the various nocturnal predators that stalked the moon’s surface.

Adult bordoks were extremely protective of their young, and when domesticated, over their master as well. Young bordoks were commonly taken as pets and often developed a life-long bond with their owner. Princess Kneesaa had a pet baby lesser bordok named Baga
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Temptor::::::

Temptors were forest dwelling amphibians native to Endor.

Temptors were named for using their furry lure-like tongues to draw their prey toward their hidden jaws. Food was always abundant on Endor and the temptors usually ate rodents, birds and other small creatures.

Temptors had pale fleshy skin covered with mucous, which allowed them to slither into tight spots and then strike prey fast after luring them with its tongue.

Even though it slithered it still had claws for anchoring itself to the ground or wherever it was hiding. Temptors had excellent eyesight due to multiple eyes on its head.
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Geejaw:::::::::

Geejaws were reptavians native to Endor.

Known for their wide variety of calls and mimicry, geejaws were inquisitive creatures. They were small red birds with sharp beaks which they used to build nests, laying several eggs at a time and both parents would care for helpless chicks.

Common prey of the temptors and other animals on Endor, geejaws had to build nests high above ground or in hard to reach places.
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Rugger::::::::::

Ruggers were cute, fluffy rodents native to the forest moon of Endor. They lived in the planetoid’s grassy plains (yellow-furred variety) or high in the trees (greenish-white-furred variety), eating nuts and berries and hibernating in the winter. They had sharp front incisors and suction-like foot pads among their adaptations. Ruggers were favored prey of Yuzzum and temptors. Domestic ruggers were kept as pets by the wealthy on Coruscant and had white fur.

The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide is a 2001 book written by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau, and published by Chronicle Books. The book details the wildlife of the Galaxy up to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Information on the habits and habitats of each species is included, and many species are broken down.

The Star Wars universe is a vast and varied place, populated with an amazing array of creatures. These fascinating fauna have been captured here in the only comprehensive annotated field journal of its kind. Many years of extensive study and on-site observation have gone into these renderings, and great risk taken to learn about the natural habitats of all of the creatures. From the ice fields of Hoth and the pastures of Naboo to the concrete jungle of Coruscant and the intense heat and wind of Tatooine, identify and learn about the mating habits, feeding patterns, herding instincts, and defense mechanisms of these incredible beings.

This extraordinary field guide provides the ultimate look at the wildlife of Star Wars.
_______________________________________________________________

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::BESBIN:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Beldon:::::::

The beldon was an enormous gas-filled creature native to the skies of Bespin.

Beldons metabolized the natural chemicals and biospheric planktons of the slushy gas-liquid-solid interface of Bespin’s lower atmosphere via long, trailing tentacles. They traveled in free-floating herds. Beldons reproduced sexually, but did not mate: eggs and sperm were released into the atmosphere and drifted like plankton until random fertilization occurred.

Beldons excreted Tibanna gas, which could be collected and used as hyperdrive coolant. They were surrounded by a small electrical field to detect approaching predators, like velkers.

Some rare species of beldon could actually survive in space, drifting in interstellar nebulae or gas clouds. They could also consume minerals in small planetoids and asteroids by secreting acid on their tentacles to bore into rock and metal. They have been known to even latch onto crippled starships for their mineral content. Like the beldons on Bespin, these “space beldons” also excreted Tibanna gas.
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Velker:::::::::

The velker was a flying creature the size of a starfighter found on the planet Bespin. It looked like a flying wing with eyes, a tail, and a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. It could produce electrical energy fields to stun threats and its natural prey, beldons. Large groups would feed on a stunned beldon, shredding it to pieces as it fell.
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Rawwk::::::::

Winged mammals native to the planet Bespin, rawwks inhabited the gas giant’s upper atmosphere, hunting other airborne creatures with a screech that disoriented their prey. That distinctive screech gave them their name.

A large colony of rawwks that inhabited Tibannopolis formed an empathic connection with future Jedi Master Streen; when he left Bespin, the entire flock, numbering in the thousands, took to the air in a farewell gesture.
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Floater (animal)::::::::

Floaters was an umbrella term describing many species of animals found in the atmospheres of Bespin and Yavin Prime.

The Bespinese species were zooplankton which fed on algae. At least one species of them could also be found in the jungles of Kashyyyk. Some species resembled arthropods, while others resembled flying fish.

The twelve species of floaters native to Yavin Prime were behemoth-sized creatures, more similar to Bespin’s beldons. Gas-filled beings, ten of the species were herbivores, being preyed upon by the other two species (“floater sharks” an “floater squid”), which were carnivores.
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Thranta:::::::::

Thrantas were a group of flying animals found originally on Alderaan. While there were multiple breeds varying in size and functions (some for personal travel, others for massive air ferries) most thrantas served the purpose of being air transport.

The predominant physical feature of these creatures were their mantaray like figures. Often misidentified as a thranta is the aiwha of Kamino, an imported species originally hailing from Naboo.

Thrantas survived the extinction of most Alderaanian life by the first Death Star however, due to a few members of their species being shipped to the tibanna gas rich planet, Bespin. Here, they enjoyed the open skies under the watchful care of the mysterious Thranta Riders.

Some thrantas were also transplanted to Coruscant but died due to the air pollution, and only in Bespin could one see the thrantas thrive as a tourist attraction to the world as either wild beasts, or in thranta rodeos.

*The Pilotta thranta was one of the several species of Thranta that were native to the planet Alderaan, which was destroyed by the Galactic Empire, and thus became extinct. They were considered the second largest of the thranta species, smaller only than the Great Thranta.

Unlike the other species of thranta, the pilotta thranta possessed black skin on its dorsal side, while it had white skin on its underside. Their noses were short and pointed. The tails of the beasts were also somewhat different as they possessed three lobes instead of the four that were present on the Common Thranta and Balana Thranta. Like its cousins, the pilotta species would be trained to carry passengers with a compartment hanging from their bodies.

*Balana Thranta were one of the many species of Thranta that were native to the planet Alderaan and became virtually extinct upon the planet’s destruction.

The Balana subspecies was distinguished from the others by its larger body that had a brownish coloration. Furthermore, the wings themselves seemed more hook-like at the front giving an appearance of hands. The tail itself was also different with the horizontal lobes being larger then the vertical ones. Like the other Thranta species, the Balana Thranta would be trained to serve as a form as a transportation beast and allowed an open seated raft to be strapped on the creatures back.

*The Great Thranta was the largest of the Thranta species native to the planet Alderaan and became extinct when the world was destroyed. Its size was estimated at being fifteen times longer then the Pilotta thranta.

This species of the thranta differed as they possessed a white coloration to their skin as well as a long neck ending in a stubby head. Their tail also differed as it was proportionally smaller and lacked the horizontal lobes common to the other species. As was expected, the wings of the beasts possessed strong muscles that allowed them to fly in the skies of their homeworld. Like the other subspecies, they were trainable and would be controlled by handlers who would place a compartment on the back of the beasts head while a larger passenger compartment was placed around its chest.

The species should not be confused with the giant thranta, which was merely a large breed of the common thranta.

Life Day

“This holiday is yours but, we all share with you the hope that this day brings us closer to freedom, and to harmony, and to peace. No matter how different we appear, we’re all the same in our struggle against the powers of evil and darkness. I hope that this day will always be a day of joy in which we can reconfirm our dedication and our courage. And more than anything else, our love for one another. This is the promise of the Tree of Life.”
―Princess Leia Organa

Wookiees celebrating Life Day on Kashyyyk by the Tree of Life. Life Day was the Wookiee holiday celebrated by the inhabitants of Kashyyyk every three years. It was a celebration of the planet’s diverse ecosystem and the many forms of life it encompassed. It also was a time to remember family members who had died, and the young ones who continued to bring new life to a family. Life Day was an almost sacred holiday, and many Wookiees returned to Kashyyyk in order to celebrate it. Life Day was held once every three local years for many generations, but during the Galactic Civil War, its importance to the Wookiees became more pronounced. Wookiees were spread across the galaxy, either because they had been enslaved by the Galactic Empire or for personal reasons, and they began celebrating Life Day each year as a way to remain in touch with their history. Over time, the holiday found its way into various other cultures.
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Transmissions sent out…
Monday, September 24, 2007 @ 00:44:45 am

Life Day is nearly upon us!!

What is Wookiee Life Day? – Life day is upon us! One of the most important Wookiee customs is Life Day. On this day, extended wookiee families gather and celebrate a day of joy and harmony as promised by the Tree of Life. Traditionally celebrated on the Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk, Life Day is a time to reflect on the renewal of life and to remember those who have passed on.

Extended Family, You Ask??

Wookiee Honor Families – WOokiees greatly value morality, courage, compassion and loyalty. As part of this sacred and ancient Wookiee tradition is that of the honor family. An honor family comprises a wookiee’s closest friends and companions. These family members pledge a commitment to lay down their lives for one another as well as members of any honor families these individuals may have. Wookiees will often brave adverse conditions to make it home for this holiday, as it is an important time for family.

Life Day Orb —And more than anything else, our love for one another. This is the promise of the Tree of Life

The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide is a 2001 book written by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau, and published by Chronicle Books. The book details the wildlife of the Galaxy up to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Information on the habits and habitats of each species is included, and many species are broken down.

The Star Wars universe is a vast and varied place, populated with an amazing array of creatures. These fascinating fauna have been captured here in the only comprehensive annotated field journal of its kind. Many years of extensive study and on-site observation have gone into these renderings, and great risk taken to learn about the natural habitats of all of the creatures. From the ice fields of Hoth and the pastures of Naboo to the concrete jungle of Coruscant and the intense heat and wind of Tatooine, identify and learn about the mating habits, feeding patterns, herding instincts, and defense mechanisms of these incredible beings.

This extraordinary field guide provides the ultimate look at the wildlife of Star Wars.
__________________________________________________________

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Tatooine:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Banthas:::::::

“Baby banthas are quite cute…”
―Darth Vectivus

Banthas were sturdy and easily domesticated beasts of burden that were found all over the galaxy

“Banthas are filthy animals. I don’t eat filthy animals.”
―Mace Windu

The bantha was one of the most adaptable herbivorous creatures in the galaxy and could be found on several worlds. They were able to survive in almost any extremes of environment and could go without food or water for several weeks. Although bantha subspecies have diverged from their baseline ancestors, most shared similar characteristics. They were quadrupeds that were covered with shaggy fur and had large curved horns. A common bantha adult (Banta majorus) was between two and three meters tall and could weigh up to 4,000 kilos. Their lifespan was between 80 and 100 years and they reached sexual maturity at the age of 20.

Bulls tended to be slightly larger than the cows and both genders grew a pair spiral horns. Most female banthas achieved just a single spiral during their lifetimes, while a male could achieve two full spirals before its death.

The distinctive spiral horns of the bantha grew at the rate of a knob each year. Thickness and condition of the horns were an indication of the bantha’s health and environment. Bulls fought each other by butting heads in ritual combat, and the spirals on the horns could cause a pair to become entangled. This almost always meant death for both banthas as the pair would eventually collapse with exhaustion and starve to death

Banthas used their dexterous, sensitive tongue as a sort of hand, pulling up grass and shrubs from the ground. Also located on the tongue were breathing and scenting spiracles which allowed the bantha to determine if an object was edible without stooping or reaching awkwardly. Male banthas raised their tongue as a way to signal their readiness to mate.

Banthas traveled in herds of up to twenty-five individuals, led by the oldest, strongest female. A herd which grew too large was split, with the second oldest and strongest female taking the new herd. The gestation period was 30 months and the newborn’s birth weight was about 50 kilos.

The bantha was domesticated on most worlds and was used for pulling heavy loads, transportation, and even as war beasts. The meat and hide of the bantha were much sought-after. While the origins of the bantha were unknown, every world on which it existed laid claim to it as being its homeworld. Most banthas bred in captivity were trained as beasts of burden, and most of those were bred for desert environments. There were at least three distinct subspecies found on the planet Tatooine: the common bantha, the dwarf bantha, and the dune bantha. Noted for their docility, the dwarf race (also referred to as “miniature banthas”) made amiable pets, as in the case of Ebenn Q3 Baobab’s companion, Nuke.

Another additional subspecies, the Kashyyyk bantha, was suitably adapted for life on the Wookiee homeworld and the Kilian bantha was adapted for living in the mountainous regions of Kilia IV.

Feral banthas were also found on Talasea where they developed a mean personality and roamed the forested world at will.

The bantha was as much at home being used as transport by the Tusken Raiders, or Sand People, on Tatooine as it was on grassy plains and frozen tundra. When a Tusken Raider child reached the age of seven he or she was ceremonially presented with a bantha of the same age as a companion for life. The youth learned to care for the creature, and the two built a mystical bond between Tusken and creature. When the bantha reached maturity, the male Tusken Raider would saddle his companion and ride it into the desert for adult initiation ceremonies. When Tuskens married, the couple’s banthas would also mate, and when the Tusken pair had a son or daughter, their banthas tended to have a calf of the same sex.

The banthas of Tatooine were known to form deep bonds with the Tusken Raiders of the planet and often committed suicide if their riders were to die first. Banthas which died naturally were placed in vast graveyards, which held a kind of ceremonial reverence with the banthas

The bantha in culture:::

“Spare us the bantha droppings”
―Wes Janson to Kapp Dendo

Dim-U was a religious order based in Mos Eisley that worshiped the bantha.

In one version of the Corellian sport of Phrenbi, banthas were used as mounts.
As an insult, people were referred to as “Bantha Fodder” (“Bantha poodoo” in Huttese”).

Banthas were also the focus of a children’s story called “The Little Lost Bantha Cub”, which was the favorite bed time story of Jacen and Jaina Solo.

Apparently, stuffed banthas were popular toys among children in the galaxy, as Lumpawaroo enjoyed his when he was young.

Bantha meat was often eaten by Tatooine locals, in the form of bantha steaks, bantha burgers, bantha rump, and Jerked bantha meat. The milk of the female bantha was used to produce bantha butter. Even the blood of the bantha was utilized to create Bantha-blood fizz. Bantha Breakfast Biscuits were also believed to be derived from the bantha.

The phrase “grease the whole bantha” was used on Agamar to indicate that total commitment was necessary.
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Dewback::::::::

Dewbacks were large, four-legged reptiles native to the desert wastes of Tatooine. They were commonly employed by the inhabitants of the desert planet as beasts of burden and were also a source of food. They were quite possibly the most respected of all the creatures that were native to Tatooine

While they had a reputation for being solitary animals, wild dewbacks were also known to roam the seemingly endless deserts of Tatooine in single-file packs of two to five, searching for food and moisture during the day. During the hours between First Twilight and dawn, as temperatures dropped, the dewbacks would become sluggish because they were cold-blooded.To remain warm and conserve energy, the dewbacks huddled together. The dew that accumulated on their backs during the night was both a source of moisture in the morning and the origin of the species’s name.

Adult dewbacks stood at 1.3 to 2.1 meters in height and could reach lengths of 2 to 3 meters.Though most of them were green, dewbacks who had red, brown, gray and most rarely blue scales were known to exist. It was common for these scales to have a mottled or camouflage pattern to them. The special melanins contained within a dewback’s hide, which cut down on the glare from the twin suns of Tatoo I and Tatoo II, preserved vital fluids and gave it the ability to go days without water and endure the extreme heat.

Dewbacks began their days by licking the dew that had accumulated overnight off of the backs of the other dewbacks in their pack. While this ritual provided much-needed moisture for the animals, it also strengthened the bonds between the members of the pack. The omnivorous reptiles would spend the day digging through sand dunes with their large teeth and sharp talons for grasses, underground tubers, desert sages, scurriers and baby womp rats. Solitary dewbacks would have to make do with chewing the roots of cacti for moisture.

Subspecies::::::

Dewbacks originally evolved from aquatic creatures that had lived in the oceans of ancient Tatooine and were said to be distant cousins of thuvasaurs. They could be classed into four subspecies:

* The most common and recognizable subspecies was the lesser dewback. They were known for their relatively gentle nature and were the most easily domesticated of all the subspecies

*Unlike the lesser dewback, the mountain dewback preferred to wander the more mountainous regions of Tatooine. Much like lesser dewbacks, mountain dewbacks possessed a calm disposition and could be domesticated

*Grizzled dewbacks were the largest known subspecies of dewback and were further distinguished from their smaller cousins by their patchy hides. Because of what appeared to be an insatiable appetite, they were considered to be dangerous to the other inhabitants of Tatooine. They could often be found stalking the Jundland Wastes in search of prey

*Cannibal dewbacks fell between lesser dewbacks and grizzled dewbacks in terms of size. They were considered to be extremely aggressive to the point of being undomesticable and were notorious for eating newly hatched dewbacks—a behavior that gained them their name. The deaths of many settlers could be attributed to the fact that there were few differences in the coloration of the hides of lesser dewbacks and cannibal dewbacks

Because of their large size, dewbacks could often scare off something smaller than a krayt dragon if it came to a direct confrontation. If a dewback was confronted by a krayt dragon, it could fight, but the outcome of such a confrontation would disproportionately end in the krayt dragon’s favor, so its usual instinct would be to either run or hide. Scavengers, such as woodoos were known to steal dewback eggs. It was also rumored but not confirmed that whole swarms of skettos were capable of killing a dewback by draining it of its precious bodily fluids.

Reproduction::::::

“It’s about that time of year.”
―Quote attributed to Windy’s father by Luke Skywalker, regarding Huey’s behavior during the dewback mating season

Once every year, dewbacks would cover the sands of Tatooine as they converged on the Jundland Wastes, which served as their traditional mating grounds. The Jundland Wastes served this role for both dewbacks and krayt dragons for one very important reason: The sands of the wastes were the ideal temperature for the incubation of eggs year-round. The dewback mating season would begin just after the krayt dragon mating season ended, thus ensuring that less of their own eggs would be destroyed.

Once there, male dewbacks would attract the attention of females by rolling on their backs and displaying their bellies, which would change to a color resembling that of a clear, blue Tatooine sky. Some time after mating, female dewbacks would dig holes in the sands of the wastes and begin to lay a large number of eggs. Once the laying of the eggs was finished the dewbacks would once again disperse into the deserts of Tatooine to return the next year. This tradition was so firmly ingrained in the behavior of dewbacks that it was impossible to breed them scientifically or even on different worlds. Nonetheless, transplanted dewbacks could be found on other dry planets like Breeka.

Dewback eggs were usually sand-colored and the size of a Human fist. Once the eggs hatched half a year later, the young dewbacks would set out on their own with no parents to guide them

Domestication:::::::

While it was simple to domesticate a dewback, it was far easier to domesticate one if it was raised from the egg. A properly trained dewback would return the affections of its masters but the master would need to free it from captivity during mating season or it might hurt itself or others while it tried to escape to the Jundland Wastes. After mating, domesticated dewbacks usually would willingly return to their owners.

Though they were a primitive means of transportation, dewbacks were considered by the settlers of Tatooine to be better than walking if a landspeeder was unavailable at the moment. In some cases, dewbacks could be more reliable than mechanical means because they more easily endured the scorching heat of the desert and didn’t have engines and intakes that could be clogged by blowing sand. They were employed by moisture farmers, local security forces and even offworld military organizations, (also due to the Dewback’s ability to repel sand ticks) such as Imperial sandtroopers and a desert specialist team from the 4th regiment of the Alliance Special Forces as mounts and pack animals.

Dewbacks were capable of speeds as fast as 50 kilometers per hour for short periods of time—a speed at which a sandcrawler could be overtaken. Settlers also preferred dewbacks over banthas because they did not shy away from the challenges presented by sandstorms. However, using a dewback for transportation did have an important drawback: as the local temperature decreased at night time, the reptiles became sluggish.

Dewbacks were also considered to be a source of food and clothing for the inhabitants of Tatooine. Dewback ribs were a popular foodstuff in Mos Eisley and dewback hides were used to make clothing, accessories and tents. Settlers and Tusken Raiders alike hunted them, but unlike the settlers, Tuskens did not distinguish between wild and domesticated dewbacks. This practice did nothing to endear settlers to the Tuskens

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Ronto::::::

“Stay out of this, Tenel Ka. You can’t possibly know anything about it. You have the emotional depth of a ronto.”
―Jaina Solo

Rontos were large, quadruped mammals that were commonly used as beasts of burden by the Jawas of Tatooine. They are known for their loyalty and strength, being able to carry hundreds of kilograms of weight. They were large enough to frighten off Tusken Raiders, though they were easily spooked by machines, such as speeder bikes.

Like the native dewbacks of Tatooine, the ronto were easy to train and became quite fond of their masters. Rontos had superb senses of hearing and smell, although they had poor vision, which is why they were startled by sudden movements. Rontos needed large amounts of water, although their skins shed excess heat, allowing them to function well in desert conditions. They were rarely exported, though, because offworlders thought their skittishness made them unreliable in urban areas. Another reason the ronto was popular with the Jawas is that Jawas did not usually visit urban areas, so it was ideal for desert travel.

During mating season, female rontos gave off a powerful, musky scent much like the smell of a Rodian. During mating season, Rodians on Tatooine were encouraged to stay away from male rontos, as the rontos might think the Rodian was a female ronto.

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Eopie:::::::

Eopies were herbivores native to the planet Tatooine.

The quadruped mammals were distinguished by their pale skin and long flexible snouts. An eopie’s pale, white skin helped keep the creature cool by reflecting the intense sunlight of the planet’s twin stars.

A special hinged skull allowed for a very flexible, elongated snout and a broader range for sharp incisors. Eopies got most of their moisture from desert lichens and tubers.

Eopies reached maturity around six standard years of age and their average lifespan was 90 standard years; however like most creatures, the animal would weaken with age. Young eopies were much more vulnerable to the harsh desert conditions of the twin-sunned world. A young eopie needed to consume more food than a mature one and were also unable to carry as heavy a load. Newborn eopies were slow and awkward and were preyed upon by some of the more dangerous creatures of Tatooine. Older eopies were kept by the planet’s moisture farmers to eat desert weeds that absorbed the planet’s already valuable moisture. They were also used as transports across the vast desert plains of the arid planet.

Eopies were renowned for their endurance and ability to carry a lot of cargo. They also had a reputation of being stubborn or grumpy creatures. This however, could be attributed to their owners, who often pushed these animals to the limit, packing them with extremely heavy loads

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Galoomp::::::::

“The wise ones say you must never ask galoomps to stand still.”
―Borno

Named for the unique sound they made when foraging for food at dawn or dusk, galoomps were herd beasts found on Naboo and Tatooine.

Galoomps were large herbivores that, despite reptilian appearance, were actually mammals.

Their nostril slits protected them against sand. Their tail knob, filled with loose pieces of cartilage, shook to warn of approaching danger. A segmented, horny, ridged hide on their backside protected against predators and seemed to insulate against moisture loss.

During sandstorms, they buried themselves in the sand, their nostrils being slit to protect against inhaling sand. Galoomps ran with their wide mouth open, filling their unusually large lungs with air. In full flight, a galoomp’s lungs can expand to fill almost its entire body cavity.

The galoomp’s powerful hind legs were responsible for the animal’s signature bounding gait. Its unique body structure allowed it to traverse the desert plains at great speeds. At rest, the front legs were used for digging roots and the galoomp’s favorite food, “desert plums”. The split hoof aids this creature’s manual dexterity

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Anoobas:::::::::

Anoobas were pack predators native to Tatooine. Opportunistic hunters as well as scavengers, these wolflike animals would attack virtually anything smaller than themselves and would band together in packs to bring down rontos, eopies, and similar creatures

Strong, horny beaks on their jaws assisted in the breaking of thick skeletons, while long, tufted tails helped to counterbalance the body and help dissipate heat. Anoobas could vary in weight from 20 to 45 kilograms—males being larger than females—and often banded into packs of 10 to 12. These units were dominated by an alpha male and alpha female, and it was not uncommon to see entire packs waiting alongside podrace courses for an easy meal.

Like the winged urusai, accounts tell of anoobas being so engorged on meals that they are unable to move. This may be due in part to the fact that anooba mothers fed their young, born three to four at a time, through regurgitation.

Packs of escaped, adaptable anoobas imported from Tatooine were known to roam Coruscant alleys looking for prey. As a result, nocturnal foot traffic in certain areas was highly risky. Anoobas on Coruscant were known to howl at the planet’s moons.

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Womp rat::::::::::

“Just like shootin’ womp rats, eh kid?”
―Unknown Rebel soldier

The womp rat was a large, omnivorous rodent native to Tatooine. It was widely considered to be a pest. They were slightly larger than two meters in size. There were two races of womp rats: ones that lived in Beggar’s Canyon and ones that lived in the Jundland Wastes. While they were opportunists and were fond of carrion and refuse, they were also predators. Their normal prey included small animals, such as profoggs.

Womp rats traveled in packs to overwhelm their prey. These packs consisted of up to 20 individuals. When they bite, the teeth of womp rats set in and the animals would not release, even if they were killed; Owen Lars had seen a bantha with a dessicated womp rat skull still biting down on it.

The Beggar’s Canyon womp rat reproduce at an alarming rate. Once it reproduced to such a point that the population could not be kept in check, and womp rats were hunting Jawas and raiding storehouses. The Imperial prefect of Tatooine then allowed people to hunt them at ten credits per rat. Luke Skywalker and his friend Biggs Darklighter got enough womp rats to upgrade their T-16 Skyhoppers and to have enough money for the Academy.

The Jundland Waste womp rat appeared shortly after Imperials arrived on Tatooine, and some have speculated it was a mutated form of the Beggar’s Canyon womp rat, affected by chemicals from Imperial waste dumps. They were lesser in number and did not reproduce as quickly as the Beggar’s Canyon womp rat.

It was not unheard of for people to have domesticated womp rats as pets.

Luke Skywalker and his friends, including Biggs Darklighter, used to “bullseye” womp rats while flying T-16 Skyhoppers with stun blasts for fun and for target practice

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Jakrab:::::::::

Jakrabs were swift bounding lagomorphs native to Tatooine.

These vegetarians would get food and water from plants and shrubs; relying on a small nipping beak and a wide, 180-degree vision range for protection. They had long ears which they used for hearing, heat dissipation, and communication. These ears relayed the creatures’ attitude: when alarmed, they would put both ears up; when curious, they would put one ear up and leave the other down; and when all was well they would simply leave both ears down.

Their one-day-old kits had a reputation for eagnerness.

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Scurrier::::::::

The scurrier was a rodent native to Tatooine, and was considered a pest by the locals of Mos Eisley and Mos Espa. Scurriers had horns on their heads. Those of a male were thick and curved, while those of a female were thin and straight.

Scurriers were small omnivores with an appetite for garbage. They would scavenge in trash heaps in search of food and material for their nests. They were known to find their way onboard docked freighters and transports – thus propagating the scurrier population across the Galaxy. Worse, scurriers had a penchant for picking apart machinery; a trait that was hardly welcome on a cargo- or passenger-filled transport.

Apart from this dangerous habit, scurriers posed only a marginal threat to sentients. Though they would fiercely defend their territory, scurriers usually fled at the first sign of danger (say, a passing landspeeder) able only to call upon a high-pitched squeak and a painful bite to use against advancing predators. Their bite sometimes carried an unusual disease known as Scurrier Disease. In spite of this, scurrier tips were still a Hutt delicacy, referred to as “scuzzi spits” in their language.

Scurriers traveled in packs of around thirty, and were known to appropriate profogg nests for their own uses.

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Profogg:::::::

Profoggs were small rodents native to Tatooine, possessing a forked tail, sharp incisors, horns, and powerful digging claws.

Builders of complicated underground “towns”, these varmints were the scourge of many an eopie rider, who were often thrown to the ground when their mount stumbled over a hole.

Each profogg town could span several hectares, and contain 50 to 100 profoggs, with each compartmentalized burrow serving a specific function to the community (i.e. nursery, food storage, etc). The biomass of these complexes was often quite high, as each individual weighed between 10 and 25 kilograms. Due to a high birthrate (6-8 young per litter, 6-8 litters per year) there was a healthy population of the creatures throughout the wilderness. Empty burrows would often be colonized by gorgs, ibians, and kreetles. Profoggs were often the prey of womp rats, and scurriers would often steal food from profogg towns. A major source of food for profoggs were molo seeds, but they also had a penchant for raiding moisture farm gardens. The farmers often set off stink capsules to discourage them.

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Urusai:::::::

Native to Tatooine, the urusai was a yellow-and-blue reptavian that feasted upon carrion (often to the point of being too engorged to take flight).

They were essential to the desert ecosystem, as their diet prevented decaying corpses from spreading lethal diseases—their bare skin undermined the collection of bacteria. With their delicate olfactory senses, urusais rode the rising thermals of the blue Tatooine sky, nesting under eaves and on cliff outcroppings.

Females had two wings, while males had four—the larger rear wings were used for flying, while the smaller front ones were strictly for mating displays. Balancing on their strong tails, they wooed prospective mates, who laid two to three eggs per brood. In a harsh microcosm of Tatooine’s brutality, the first young to hatch destroyed the remaining eggs—unless two had hatched simultaneously, whereupon the chicks would duel until one fell to the ground.

With a wingspan of two meters, a hefty weight of forty-three kilograms, and a lifespan of up to fifty years, the urusai was an imposing avian species.

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Woodoo:::::::::

Massive reptavians, the woodoo were indigenous to the desert world of Tatooine. While its 640-kilogram weight rendered it flightless, the absurd-looking woodoo’s tiny wings helped the creature with interspecies communication and regulation of body heat. An abnormally large blue head was attached by a stubby neck to its equally odd egg-shaped body.
The woodoo was slow and extremely strong, with a powerful set of digging claws on the foot of each thick leg. It used this might to steal dewback eggs and to bully local anooba packs away from their kills.

Woodoo skin could be made into leather and was worn by various Jawas.

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Sketto::::::::::

Vicious, medium-sized flying reptomammals, skettos dwelled in the caverns of Tatooine. Only emerging when light conditions were at their lowest, these four-winged beasts possessed excellent twilight vision to assist in the consumption of airborne insects. Skettos fell into the reptomammal class, being warm-blooded and giving live birth to a single offspring at a time.

The most horrifying part of a sketto’s life was its tendency to swarm with others of its kind to suck the blood of large, sleeping mammals. Their large, frightening teeth helped to puncture the toughest of hides, and legend had it that a sketto swarm could suck a sleeping dewback dry overnight. Despite being a reptomammal, they bled green blood

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Worrt:::::::

The worrt was an amphibious creature native to Tatooine. It was omnivorous, but was also known to attempt to eat rocks and metal objects, which led to the demise of many worrts. It used its long tongue to catch smaller prey, but would often try to attack creatures bigger than itself.

Worrts could, with great difficulty, be trained as housepets. Jabba Desilijic Tiure kept a number of worrts as pest control, exploiting the creature’s lightning-quick tongue. The worrt counted the native ibian among its prey. Worrt venom tasted like tricopper and was strong enough to kill a bantha.

It was said that there were giant worrts – much larger than 1.5 meters in height – roaming the tops of the barren mountains of Tatooine.

A close relative of the worrt was the aggressive sevorrt
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Kreetle:::::::

A parasitic, burrowing arthropod native to Tatooine, the kreetle was often found in cities, homes, and other urban areas. It was equipped with five legs, a tough reddish-brown exoskeleton, and large mandibles. Giving birth to young in the form of maggot-like larvae, kreetles thrived on garbage and vegetal remains, and could often be found in abandoned profogg burrows. Despite their small size, kreetles were aggressive arthropods, but posed little threat to travelers in the large cities they colonized near. Overkreetles were the obvious exception: extremely large kreetles, they were capable of killing any amateur fighter in the wilderness. Luckily, overkreetles were rarely found near the proximity of a city.

Kreetles were also found on Naboo, possibly brought there after having stowed away upon ships departing from Tatooine.

The word “kreetle” was sometimes used as an insult

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Ibian::::::::::

A small amphibious creature native to Tatooine, the ibian fed on microscopic dust mites and insects. It was in turn preyed upon by the worrt. These small lifeforms could be recognized by their elongated orange-and-blue bodies, as well as their distinctive eye stalks. It is assumed that, like the amphibious gorg, ibians retained moisture by inhabiting abandoned profogg burrows, as such accounts did exist.

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Gorg:::::::::

Gorgs, known as chubas in Huttese, were small-sized amphibians that could be found on several planets from the swamps of Naboo to the sewers of Tatooine. They were favored as food by many humanoid species, either dried, fricasseed, or roasted in manak leaves. In Huttese, “hot chubas” were called “hotsa chuba”.

Gorgs on Tatooine could be found in three places: profogg burrows, encased in their hardened saliva cocoons; sewers, where harvesters bred them illegally; and gorgmonger farms.

Gorgmongers, such as Tatooine’s Gragra, would root a gorg pod in an amniotic-like fluid and feed it a variety of things, including funnel flowers, razor moss—or even raw sewage. Soon, the specimen would lay eggs, which then hatched into tadpoles after several days. The gorgmonger would then separate these hatchlings from the adult (as adult gorgs will devour their young) and raise them to maturity. Only then could the amphibians be sold in the bazaar or marketplace.

When Gragra left Mos Espa to work elsewhere, this caused the gorg population in the sewers to grow considerably over the following years. Homeless people often fed on these gorgs.

In 32 BBY—just out of curiosity—the Gungan Jar Jar Binks fetched a Gorg with his long tongue from Gragra’s booth at the market of Mos Espa on Tatooine, and he was asked 7 wupiupi by Gragra for that.

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Sarlacc::::::::

“In his belly you will find a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested over a…thousand years.”
―C-3PO

The sarlacc was a long-lived, plant-like, omnivorous arthropod found on several planets across the Galaxy.

The lifespan of a sarlacc has been estimated to measure 20,000 to 50,000 years. Younger members of the species could move under the sands rapidly and catch their prey much faster, while older ones remained immobile, waiting for prey to stumble into their clutches. Females generally grew much larger than males, to the point that breeding required that the male attach itself to the female, being entirely dependent on their much larger companion. Adults generally had little to fear, as only the greater krayt dragon of Tatooine was known to prey upon them.

The largest known specimen of the species resided in the Great Pit of Carkoon, beneath the sands of the Dune Sea on the remote planet of Tatooine. While this sarlacc resided in the desert, most sarlaccs preferred damp environments. Xenobiologists were unsure as to whether the sarlacc was animal or plant, as it possessed the characteristics of both kingdoms, but most scientists preferred the theory that the sarlacc was a giant plant organism.

“Tentacular appendages can whip out and snare spectators from the rim of the pit, and inward-pointing spearlike teeth make escape impossible.”
―Mammon Hoole

The sarlacc’s body did not have a skeletal structure or a solid framework, but it did possess a strong muscular body with large roots and a series of nerve endings on its skin.

The sarlacc also had roots on the outside of its body to leech the nutrients from the ground and to sense the vibrations from creatures on the desert sands. The sarlacc lacked eyes and ears, instead relying on the sensors in its roots to “see” its prey. The sarlacc’s mouth contained large mucous-coated teeth and strong tentacles for catching prey. The tentacles grabbed prey and pulled them into its maw, whereas the inward-pointed teeth functioned to keep victims in the mouth.

The sarlacc also had a large beak that emerged from the throat. The “beak”, in reality, was the sarlacc’s tongue, and the tongue within the tongue was actually yet another stubby tentacle that aided in swallowing prey. The sarlacc’s throat had many veins and vessels which acted as sensors to determine the size, weight, and strength of the victim, allowing the sarlacc to decide which stomach to put its prey into; stronger prey were put into the secondary stomachs, while smaller prey went into the main stomach

The sarlacc’s throat also possessed many microscopic openings that dispersed mucous to keep the throat healthy—the sand and gravel that dropped into the mouth could damage the lining of the throat. The more the sarlacc ate, the more the stomachs ran out of room, and, in rare cases, it used a small number of its victims to grow the stomachs by enmeshing those few victims into the stomachs. The sarlacc also used small air holes around its mouth for breathing.

The sarlacc’s roots functioned as tentacles during adolescence, and then grew into full immovable stalks during adulthood. They absorbed tiny fungal life forms, bugs, and microscopic cells and bacteria into the body from the ground for nutrients. The sarlacc’s body could also absorb liquid molecules through small openings in the roots, to keep its water level up.

The tentacles on the mouth were actually thin strong tongues that could feel and taste the ground and prey. The beaks of other sarlaccs had other tongues within their beak that emerged to grab prey and directly pull them into its beak. The tentacles were known to stretch as far as four meters to grab prey.

“The Sarlacc found me somewhat indigestible.”
―Boba Fett

Only the sarlacc’s gaping maw could be seen from the surface, with the vast majority of its huge body lying beneath the ground. It lay in wait for any living creature to stumble into its maw, and additionally, it pulled nearby victims in with one of its many tentacles. A sarlacc’s mouth was surrounded by rows of retractable razor-sharp teeth, used to chew victims during adolescence, before the digestive system was fully formed. Adult sarlaccs developed a beaked, snake-like tongue at the center of the fearsome pit, which doubled as a mouth.

After being swallowed by the tongue, the victim made its way into the sarlacc’s stomach to be digested, purportedly being kept alive and slowly digested for a millennium. A strong network of vessels inside the stomach punctured the victim’s skin and muscles and then embedded itself into victims before injecting neurotoxins into them, preventing the victims from escaping and ensuring that they remained immersed in the acidic fluids in the stomach, and attached to the walls of the stomach.

The vessels also provided victims with nutrients to keep them alive while they were digested in agony; when a victim was in the stomach for a long time period, the sarlacc actually embedded the victims in the lining of the stomach to make room for other victims it swallowed and to make the stomach stronger so that other victims could not escape.

A number of smaller, secondary stomachs were used to store victims for later consumption at times when the sarlacc needed larger amounts of nutrients, such as when it needed to grow, breed, or strengthen its tentacles and beak for catching stronger, larger prey. The secondary stomachs also functioned as a space to store victims when the main stomach ran out of room, although this was rare. The acidic fluids in the stomachs was composed of powerful chemicals that took much longer to digest prey than acids in the stomach of other creatures. They specifically targeted skin and muscle tissue, because that was where the nutrients in the victims were. The secondary stomachs were also lined with more vessels and were smaller and more cramped to enclose the victims in, so that the sarlacc did not have to deal with the victim trying to escape its hold. The pain endured by its victims in this process was reputed to be unimaginable, with only rare individuals such as Boba Fett being able to resist.

In addition to the acidic fluids that digested the outer portions of the victims, the sarlacc also processed its victims from within. The sarlacc’s blood was highly caustic, and was employed in the digestion of prey. The tendrils and vessels pumped the sarlacc’s acidic blood into its victims to digest the inside of their bodies, and to carry back nutrients from the victims. This process also provided the victims with minimal sustenance.

“It was far more plant than animal.”
―Unidentified Jedi Knight

A Sand People legend told of how the sarlacc gave birth to itself in Tatooine’s planetary core in the days before the twin suns split apart from a single star. According to this legend, it would continue to eat everything it came in contact with until eventually it was forced to consume itself. Though this was obviously not a true account of the sarlacc’s origin, the Tuskens themselves refused to accept any other explanation.

When a male sarlacc made contact with a female, the male attached himself to her in a parasitic fashion. The male then injected sperm into the spore production sac. The couple then reproduced by releasing the spores, which could leave the atmosphere and travel long distances through the Galaxy to other planets. Because of this fantastic ability to propagate, the species’ point of origin was never accurately determined. Once the spore settled down, it attached itself to an organism and sucked blood from it to feed itself. After detaching, it developed into a more mobile larva and was able to hunt and consume prey.

As it grew, the voracious larva would eventually challenge larger creatures. If the sarlacc larva was consumed by a bigger creature, the larva would kill it and eat it from the inside. During this stage, it developed into a large worm-like creatures with many tentacles and a beak-like maw. After finishing its meal, the larva would dig itself into a pit, growing roots to anchor itself in the ground while it grew into a full sized sarlacc, becoming largely immobile and more plant-like. The roots also functioned to absorb nutrients from the ground if the sarlacc couldn’t get enough from its victims. A larger mouth formed around the beak, which became more like a tongue.

“Sarlacci do interesting things with messenger RNA: over the course of millennia, they can attain a sort of group consciousness, built out of the remains of people they’ve digested.”
―Unidentifed Jedi Knight

“Victims of the almighty Sarlacc, his Excellency hopes that you will die honorably. But should any of you wish to beg for mercy, the great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas.”
―C-3PO

Jabba Desilijic Tiure sentenced Luke Skywalker and his companions to “death by sarlacc” in 4 ABY. Prior to his execution, Luke Skywalker was able to retrieve his lightsaber from the astromech droid R2-D2 and free his companions. In addition to numerous other casualties during the ensuing battle, Han Solo obliviously knocked the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett into the pit with a force pike. Originally presumed dead, Fett remained alive, using his jetpack and weapons some while later and becoming the only being ever known to escape from a sarlacc’s belly alive. Despite the beast’s reputation, it was not surprising considering Fett’s Mandalorian armor, tenacity, and strong will to live. While studying a holographic recording recovered from Fett’s helmet camera, Senior Anthropologist Mammon Hoole discovered an unsettling revelation: the beast apparently possessed the ability to telepathically torture its prey. In this recording, Fett appeared to be reacting to stimuli that did not exist, suggesting that sarlacc were capable not only of communication, but apparently of malevolence, feeding off of the fears of their prisoners. This led Hoole to classify the sarlacc as a semi-sentient creature. It was also believed that the consciousnesses of the sarlacc’s victims joined to create a huge network of awareness. The victims were able to communicate with one another through this ghoulish network. As the sarlacc absorbed the thoughts of its victims, it would become more and more intelligent, to the point where a sarlacc could almost predict what its victims would do in its stomachs to try and escape, or when it was hunting its prey.

The only other being known to have escaped the sarlacc was Zorba the Hutt whom was swallowed by the Sarlacc but was regurgitated shortly thereafter. According to Zorba, the reason for his survival was that no Sarlacc could possibly hope to digest a Hutt.

A mysterious incident occurred with a girl called Shaara. While she fell into the Great Pit of Carkoon, she was thrown back out before any attempt was made to digest her, unlike the stormtroopers that had given her chase. There were no clear reasons why the sarlacc had spared her.

The Sarlacc of Tatooine identified itself closely with one of its first victims, a Choi named Susejo. Oddly enough, Susejo and the beast had seemingly merged in consciousness to the point where the former could control the actions of the latter.

The fibrous vessels in the stomachs connected victims together. The digestive fluids and the sarlacc’s blood traveled through the vessels and into the victims together, they were all connected together, like an electrical current, bringing the victim’s minds, thoughts, bodies, and spirits together, keeping them at one with the sarlacc’s body, brain, and soul.

Having long admired the patience of the sarlacc, the Jedi Order named a form of lightsaber combat, Shii-Cho, after the beast.

“It’s rare for a Sarlacci spore to survive a landing in a desert environment; they’re best suited to wet environments, though they can survive almost anywhere.”
―Unidentified Jedi Knight

“The Sarlacc is a soup, and the ingredients are all the people she’s taken, over the centuries, over the millennia. Susejo’s never admitted it, but I suspect that’s all he is; the oldest of the soup’s ingredients.”
―Kess
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Greater krayt dragon::::::::

The greater krayt dragon was a subspecies of krayt dragon that was both rarer and larger than the canyon krayt.

Greater krayts were massive, growing to 100 meters or more. They required ten legs to support their bulk. Despite their size, greater krayts were rarely encountered because they spent long stretches of time literally swimming through the sand. Greater krayts were known to actually prey upon sarlaccs, though they more commonly hunted banthas. Similar to their smaller kin, the greater krayt dragon developed pearls inside their gizzard. However, these pearls were much larger and more valuable than standard krayt dragon pearls

Count Dooku once had a pet greater krayt dragon, which he controlled with the Force.

The spine and skull seen in A New Hope is supposed to be that of a greater krayt; however, the skull is comparatively much shorter and bulkier than that of the later illustrations of the creature. A possible explanation is that this was a juvenile as the large ocular cavities may suggest.

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Canyon krayt dragon::::::::

The canyon krayt dragons were a subspecies of the reptilian krayt dragon species native to the planet Tatooine.

The canyon krayt was a common species of krayt dragon that lived in the rocky caves and canyons of Tatooine’s desert ranges. At ten meters in height and thirty meters in length, the canyon krayt represented the smallest of the krayt subspecies.

An evolved hunter, the four-legged canyon krayt possessed a yellow-brown camouflage skin pattern, a five-horned crown ridge and a spike-studded tail. They usually fed on womp rats, eopies, and lone banthas. Though it was not nearly as big as the Greater Krayt, it was big enough to cause destruction, yet small enough for one Sandperson and his bantha to take down. Like other species of krayts, they produced pearls, although theirs were typically a deep crimson color. Canyon krayt pearls were quite valuable often fetching upwards of one million credits each.

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Krayt dragon::::::::

The krayt dragon was a large carnivorous reptile native to Tatooine.

Krayt dragons grew continuously throughout their lives to an average length of 4.5 meters and weight of 2,000 kilograms. They could live to be 100 years old and did not weaken appreciably with age.

A fierce hunter, the krayt dragon became an important part of indigenous cultures on Tatooine. The krayt dragon was thought by some xenobiologists to have descended from the Duinuogwuin (also known as Star Dragons). Although no substantial evidence was offered in support of a connection to the Duinuogwuin, the krayt dragon was a proven relative of the smaller kell dragon. In honor of the beast’s sheer power and ferocity, the Jedi Order named the Djem So form of lightsaber combat “The Way of the Krayt Dragon.”

When summer mating season began, the howls of krayt dragons filled the canyons of Tatooine. The collection of frenzied, mating beasts scared even the mightiest Sandpeople away. Obi-Wan Kenobi mimicked a krayt dragon mating call when he scared the raiders away from Luke Skywalker.

The krayt dragon had a set of sharp teeth used for capturing prey, but relied on ingesting stones to grind the food through a series of gizzards into a digestible state. They also had forked tails. Food would be crushed by the stones tumbled in the gizzards by stomach muscles, grinding food into pulp and turning boulders into smooth stones. The resulting stones, known as dragon pearls, were a valuable commodity among jewelers. The pearls could also be shaped and tuned by Jedi to be used as focusing crystals in their lightsabers. Krayt dragons instinctively go to the Krayt Graveyard when they are about to die

At least two species and several subspecies of krayt dragons exist.

The canyon krayt was a common species of krayt dragon that lived in the rocky caves and canyons of Tatooine’s desert ranges. More often than not, the term “krayt dragon” referred to this lifeform. Patterns of horns and spikes appears to have varied from individual to individual. At least one canyon krayt was noted to have a two pronged tail.

The greater krayt, was a rarer, larger species of krayt dragon, known for its tremendous size and continual growth over time. Creatures of near legendary status, greater krayt dragons had ten legs, measured at least 100 meters from snout to tail tip and had the ability to move through or on Tatooine’s desert sand. Greater krayt dragons attacked with their massive jaws or whip-like spike-tail, using their claws only to move through the sand

In spite of its awesome power, the krayt dragon did have its weak and exploitable points. First, it had trouble resisting the allure of the prey of the Dune Sea, specifically the bantha; second, it had difficulty discerning two-dimensional images, often attacking shadows; and finally, a well-placed shot could bore right through the weak sinus cavity of the beast and hit the brain, killing it instantly.

The krayt could also secrete a lethal venom, either through its teeth or its spines. Although its nature is unclear, numerous underworld characters such as Bib Fortuna have admitted to using the substance to kill enemies.

The Sandpeople of Tatooine revered the krayt dragon as a powerful hunter and centered their primary maturity ritual on it. Adolescent males were abandoned in the Tatooine dune and only accepted back into their tribes as adults when they had slain a krayt dragon. Both the Sandpeople and Jawas placed the krayt dragon in the position of a powerful spirit, and believed that their bones possessed magic. Jawas brave enough to risk the acquisition of krayt dragon bones were held in high regard among their people.

A krayt dragon skeleton was on display in Bestine’s Museum of Tatooine.

Revan with the help of Komad Fortuna killed a Krayt Dragon in order to find an ancient Star Map. He collected the Krayt Dragon’s Pearl, and because of this was permitted to learn the history of the Sandpeople.

A’Sharad Hett, a human Jedi who lived among the sandpeople during his youth, took the name Darth Krayt after the dragons upon becoming a Sith Lord

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Rancor:::::::::

“The rancor is one of the most hideous beasts I have ever encountered, best described as a walking collection of fangs and claws, with no thought other than to kill and eat.”
―Mammon Hoole

Rancors were five- to ten-meter tall carnivorous reptomammals which originated on the planet of Dathomir. They were always born brown, but in special circumstances, such as the mutant rancor, their color may differ. Although found on other worlds such as Ottethan, Corulag, and Lehon (where they were brought by crashed starships), those from Dathomir were said to be stronger and more intelligent than others.

“My rancor seeks flesh!”
―A Nightsister

Warm-blooded rancors fall into the reptomammal category, along with other creatures such as the wampa. Rancors were attracted to other rancor mates by a smell, or a pheromone. While it is known that rancors did care for their young—usually born two at a time—they did not suckle. As with reptiles, they hatched from eggs. The young rode the mother, one dorsal, one ventral, until reaching maturity. Despite their nurturing nature, it was not entirely unheard of for a mother to eat her young.

Rancors walked on two relatively stubby legs, with longer forelimbs utilized for catching prey. They also walked on all fours at times. A rancor’s flat face was dominated by a large mouth full of razor sharp teeth. The skin of a rancor was tough enough to deflect blaster bolts, making it an efficient killing machine—and an excellent source of leather for expensive vests and boots. At least on Dathomir, rancors had good night-vision, but their eyesight was not as sharp as a Human’s in daylight.

Though they were usually considered unintelligent beasts, the rancors of Dathomir at least were semi-sentient, caring creatures who mourned their family members when they died, and who passed on oral histories of the matriarchal herds into which these were organized. Their native way of life seems to have been very primitive, using their strength and size to hunt live prey across the planet’s savannahs—with the planet’s Human population at one point becoming their primary prey species; but in the last centuries of the Galactic Republic, the rancor was “domesticated” by the Witches of Dathomir (though Force-sensitivity was apparently necessary to accomplish the difficult task) and the symbiosis of rancor sow and female mount seems to have played a major role in dictating the subsequent structure of Dathomiri society. According to the rancors’ own traditions, the symbiosis began when a warrior-woman met and healed an injured female; by mounting the rancor’s back, her sharper eyesight enabled it to hunt better prey during the day, so that it grew in size and status to become a mighty herd-mother.

By the time of the New Republic, most of Dathomir’s rancor population lived in symbiosis with the planet’s Human clans, being used as mounts, and learning to make and use armor and bladed weapons with the help of the Witches. In the first years of the New Republic, Tosh the herd leader of the Singing Mountain Clan’s rancors, learned to read and write, and began to pass on this skill to other rancors in her group.

Around the years of the Galactic Empire, the last herds of untamed mountain rancors were driven into the plains and destroyed; but a few decades later, a wild herd wandered into the Great Canyon, indicating that a population had survived in the vast tracts of Dathomir’s surface area that remained unexplored, beyond the knowledge of the planet’s Human population.

The rancor was relatively well-known in the wider galaxy, having spread through the galaxy with early spacefaring civilizations even before the rise of the Old Republic; but the rancor’s homeworld had been forgotten, and its sapience was rarely recognized. Offworld breeds were generally smaller and perhaps less intelligent than those of Dathomir, and had evolved into distinct species, such as the amphibious Tra’cor of Socorro or the Bull Rancor of Felucia.

On a few worlds like Ottethan, rancors were used as mounts by warrior clans as they were on Dathomir. Herds of young rancors roamed wild on Lehon, descended from those brought by the Infinite Empire, and some were domesticated as beasts of war by the Black Rakata under The One. The Black Rakata used their domesticated rancors to attack Revan when he didn’t kill the Elder Rakata (their enemy tribe) after they “asked” Revan to. Revan also had to fight his way to the Ancient Temple and to the Elder Rakata’s enclave through rancors who surrounded the former and guarded the latter.

However, rancors were perhaps most closely associated with the criminal underworld, where individual creatures were kept as pets, guards and status-symbols. Perhaps the most famous such rancor was the one owned by Jabba Desilijic Tiure, who kept it in a pit beneath his palace courts, dropping in victims who displeased him in some way to feed it.

His rancor was cared for by Malakili, a famous beast tamer who had traveled with the Circus Horrificus. Malakili formed an unlikely bond with the animal, even going so far as to sneak the rancor out of Jabba’s palace for a run in the desert, and wept when the beast was killed by Luke Skywalker.

The Zann Consortium used many rancors with Nightsisters astride them in their campaign to corrupt the galaxy, most notably Nightsister Silri’s pet, Cuddles.

While stranded on Taris, the reformed Revan had to pass a rancor in order to infiltrate the Black Vulkars base. He did this by placing a synthetic odor that made the rancor think that its prey was nearby within a pile of corpses (its food), where he had placed a grenade. The rancor, grabbing what it thought was food, ate the grenade, which exploded in its mouth and killed the beast. Rancors were occasionally used for gambling matches, pitting one beast against another or unleashing one upon slaves and seeing which one survived the longest. One such gambling ring existed on Nar Kreeta.

The Galactic Empire attempted to exploit the combat potential of the rancor—perhaps not a great surprise given that a fully grown Dathomiri rancor was capable of single-handedly destroying an entire AT-ST unit. The reborn Emperor Palpatine also kept several alchemically altered Chrysalide rancors at his Citadel on Byss.

Years later, a mutant rancor that was immune to conventional weapons and could spew out toxic fumes capable of killing a Human near-instantly was discovered in captivity on Taanab. Released by the Disciples of Ragnos as a diversion, it was slain by Jedi Knight Jaden Korr.

Long prior to the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Jedi Order named the Form VI: Niman style of lightsaber combat after the rancor. This was a style that was known for being well rounded, with no certain offensive or defensive attributes. This might have suggested something about the Rancor’s predatory style.

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The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide is a 2001 book written by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau, and published by Chronicle Books. The book details the wildlife of the Galaxy up to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Information on the habits and habitats of each species is included, and many species are broken down.

The Star Wars universe is a vast and varied place, populated with an amazing array of creatures. These fascinating fauna have been captured here in the only comprehensive annotated field journal of its kind. Many years of extensive study and on-site observation have gone into these renderings, and great risk taken to learn about the natural habitats of all of the creatures. From the ice fields of Hoth and the pastures of Naboo to the concrete jungle of Coruscant and the intense heat and wind of Tatooine, identify and learn about the mating habits, feeding patterns, herding instincts, and defense mechanisms of these incredible beings.

This extraordinary field guide provides the ultimate look at the wildlife of Star Wars.
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::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Naboo: Theedside:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Shaak::::::

Shaaks were plump quadrupedal herd animals native to the grasslands of Naboo. Shaaks were often raised for their meat, and had large, rotund bodies. They had relatively weak legs, however, and were barely able to keep themselves upright.

The herbivorous shaak was a wandering animal, and was found in multiple regions of the planet. However, they tended to seek out dry areas, and avoided Naboo’s numerous swamps since they were commonly not fond of damp surroundings. Shaaks were, however, naturally buoyant due to their fatty bodies, though their four, short legs were of little use in the water. Their inability to escape from water meant that shaaks sometimes found themselves carried over waterfalls, though fortunately their fatty bodies ensured such falls did no serious damage.

Female shaaks had multiple wombs, allowing for a remarkable reproduction rate. In fact, females were continually pregnant, and their compartmentalized uterine system allowed them to be impregnated by different males at the same time.

Though prized for their meat by Naboo and Gungans alike, shaaks were seldom used as pack animals, and never as mounts due to their inherent instability.

In 1 ABY territorial disputes between shaak wranglers led some wrangling families to hire gangsters that added banned chemicals to the feed of rival shaak herds. The intestinal blockages created by these chemicals eventually caused the shaaks to explode. The Royal Advisory Council had to hire independent agents to eliminate the gangsters
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Tusk cat::::::::::

The tusk cat was a fawn-colored feline predator found on the world of Naboo and its moon Rori. Unlike most tusked animals their tusks did not grow from their upper jaw or maxilla, but were completely external to the oral cavity, and actually grew from their lower jaw or mandible. On Naboo, tusk cats often preyed upon smaller animals such as the peko-peko. Despite their predatory nature, the larger ones could be tamed and ridden for recreation and to serve as a mount for the Royal Naboo Security Forces.

It should be noted that wild tusk cats (and other animals such as gundarks as portrayed in Galactic Battlegrounds can be thought of as the equivalent of wolves and other neutral/Gaia units from Age of Empires. Tusk cats appear both as wild creatures and as mounts for the Naboo cavalry units.

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Gualama:::::::

Gualamas were beautiful, herbivorous ungulates indigenous to the grassy plains of Naboo, also found on the moon Rori. They were similar to the gualaar and guarlara species, but smaller and less stocky. They dwelt in small herds of about 25 individuals.

The gualama’s head boasted two forward-curving horns. The long, furry tail tail was flaglike in shape, and could be used to communicate amongst individuals over long distances.

Naboo monarchs kept a gualama herd. Gualamas were often ridden on twirrling expeditions. White and dappled varieties of gualamas existed.

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Twirrl::::::

The Twirrl was a carnivorous, mammalian falconid species,native to Naboo.

The Twirrl preyed upon plain-dwelling avians, small rodents, and waterfowl. It could also handle prey surpassing its own size by 10 percent. Their diet was supplemented by berries. Keen eyesight, precision flying, and extraordinary diving speed made them favorites for sporting and hunting parties. Twirrls were long used by Nabooian aristocracy.

Males staked out territories in the spring and mated with any willing females that passed through. They emitted shrill territorial and mating calls. Females gave birth once or twice a year and served as sole caretakers of the young. Typical litters were three to four young, with maturity occurring at approximately four months.

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Greysor::::::

The Greysor is a four legged, carnivorous primate from the planet of Naboo. It was long used during hunts and birding parties by the Nabooian aristocracy.

Wild greysors hunted in packs of 2 to 12 individuals. They hunted mostly rodents, shaaks, and carrion. When hunting, they relied on the sense of sight more than smell.

There were several varieties of domesticated greysor — stubtail, bounder, and manadept being the most common. Domesticated greysors were most often kept in kennels; it was considered “unwise” to keep greysors and twirrls together. Greysors were born one at a time. They burrowed with their mother until they were mature (four to six weeks old).

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Voorpak:::::::

Voorpaks were puffy looking creatures native to Naboo.

Diminutive carnivores, voorpaks were much beloved by Naboo ladies. Despite their beguiling appearance, they were brave, loyal, and could be quite fierce when provoked or frightened. They possessed a full set of needle-sharp teeth. They also have large eyes for nocturnal vision.

In the wild, they lived in small colonies that dot the craggy rock outcroppings of the hill country. They were most active during twilight hours prowling for water and prey.

Due to the Voorpaks light weight, its bone structure could support eight legs with no problem.

Voorpaks emitted a soothing, cooing purr, which rises to a hum when alarmed. They rested with legs tucked under body to conserve heat. Their fur was extremely soft. Voorpaks came into heat once a year. They produced litters of three to five pups.

For centuries, noblewomen and aristocracy of Naboo have kept Voorpaks as mascots and pets, carrying them about in their pockets and sleeves. They also made great hand warmers in the winter. Their pleasant scent was also a much admired quality.

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:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Naboo: The Abyss ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Scalefish::::::

Scalefish were a variety of small fish native to the oceans of Naboo, particularly around the Gungan city of Otoh Gunga.

It was believed the scalefish were attracted to the glowing lights of Otoh Gunga, though the scalefish learned through experience not to pass through the bubble structures into the air-filled interior.

The faa, or faynaa:::::
were tall, predatory scalefish native to the oceans of Naboo.
The typical faa had a tall, narrow body that was stiff and well-armored. Their thin frames allowed the faa to inhabit thin crevices in the underwater rocks, from which they could catch prey that hid in the crags.

The laa:::::::
were scalefish native to the oceans of Naboo.
The typical laa was a green-scaled fish with a long snout and a broad tail. The laa also had a long, thin dorsal fin tipped with a bio-luminescent bulb. This bulb helped attract the favorite prey of the laa, the yobshrimp.

The mee, or daggert:::::::
, was a poisonous scalefish native to the oceans of Naboo, but also found on Aquilaris. It was a most plentiful species, traveling in schools of thousands, and a staple food source of many other species.
The typical mee had a rotund, black-and-yellow scaled body with a wide mouth and a poison spine protruding from the side. The mee were commonly found in the area around Otoh Gunga.

The ray::::::::
was a predatory scalefish native to the oceans of Naboo.
The typical ray fish was a long-bodied creature with a large head and wide mouth that dominated much of its body. The mouth could distend to hold its prey. The ray was considered to be a good swimmer, thanks to its powerful, crescent-shaped tail. Gungans and Naboo alike considered the ray an excellent sportfish, because it put up a strong fight and often made spectacular leaps from the water.

The see:::::::::
was a predatory scalefish native to the oceans of Naboo.
The typical see was distinguished by its binocular vision—with both eyes located on the front of their blunt heads—and yellow scales. Their long, thin bodies were dominated by their stomachs, which could distend to accommodate large meals, including those as large as itself. Males of the species were distinguished by their darker yellow bodies, while the females were lighter in tone

The tee:::::::::
were large scalefish native to the oceans of Naboo.
A standard tee was rotund fish with bright-red scales, known to be a voracious hunter. The larger specimens were known to have swallowed hapless Gungans whole. Tee formed a symbiotic relationship with the smaller laa, which enter the tee’s gills to clean off parasitic yobshrimp that infested their bodies.

Yobshrimp::::::
A yobshrimp was a carnivorous crustacean native to the shallow waters of Naboo, particularly the area of Lake Paonga.
These clawed creatures were considered a delicacy by the Gungans, and were the common prey of the predatory scalefish.
They sometimes live inside the gills of the tee, and were eaten from them by laa.
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Opee sea killer:::::::

“Big gooberfish! Huge-a teeth!”
―Jar Jar Binks

The opee sea killer, sometimes referred to as simply an opee, was a large crustaceous sea creature of approximately twenty meters in length; a hybrid of crustacean and fish, that inhabited the watery planet core of Naboo.It is the third largest predator on Naboo only smaller than the Colo Claw Fish and the even larger Sando Aqua Monster.

The opee was a predator often found clung to rocky outcroppings or hidden in caverns or under ledges awaiting its prey. When forced to move, the opee was perfectly adapted to swim—in its own unusual way—sucking water into its mouth and jet propelling it from pores beneath armored plates at the rear of its body. This unique technique, coupled with three pairs of powerful legs and a pair of pectoral guidance fins, allowed the opee to accelerate quickly underwater. Once in range of prey, the opee would extend its massive adhesive tongue, successfully reeling in its prey to a viscious, gaping maw of multi-rowed teeth. The opee also used the long, antennae-like stalks protruding from above its head as lures to draw prey towards its double rows of fangs.

Opees were known to be mouth breeders, with the male opee carrying fertilized eggs inside its mouth for three months—forcing the male to fast until the young were born. From birth, opees could substain themselves instinctively (and gruesomely). It was not unknown for unhatched opee eggs to be swallowed by colo claw fish, creatures later killed in a grisly manner when the new-born young chewed their way out of the colo’s stomach. This could also occur if the colo swallowed young opees alive.

During the time of the Invasion of Naboo, an opee sea killer stealthily pursued and then attempted to devour the tribubble bongo used by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Jar Jar Binks to reach the city of Theed. Although the opee successfully caught and damaged the submersible, the creature was attacked, torn apart and eaten by an even larger underwater predator—the massive sando aqua monster, considered to be the opee’s deep-sea rival

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Colo claw fish::::::

“Argh! Colo fish! Huge-a teeth!”
―Jar Jar Binks

The Colo claw fish was one of the nightmarish creatures found in the depths of Naboo’s seas. The Colo was very long and flat, with two rows of bioluminescent nodules along either side of its body, which were used to attract prey. It is the second largest predator on Naboo beaten out in size only to the massive Sando Aqua Monster.

It had a long, tooth-filled snout and two eyes at the end of short stalks. Its fangs were venomous for subduing large prey. Two large, claw-like appendages extended from either side of its mouth allowing it to hold its prey while eating. The jaws of a colo claw fish had the ability to unhinge, which allowed it to swallow prey many times larger than its own head. Colo claw fish were usually indiscriminate feeders, swallowing anything that would fit down their throats. Their prey included young opee sea killers, which would often be swallowed alive. Unfortunately for the colos, these opees would often chew their way out their stomachs. The colo claw fish also had the ability to stun fish with an intense hydrosonic screech.

Their stomachs could also expand to accommodate larger prey, resulting in some Colos looking bloated

In 32 BBY, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Jar Jar Binks were attacked by a claw fish, only to be saved by the timely intervention of a sando aqua monster.

Cloning of the species on Kamino resulted in the creation of the saberjowl population.

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::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Naboo: The Gungan Swamp:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Falumpaset:::::::

The falumpaset was a large mammal native to Naboo. They roamed the plains and swamps of the planet in large herds, and their distinctive call could be heard for kilometers around. Easily domesticated, falumpasets were popular mounts all over the galaxy. They were, however, known for their stubborn and uncooperative temperament.

The Gungans used them to pull their Battle Wagons at the Battle of Grassy Plains. In the following victory parade, Boss Rugor Nass rode a falumpaset through the streets of Theed.

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Ikopi::::::

The ikopi was an fleet-footed, giraffoid ungulate with telescopic legs for fast locomotion. They lived in the plains and swamps of Naboo and traveled in herds.

Ikopis had short necks, for defensive purposes. They compensated for that with a tube-like tongue, roughly 2 to 3 times longer than their head, to reach food far above their reach. Its tongue was hollow which allowed them to suck up water, or nectar, like a straw. When not being used, the ikopi’s tongue would coil up inside a sack in the animal’s cheek.

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Terazod:::::::

Terazods were native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo. The large, friendly, semi-aquatic mammal grazed along swamp bottoms and slept upon moist sandbanks.

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Mott:::::::

Motts were medium sized, semi-aquatic herbivores (about 1 meter at the shoulder) native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

The motts dwelled in underground mudbank borrows. They ate a wide variety of vegetation and were a primary source of food for most swamp predators (even Gungans occasionally killed motts). Fortunately, motts had a high reproduction rate (about fifteen young per birth).

Motts lived in communes of up to fifteen adults. Communes usually consisted of a dominant male and, perhaps, one lieutenant that guarded the females and young.

They were very good swimmers, and young often hitched rides on an adult’s back. They also had good hearing and a nose horn for rooting out food.

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Peko-peko:::::::

Peko-pekos were large, strong reptavians, whose great raucous squawks carry over long distances; they were native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

They congregated in large flocks but generally traveled in pairs and mated for life. Both male and female had beautiful indigo-sapphire plumage that could be seen and both were the same size. Peko-pekos had powerful wings and fairly toxic skin. Most animals left Peko-pekos alone as their toxins caused sharp stomach pains, vomiting, and occasional deaths. Not all animals were susceptible, however. They also had keen eyesight, clawed wings to help them climb, and a powerful beak that could crush even the hardest of nuts.

Besides nuts, the Peko-Peko also ate kaadu eggs and small creatures. Certain nuts and seeds would not germinate unless they passed through the peko-peko’s gastrointestinal system. They were preyed upon by tusk-cats.

Skilled mimics, they imitated perfectly the sounds of many other animals. Easily taught to talk in captivity, they were a favorite pet of both Gungans and Naboo. The peko-peko nested in the high hollows of trees. The female laid two eggs at a time. Both partners cared for hatchlings.
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Pikobi:::::::

Pikobi were fast-moving, flightless reptavians were native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

Pikobis specialized in fishing and probing through the mud for small prey such as gullipuds, nyorks, mees, and small crustaceans. Being waders and runners, they could cover long distances quickly both in and out of the water. Pikobis also had long, pointed beaks lined with sharp teeth that was used to spear and hold onto slippery prey which it usually swallowed in one gulp.

These creatures consisted of large, webbed feet which it used to create shadowy areas to attract fish, keen eyesight, external ears which was different from most reptavians, and a long tail for balance while it ran. Pikobis could shed their tail when attacked. The tail would grow back quickly, even sometimes forked. Scientists have also studied the Pikobis for medical purposes.

The Pikobi traveled in pairs or groups of five to six. The mother would lay its eggs in the sand and upon birth, the young could already walk and swim.
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Gullipud::::::

“Oooh, big, scary Jedi! What—you’re too much of a gullipud to take one alive?”
―Cade Skywalker to Jariah Syn

Gullipuds were bulky, loose-skinned self-inflating amphibians native to the swamps of Naboo. As they were small and easy prey for other animals, gullipuds would extend their spine to make themselves harder to catch and swallow. When inflated, gullipuds actually bounced. Because of this, they were used in gullipud ball games by the Gungans.
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Nuna:::::::::

Nuna, also called swamp turkeys, were reptavian gamebirds that lived on Naboo. They could be seen living around the Lianorm Swamp.

A dwarf species existed, the adult of which was the same size as a chick of the common species. A number of dwarf nunas were exported to Tatooine as pets of Jabba Desilijic Tiure, who enjoyed callously flicking them off great heights to their doom. Large numbers of wild dwarf nunas lived in the deserts during the time of the Galactic Civil War.

As a grotesque past-time, Gungans were known to use nunas in their bloated, agitated state for sport, kicking them around like footballs. “Nuna-ball” would gain some interest in the rest of the galaxy after the Invasion of Naboo, and these creatures would be exported to many worlds for this purpose.

Nuna meat was appreciated in cookery, though some alien species, including Twi’leks and Rodians, were allergic to this meat.
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Kaadu:::::::

Kaadu were large, flightless, reptavian waterfowl that lived in the swamps of the planet Naboo. Gungans used them as mounts.

The kaadu was a two-legged reptavian at home both on land and in the water: they were excellent runners and strong swimmers, as they had a lung capacity allowing them to remain underwater for up to two hours. Kaadu females laid their eggs on land, often in fields. As predators such as the peko-peko were known to eat kaadu eggs, the average clutch of eggs was large, ensuring at least some of the younglings survived. Kaadu had sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell.

Kaadu were known to be fearless creatures, and many were domesticated by Gungan warriors as steeds during times of conflict, or as patrol animals to police the Gungan cities. Kaadu were highly loyal to their owners, and it was said that a Gungan and his kaadu made an inseparable team. Warriors often decorated their steeds with huge goff feathers. Officers of the Gungan Grand Army rode into battle against the Trade Federation during the Battle of Grassy Plains upon their kaadu mounts.
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Fambaa:::::::

The largest terrestrial herbivores of the swamp, fambaas were technically amphibians but had the scaly hide of reptiles. The creatures were native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

Fambaas easily knocked over trees to get at leaves and berries. They also foraged for underwater plants.

Fambaas in the wild traveled in herds of up to twelve. They were born with moist skin and gills and upon maturity, the gills disappeared and their skin hardened. The fambaa had been domesticated by Gungans for millennia as beasts of burden and cavalry/artillery draft beasts. In wars and battles such as the Battle of Grassy Plains, fambaas were seen as mech units, being used to carry portable deflector shield generators for protecting their armies. The main breeding herds were so large they were traditionally swamp pastured in sacred areas. There were also special fambaa stables inside underwater bubble cities.

Females laid large numbers of sticky, gelatinous eggs, which they deposited in puddles and underwater. The young hatched with moist skin and gills then, upon maturity, the gills disappeared and their skin hardens.
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Hrumph:::::

The hrumphs were powerful, thick-necked herbivores native to the Gungan Swamps of Naboo. They got their name from the loud, deep, guttural sounds they produced. They had four long horns for defense and for the protection of their two long, sensitive ears. They were not choosy about their food, because they had a sharp beak for nipping tough xosha grass, which they knelt to reach, and the bark of hsuberry trees, tassler trees, and hydenock. Three to four meters long at the shoulders, hrumphs were quite large. Hrumphs had sparsely-haired hides and protective cartilaginous spines on their backs. They also had shaggy fetlocks to protect against nipping crustaceans.
Hrumphs were quite nearsighted and, with an irritable temperament, they never hesitated to charge. They were also good leapers, despite their bulk.

Female hrumphs gave birth to one calf at a time. Herds defended young by encircling them and facing outward like a shield.

Hrumphs were also found on Aargonar and the Outer Rim planet where Darca Nyl met Samuel. They were used to populate Ohma-D’un as well. Like banthas, they would stand by cliffs to take advantage of the cool air wafting up from hidden caves. Using his knowledge of bantha behavior, A’Sharad Hett observed the hrumphs on Aargonar to find a cavern in which he and Anakin Skywalker could hide
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Muudabok::::::

The muudabok was a swamp herbivore native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

Muudaboks preferred the muddy woodlands, but were also found in the shallows nibbling mintri and woosha plants. The muudabok used its claws to dig up these roots and new shoots under rotting vegetable matter.

Like many swamp dwellers, the muudabok had a streamlined shape for swimming, as it frequently crossed waterways from pasture to pasture, though, it did not dive. At the end of a Muudabok’s tail were knobs that acted as both floats and weapons. The muudabok was also a very good leaper and took advantage of its ability to leap considering its primary enemy was the speedy narglatch.

During mating season, stags trumpeted and roared to attract females. Stags formed harems to defend against other males. Males health declined after mating, making them more susceptible to predators.

Gungans often caught muudaboks for their horns (females being a distinctive onion-shape) to use as a musical instrument.
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Ollopom::::::

Ollopoms were aquatic rodents that lived on the surface of the Gungan Swamps of Naboo.

These short, gentle, dense, green furred rodents were camouflaged to blend in with Pom Petals whose edges they fed upon. On their underside they had gnawing teeth and three pairs of paddle-like claws. Their flukes were used as rudders. Long, bloom-like tendrils grew from their head folicles to mimic Pom petals.

When Pom petals bloomed, so did sympathetic ollopom hair blossoms.
Young ollopoms rode on their mothers tail
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Pom-hopper:::::::

The Pom-hopper was an animal from Naboo. An amphibious mammal, it was much more comfortable in the water than on land.

The Pom-hopper was a small dainty herbivore native to the swamps of Naboo. They were very light, having slightly porous bones. Pom-hoppers were small and light, and they had dog-like features. They got their name because they tend to hop quickly across pom-covered water. Pom-hoppers required poms in their environment to live – without pom pheromones, pom-hoppers were even sterile. The very wide webbed feet of the Pom-hopper enabled it to leap among and balance on large Pom Petals. The Pom-hopper had small tusks used for both defense and for cutting through blossoms. These creatures usually slept dangling underwater, breathing through their tube-like nostrils; they hid from predators in the same way.

Soon after 32 BBY, the Gungans transported pom-hoppers and other animals to the moon of Ohma-D’un to try and establish an ecosystem. Most of the flora and fauna of Ohma-D’un, however, was destroyed by separatists during the Battle of Ohma-D’un.
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Tooke::::::::

Tooke were small, cute, hopping rodents native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

They had large, sensitive eyes for nocturnal activity as well as sensitive whiskers. Like all rodents, the Tooke had a high reproductive rate. They would have a litter of eight and in two weeks they would be fully independent and fertile. Tooke fed on swamp nuts and berries.

A common enemy for the Tooke were Tooke-trap plants; the fragrance they let out was identical to Tooke mating pheromones and, therefore irresistible. However, Tookes had fast reflexes and could often escape at the last moment with an instinctive defensive back-flip.

On the Gungan frontier, it was discovered that the rodents’ flesh was toxic to rancors.
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Clodhopper:::::::

Clodhoppers were omnivorous insectoids from Naboo. A clodhopper was rarely more than three feet tall, but they fed in swarms, becoming a real menace. They were protected by durable carapaces. A noteworthy attribute of the clodhopper was its ability to spawn two hundred young in only two days, all of which spent most of their time eating.

On Naboo, clodhoppers had natural predators, and were also hunted by Gungans because of their meat and their carapaces. Some centuries before the Battle of Naboo, however, the insects were exported to other planets, which caused the utter devastation of entire colonies. Its export has been strictly forbidden since, under the maximum punishment allowable by law.

The colony at Corva, in the Galaan system, was wiped out by clodhoppers that had been accidentally shipped with grain from Naboo. Consequently, restrictions and inspection requirements on agricultural imports from Naboo existed on a number of worlds, some which callously supported the Trade Federation blockade in 32 BBY if only to save the expense of funding inspections.

On 31 BBY, the Army of Life managed to conceal clodhopper eggs in sealed boxes and shipped them to Stend IV in the Majestic Gundark as a part of Operation Clodhopper
____________________________________________________________________________

Zalaaca:::::::

Zalaacas were swift, intelligent, and fierce omnivores native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo. As they may have been related to the sando aqua monster, it is assumed that they were mammals.

Rather little is known about their habits. They seemed to dwell primarily in woody uplands, yet were strong swimmers. Narglatchs would not attack adult-sized zalaacas but zalaacas would attack and eat narglatchs

Zalaacas had excellent nocturnal eyesight. They also had grinding molars and slicing tusks to help rip apart prey. Male zalaacas were colored blue and yellow while the females were just blue. Zalaacas also had sharp claws, fetlock spikes, and a finned tail for swimming.

Not much is known about their breeding habits. It is conjectured that Zalaacas lived in family groups of one male to between one and four females and young, and that the female gave birth to one offspring every ten years.

A Gungan rite of passage was to capture a foal with the intent of training it as a cavalry mount – extremely dangerous, and not often successful. As zalaacas were the natural enemy of the kaadu, this was a test of courage for both mount and rider.

A fully trained Zalaaca, while rare, made a vicious but loyal war mount, protecting its rider with its strength and savagely attacking the enemy. Riding a zalaaca standing up was the ultimate test of ridership
________________________________________________________________________________________

Shaupaut:::::::

Shaupauts were carnivorous marsupials were native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

Shaupauts hung upside down from swamp branches to catch avians, rodents, and other small animals with their long, hooked talons. It has a small mouth, however, and uses its claws to cut up its food, to make it more manageable. The species was most active at dusk and twilight. They had big eyes, giving them low-light visibility. They also had sensitive whiskers that helped with balance.

Females gave birth to more young than they could provide milk for, this left the weaker to die. The young took refuge in their mother’s pouch until they grew older and eventually ventured out onto the mothers stomach and back. Its protection from carnivores is a powerful alkyl in its blood that is poisonous to most of its natural enemies. The Gungans often distill this alkyl, as it is an effective bleaching agent.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Otta::::::::

The Otta was a small, playful, mammalian predator native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

Ottas were curious, intelligent, and playful. They had a flexible spine for limber movement in and out of water and always being in motion, these swift water creatures outswam their predators and nearly always caught their prey.

The Otta would hunt fish: Ollopoms (typical prey), Tookes, and Pom-Hoppers. Ottas would also love to crack open Nyorks with rocks on their chests.

Single young would often cling to the mother’s belly.
______________________________________________________________________________

Veermok::::::::

The veermok was a large, ferocious primate native to the Gungan swamps and woodlands of Naboo.

The veermok lived around the fringes of the swamp and woodlands hunting prey-like Jimvu through stealth and surprise. They avoided deep water, as they were weak swimmers. They also had a unique bounding movement that took advantage of powerful upper torso and shoulder rotation, along with strong lengthy arms that dwarfed their skinny hind limbs. A veermok also had powerful, tri-tipped claws for gouging and grabbing

The hair on a veermok’s back and chest provided protection and insulation. Their hair rose on their back when alarmed or angered. Hairless lower anatomy allowed for easy hygiene.

Veermoks were generally solitary, unless mating. Mates apparently formed a bond during the time in which they were together. If one mate was killed, the remaining mate would take revenge on whatever or whomever was responsible. They were usually semiterritorial, but not always, defending turf from other veermoks. Females mated once a year, building nests on the ground in a bed of leaves and branches. The veermok’s pregnancy term was three months. They usually gave birth to twins, whom in most cases were immediately abandoned by their mother, unlike the more nurturing rancor. It appears that in a few unusual cases a mother would care for her offspring, at least for a short time. Forced to look out for themselves, abandoned twins matured quickly. Veermoks had an unusual resistance to blasters, thus the Systech Corporation created a line of electrical weapons to deal with them.
________________________________________________________________________________

Narglatch::::::::

The narglatch was a stealthy alpha predator which was native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.

A solitary hunter, narglatch silently stalked and quickly killed its prey, usually Kaadu or Jimvu. Narglatch generally avoided deep water, although they were good swimmers if pressured. They also avoided Zalaacas.

The narglatch male had additional fleshy spikes, while females were smoother. They both had nonretractable claws and a fan-like tail that acted like a rudder during high-speed chases and turns. Narglatch also had densely padded feet that made for silent footfalls

Males and females only commingled during mating. Females were more fierce hunters than males, but males could chase a female from her kill.

A pregnant narglatch always gave birth to twins, one of each gender. Since young narglatch could hunt immediately upon birth, mothers abandoned them. Cubs hunted together until maturity, making themselves less vulnerable to Saw-toothed granks, Veermoks, and even more mature male narglatchs. After a couple of years, cubs separated.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Blarth::::::::

Blarths were medium sized predators native to the planet Naboo. The blarth is named for the low burping sound that it made. Amiable and easily tamed, they were kept as a household pet and watch animal by Gungans since prehistoric times.

The blarth was also surprisingly agile and swift, given its stout and rotund shape. They had rich blubber which provided buoyancy and insulation, allowing blarths to stay underwater for up to 2 hours. Their skin also absorbed oxygen from the water. Blarths had a long prehensile tail that aided in swimming and fishing for prey. The blarth’s tail ended in knubs that functioned as rudimentary digits,that allowed it to angle fish for food.

Blarths fed primarily on nyorks, bowlumps, gullipuds, yobshrimp, yobcrabs, and any other small crustaceans and shellfish they could easily subdue. Blarths did not chew their food, but swallowed it whole, using their copious amounts of saliva to help break their food down. They panted and drooled constantly, and often sneezed messily. Gungans used blarth drool for skin lubricants, perfume bases, cleaning solutions, and strengthening agents for the bubble walls of their underwater cities.

Pet blarths were notorious for leaving drool puddles wherever they roamed in Gungan communities and getting in the way in public places, doorways, and busy rooms. Blarths were very social and craved attention from their Gungan masters. Gungan children loved to sleep with slobbery pups.

The female blarth gave birth to three to four pups once or twice a year. Mother blarths liked to lick her young to soothe them and initiate hormone production.

As of at least 21 BBY, the animals had made their way to off-world pet shops on worlds such as Coruscant.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Aiwha::::::::

Aiwha were flying cetacean creatures that lived on the planets Kamino and Naboo. They could use their wing-fins to either propel themselves through water or to soar through the skies.

Majestic cetaceans that could take to the air, aiwhas could be found in the churning oceans of the planet Kamino, where they had been domesticated as mounts by the native Kaminoans. The creatures were strong swimmers, able to launch themselves from the cresting waves and then continue their momentum in flight.

Aiwhas and similar creatures could be found on several worlds, including the planet Naboo. There, they lived in medium-size “pods,” feeding on surface-dwelling krill and the fish found in the huge Naboo lakes. Like other cetaceans, aiwhas filtered food through the sieve-plates in their baleen. The Gungans of Naboo had domesticated aiwhas to accept mounts and provide airborne transportation. Aiwhas employed a water-vascular system that allowed them to control their relative density. When they needed to swim underwater, their spongy tissues absorbed water. When flight was required, they expelled this water and shed it to lighten themselves.

While some believed the aiwhas on Kamino to have been imported from Naboo, others speculated that this particular breed was entirely the result of cloning technology
________________________________________________________________________________________

Titavian::::::::

The Titavian, also know as the Goffbird, was a near legendary creature native to Naboo.

Goffs were huge flying reptavians that perched on mountains and crags at the remote edges of oceans and swamps on Naboo. It was assumed that the goffs ate carrion since large animal bones and limbs were found near their perches. They have also been observed feeding on the dead floating carcasses of Sando Aqua Monsters. It was also assumed that it laid eggs. Their bodies were so large they averaged an amazing 100 meter wing span.

They had difficulty taking off due to their large size. They needed a great deal of room to take off, so high cliffs were handy. They could spread their wings and leap off, then eventually catch the currents. They were vulnerable on flat ground but they had no predators due to their massive size.

As a rite of passage, a Gungan warrior had to capture feathers from the wing of a titavian while riding an aiwha. Captured feathers were then used in their Kaadu war saddles. This was a dangerous feat because, although not aggressive, one absent swipe of the titavians massive wing was easily enough to kill both rider and his aiwha mount

The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide is a 2001 book written by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau, and published by Chronicle Books. The book details the wildlife of the Galaxy up to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Information on the habits and habitats of each species is included, and many species are broken down.

The Star Wars universe is a vast and varied place, populated with an amazing array of creatures. These fascinating fauna have been captured here in the only comprehensive annotated field journal of its kind. Many years of extensive study and on-site observation have gone into these renderings, and great risk taken to learn about the natural habitats of all of the creatures. From the ice fields of Hoth and the pastures of Naboo to the concrete jungle of Coruscant and the intense heat and wind of Tatooine, identify and learn about the mating habits, feeding patterns, herding instincts, and defense mechanisms of these incredible beings.

This extraordinary field guide provides the ultimate look at the wildlife of Star Wars.
_______________________________________________________________

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::HOTH:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tauntaun::::::

“And I thought they smelled bad… on the outside.”
―Han Solo

Tauntauns were a species of omnivorous reptomammals who were indigenous to the icy planet of Hoth.

Tauntauns were genetically similar to Kybucks and featured a mix of traditionally reptilian features, such as a lack of mammary glands and scaly skin. They were also warm-blooded, covered in fur (which ranged from gray to white), and gave birth to live young; mammalian characteristics. Known subspecies included the glacier tauntaun, climbing tauntaun, and the giant tauntaun (also referred to as the common tauntaun).

Tauntauns possessed numerous evolutionary adaptations to the bitter, cold environs of Hoth. Those adaptations included wide feet for running across icy surfaces, swiveling ears, thick blubber, chambered lungs and dual nostrils, and a digestive system that excreted wastes as oils through skin pores, producing a distinctive odor. Their four nostrils served to warm inhaled air. Their larger pair were used to bring oxygen into the blood stream during physical exertion. When laying down to sleep, the larger pair sealed to keep snow out, and the second pair took over. A well-muscled tail extended a meter from their bodies to help maintain balance. They had clawed feet and hands to gain purchase on the ice. Their feet were also tridactyl, with splayed toes to act as natural snowshoes. The most important feature of tauntaun physiology was their unique blood mixture that was resistant to the tundra winds and kept their organs from freezing.

Despite these adaptations, tauntauns sought shelter at night to avoid the extreme nighttime temperatures of Hoth. When shelter was unavailable, they used their evolved ability to hibernate during low nighttime temperatures. Some tauntaun breeds actually froze to death if awakened after sundown. When not eating the fungus that grew beneath the frost layer or lichens found in hoarfrost, the omnivorous tauntauns were also known to eat the odd frozen carrion, ice scrabblers, and Hoth hogs.

Tauntauns were matriarchal animals and lived in herds of twenty to thirty individuals. Horn-butting matches were common among both males and females who hoped to establish dominance. Tauntauns were able to give birth to two young at a time, which would occur twice within one Hoth year. Though they lacked mammary glands, tauntauns could regurgitate a form of “milk” produced in their crops.

They tended to be ill-tempered, a natural result of evolving in such an inhospitable environment. A peculiar form of “attack” among the females, and some of the males, during mating season was their spitting ability. Tauntauns would spit at each other’s eyes, with surprising accuracy. While their smelly saliva was by no means deadly, it was quite inconvenient to have any liquid freeze near their eyes in Hoth’s blizzards

Tauntauns were the primary prey of the wampas. Besides their horns, natural camouflage, and their safety in numbers, tauntauns also relied on their ability to run 90 kilometers-per-hour to survive.

Although they were stubborn creatures, tauntauns made ideal patrol mounts for the Rebel Alliance’s Echo Base in the absence of repulsorcraft, which were unreliable in Hoth’s extremely cold climate. Personnel such as Corporal Vyn Rolado were responsible for taming the alpha female of a tauntaun pack, which allowed the Alliance to easily train the remainder of the pack. It was discovered that the ultrasonic frequencies given off by certain droid models irritated the mounts, and they would use their tail to swat any of those droids who happened to wander too close.

The Hutt gangster Jabba Desilijic Tiure was known to keep the head of a tauntaun as a trophy hanging on a wall in his throne room.

Some years after the Galactic Civil War had ended, tauntauns were exported from Hoth to the cold-climate regions of other worlds such as Coruscant. They were used as mounts, beasts of burden and tourist attractions. However, they longed for their old home and became surly and stubborn because of this homesickness.

Also by the time of the Confederation-Galactic Alliance War, small stuffed tauntauns were available as children’s toys. Jacen Solo had given one to his daughter Allana as a gift to make sure that she and Tenel were not the sacrifice he had to make to become a Sith Lord.
______________________________________________________________

Wampa:::::::::

“Hey, steady girl. What’s the matter, you smell something?”
―Luke Skywalker to his tauntaun before a Wampa attack

Wampa ice creatures were carnivorous predatory reptomammals indigenous to the planet Hoth. Covered with white fur and averaging over two meters in height, their long arms ended in sharp claws that were strong enough to carve layers out of ice. Wampas rarely killed their prey outright or hunt when they were hungry. Instead, they stunned their prey, hauled the still breathing victims back to their caves, and secured them in the ice for later consumption. Their primary prey were tauntauns.

On Coruscant, wampas were imported, and promptly migrated to the cooler northern reaches of the planet

It is believed that wampas were usually solitary creatures, but were known to occasionally hunt in packs. Although not a pack action, the attack on Luke Skywalker was carried out by a male wampa, yet Skywalker regained consciousness in the cave of a female. This suggests that there was some sort of pair bonding between male and female wampas and their lives may not be as solitary as once thought. It is not clear if male wampas were monogamous or if they traveled about hunting and bringing food to their various mates. After mating, female wampas would birth up to three cubs per litter. If, however, a cub wandered out of the den and made its first kill, other wampas would commonly give extreme attention to that cub.

Wampas typically lived in ice caves created by carving down into the ice and snow and hollowing out an area below the surface. The purpose of the cave was undoubtedly to shield these large predators from the bitter cold nights or raging storms that swept across the glaciers. The interior of the cave was typically littered with the bones of previous meals, usually tauntauns. The cave also served to store food for future meals. Hung from the icicle-laden ceiling, the food was kept out of the way so it would not be lost in any snow that might find its way into the cave.

Wampa caves were surprisingly spacious when compared to the manufactured dens of other large predators, most likely to further remove the wampa from the harsh environment waiting just outside the cave entrance. In addition, the caves were well lit because of the reflective properties of the snow and ice which helped direct the sunlight of the Hoth system down into the wampa cave.

wampa’s white fur allowed it to blend in nicely with Hoth’s blinding blizzards, enabling it to attack their prey completely unaware. Once it stunned them the wampa would drag the carcasses back to its icy lair. There it would either impale the carcass on large icicles or adhere the carcass to the cave ceiling with anesthetic saliva until it was ready to eat.

Soon after the Rebel Alliance arrived on Hoth, they began enduring constant wampa attacks. The resourceful droid R2-D2 hit on a solution: a sonic lure to confuse and capture many of the creatures.

Skywalker encountered a wampa while doing a routine survey of the area surrounding Echo Base. A male wampa attacked Skywalker, knocking him unconscious, as well as killing his tauntaun. Another wampa, a female, attacked Skywalker when he attempted to escape from her ice cave which resulted in the wampa losing her entire right arm to Skywalker’s lightsaber. On a subsequent journey to Hoth nine years later, Skywalker was attacked by the same female wampa, who not only survived, but recognized the Jedi Master

Cliff wampa
The cliff wampa was bioengineered by the Galactic Empire after they saw the destructive capacity wampas had on the Rebels at Hoth. This particular species was used as a sentinel on the Outer Rim planet Gall.

Swamp wampa
The swamp wampa on Dromund Kaas may have descended from individuals of the Hoth species who had been genetically altered by Sith.

Giant wampa
A giant wampa variety exists on Hoth. This may just represent a long-lived individual, a subspecies, a freak mutation, or a separate species.

Other species of note
While having no relation to other wampas, a desert wampa, also known as a “Tatooine Howler”, is covered in hair and bears tusks similar to a wampa. It is often mistaken for a relative of the wampa and as a result is named after it.
____________________________________________________________

Exogorth::::::::

“The cave is collapsing!”
“This is no cave.”
“What?!”
―Leia Organa and Han Solo

The exogorth, known colloquially as the space slug, was a large species of toothed gastropod. They were silicon-based lifeforms that survived in the vacuum of space by making their homes in the caverns and craters of asteroids. They fed on the minerals of asteroids, various stellar energy fields, and mynocks (another silicon-based lifeform). The average adult space slug grew to about 10 meters in length, but some slugs were known to continuously grow to sizes that rivaled capital ships in sheer bulk, with some weighing over a million kilograms.

Exogorths reproduced asexually by fission. Once an adult exogorth reached a certain size, a chemical trigger would cause them to split apart into two identical exogorths. Whether through a genetic trait or by retaining the memory of their “parent”, the two new exogorths would immediately become self-reliant.

An exogorth would travel through the asteroid fields they inhabited by pushing off the surface of one asteroid and floating through space to land on another. They also could use solar winds to help propel themselves through space. Through highly evolved sense of spatial awareness, the exogorth is capable of calculating the speed, trajectory, and distance of perilous moving bodies around them. This sense of spatial acuity also aided them in hunting food. They appear to have been able to anchor themselves into a cave in an asteroid with tendrils, which also drew nutrition directly from the asteroid itself.As an exogorth did not remain in one asteroid for its entire life, it can be assumed that they could break free from their point of anchorage.

On occasion, the naturally occurring chemical trigger would cause the exogorths to kill whatever occurred near them. These oddities were known to reach sizes of nearly one kilometer in length. These colossal exogorths were known to take sizable bites out of capital ships that passed too close to the slug’s current dwelling, and even swallow smaller vessels whole. They have also been known to bite through a star destroyer’s hull. At these sizes the mynocks they ate would often become internal parasites, rather than nourishment, living inside the cave-like esophagus of the exogorth that ate them. Some Exogorths had entire ecosystems of other life living within their digestive tracts.

“They’re the last remnant of a species that predates history – an unlikely being, if ever there was one. No one knows how or why they evolved – just that we have found a number of them in the galaxy, going about their business…Time has no meaning for such a creature…We thought for a time that they might have once been plentiful in the galaxy – and the ones we find now are the only ones left.”
―Arkoh Adasca

The House of Adasca found a way to control the exogorths after the Great Sith War. Based on the research of Gorman Vandrayk, Adascorp was able to control the hunger drives, growth rate, and reproductive fission processes of the Exogorths. Arkoh Adasca placed control mechanisms and hyperdrive engines on a group of exogorths and sought to sell them to the Republic, the Mandalorians, or the Revanchist faction as superweapons. With the Adascorp modifications, the exogorths could be sent through hyperspace to a specific system. Once there, their increased rate of growth and division could lead to destruction of space stations, asteroids, moons, and possible even planets. The original exogorths could be sent to another system once they had divided, makinging it possible to disrupt or destroy hundreds of systems in a very short time. None of the parties who were invited to bid on these new weapons were enthusiastic about using them, however, all three were interested in making sure the weapon did not fall into the other parties’ hands.

In one recorded occurrence an exogorth living in the asteroid field around the planet Hoth grew to a size of about 900 meters in length. It was found and officially recorded by Gamgalon the Krish who made a living by capturing these massive specimens.

It is most likely this was the same space slug that Han Solo unwittingly hid the Millennium Falcon in when running from the Galactic Empire after the Battle of Hoth. Since exogorths insulate themselves deep inside asteroids and their own heat-generating waste Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Chewbacca were able to survive inside the space slug with only breath masks to provide oxygen. Solo had heard stories for years of the exogorths, and had been warned of their dangers, but he dismissed them as mere “ghost-stories”. His run-in with that particular slug, however, changed his opinion.

Certain facilities that resided in space would often keep an exogorth living close by to help keep the pesky mynock population down. To keep these specially used slugs from reproducing and growing to uncontrollable sizes, katrium was introduced into the exogorth’s system on a regular basis.

Giant exogorths were larger than average exogorths. It remains unclear if they were a separate species from the common space slug, or just individuals larger than normally reported.

The exogorth that for a short time around 3 ABY carried the Millennium Falcon in its gullet may have been a giant exogorth
_____________________________________________________________

Colossus Wasp. :::::::::

a Natural predator of teh exogorth::

Colossus wasps were spacefaring insects that grew to be over a kilometer in length. Their varied diet consists of living matter such as space slugs, inanimate matter such as asteroidal minerals, and even pure energy such as stellar radiation. Colossus wasps had some form of natural self-defense, although what exactly, is unknown. 18 out of every 25 months of the Ithullan year were spent in the asteroid field of the Stenness system foraging for sustenance. The other 7 months were spent in the atmosphere of Ithull mating, spawning and raising their young.

Colossus wasps were one of a number of titanic creatures that were native to the planet Ithull in the Stenness Node. When they died, the local miners refurbished the carapace to create Ithullian ore haulers. Demand for ore haulers led to colossus wasp poaching, a business as deadly as it was illegal.
_____________________________________________________________

Crimson slugs:::::::

were a species of space slug native to the asteroids of Tapani Sector. They were distinguished by a red stripe down either side of the body.

_____________________________________________________________

Mynock:::::::

“Mynocks. Probably chewing on the power cables.”
―Han Solo

A mynock was a silicon-based parastical organism found across the Galaxy that was often seen leeching power from spacecraft. In addition, they could absorb matter from a ship’s hull causing hull breach, and if not caught in time, catastrophic failure.

They were considered parasites by pilots and starport personnel, and failure to properly shake them off in orbit before landing could result in quarantine.

Mynocks were one of the few species that could live in the vacuum of space. They had bat-like wings which they could use to fly in atmospheres. However, they were often limited to the vacuum of space due to an allergy to helium found in the atmosphere of many planets. This allergic reaction would cause them to inflate and nearly explode before dying. Many spacewalking sport hunters would kill mynocks by attaching helium-based grenades to them in what was called “Mynock Puffing”.

They fed on electrical, stellar, and electromagnetic energy, and thus could become stuck to power cables or ion ports on ships and structures. The energy was absorbed through a big sucker-like mouth located between their eye stalks. Some Mynocks had legs, while others were legless. In atmospheres, a mynock produced a loud, piercing screech. As they lacked any major organs, they reproduced by mitosis, but only after they had consumed enough material required for replication. A few subspecies appear to have existed, including one that had a normal mouth, rather than a sucker-like one, and another that had blue skin and gave birth to live young.

They were commonly eaten by another silicon-based creature, the exogorth. Swarms of mynocks could be found alive, flying around a space slug’s innards for a long time before they start to become digested. While living in a slug, they could obtain sustenance by feeding on its veins and intestinal lining. Despite being a silicon-based lifeform, a properly prepared mynock could also be ingested by carbon-based life forms; they were sometimes used in Twi’lek cuisine, such as Mynock Coronet City.

Mynocks tended to flock together, generally in a pack of ten, however could migrate annually in large groups. The most notable of these migrations were the famed migrations of Roon, where the sky could literally become darkened from swarms of these creatures. They tended to protect territory in which they resided and would attack in larger numbers if they felt threatened. It is possible that they communicated using pheromones, telepathy, or even through a hive mind.

Subspecies of mynocks included the salt mynock and sulfur mynock of Lok.

Because mynocks were generally considered to be loathsome pests, the word “mynock” was used as a disparaging term. However, in recognition of the mynock’s skill at evading attack, the Jedi Order named a form of lightsaber combat after the beast: Soresu.

The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide is a 2001 book written by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau, and published by Chronicle Books. The book details the wildlife of the Galaxy up to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Information on the habits and habitats of each species is included, and many species are broken down.

The Star Wars universe is a vast and varied place, populated with an amazing array of creatures. These fascinating fauna have been captured here in the only comprehensive annotated field journal of its kind. Many years of extensive study and on-site observation have gone into these renderings, and great risk taken to learn about the natural habitats of all of the creatures. From the ice fields of Hoth and the pastures of Naboo to the concrete jungle of Coruscant and the intense heat and wind of Tatooine, identify and learn about the mating habits, feeding patterns, herding instincts, and defense mechanisms of these incredible beings.

This extraordinary field guide provides the ultimate look at the wildlife of Star Wars.
_______________________________________________________________

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::ENDOR:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Blurrg:::::::

The Blurrgs were two-legged reptilian beasts that lived on the plains of the forest moon of Endor. They were used by the Sanyassan Marauders living on that moon to do their heavy labor. The Sanyassans originally used them as attack creatures, but they were too slow and calm, so they used them as beasts of burden instead. They controlled them with spiked chain bridles, riding on their backs with stiff saddles.

The blurrg’s huge mouth ate almost anything edible, perfect for clearing savannah grass, weeds, and saplings. Blurrgs were strong yet very slow and stupid—so much so that they walked right into small trees knocking them down. The egg-laying creatures usually produced 5 or 6 babies at a time. In their early years babies stayed very close to their mothers for protection from Boar Wolves. Blurrgs communictated through a series of roars.

During the Clone Wars, clone troopers mounted on blurrgs were used as heavy cavalry on various worlds.

There is a location on the forest moon of Endor named Blurrg’s Isle, which seems to be the home of a significant population of Blurrgs.
_____________________________________________________________

Boar-wolf::::::::

The boar-wolf, or borra, was a predatory animal that lived on the forest moon of Endor.

Boar-wolves were three meters tall. They had much hair, and two tusks. They were sometimes domesticated by the primitive Goraxes, usually by having their mother killed and then being taken away by the Gorax. They would often howl at the gas giant Endor when it appeared in the night sky.

One domesticated boar-wolf chased Cindel and Mace Towani through the forest after they left the home of Deej Warrick, trapping them inside the hollow of a tree trunk. In the morning, Deej and his three sons Wicket, Widdle, and Weechee went searching for the children and found the boar-wolf lurking in the vicinity. Deej and his two elder sons fought the creature using spears. The boar-wolf was ultimately felled by Wicket, who shot it with a poisoned dart from a blowgun.

Upon emerging from their hiding place (from which they witnessed the battle), Mace and Cindel found their father’s life monitor attached to the boar-wolf’s collar, put their by its owner, a giant Gorax who lived in the Forbidden Fortress, as an ornament
____________________________________________________________

Mantigrue::::::::::

Mantigrues were flying, carnivorous reptavians native to the craggy cliffs and deep woods of Endor’s forest moon. They walked on two legs and had three digits on each leathery wing, used for grasping prey.
Morag, the Tulgah witch, had captured at least one mantigrue, and domesticated it to serve at her command.
For Morag’s pleasure, this particular mantigrue would be unleashed to terrorize Ewoks.
Ewok lore held that mantigrues served the Night Spirit, an invisible evil deity who controlled the night’s darkness.
______________________________________________________________

Rearing spider::::::::

The rearing spider, also known as the giant cave spider, was a large arachnid native to Endor that got its name from its way of intimidation and attacking, standing on its rear and encompassing its prey with all of its legs. Unlike most spiders, the rearing spider would hunt its prey instead of capturing them in webbing. It could usually be found in desert caves or scavenging the rotten meat left by a Gorax.

In approximately 3 ABY, a caravan in search of two Human children’s missing parents came to the cave fortress of their kidnapper, a Gorax, in the Desert of Salma. Inside the Gorax’s cavernous lair they encountered several rearing spiders. The Ewok priestess Kaink used her magic scepter to momentarily hypnotize one of their pursuers. Just as the spider came out of its hypnotic trance, the Ewok Chukha-Trok cut a main anchoring strand, of the large web the spider was on, with his axe. The spider plunged into a deep crevice, screeching to its death.

During this encounter, another rearing spider was speared in its soft underside by the Ewok Wicket W. Warrick
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Horse:::::::

Horses were domesticated animals used as mounts and beasts of burden on many inhabited worlds in the galaxy.

Horse was the vernacular name for the species used in Basic. The technical term used by scientists was equus. In Ewokese, the species was called “pulga.” A small horse was called a “pony” in Basic and a “gaupa” in Ewokese.

The homeworld of horses is unknown. Since they were common on many Human-inhabited worlds, it is possible they originated on Coruscant, and spread throughout the galaxy alongside Humans. They were present on Bryndar.

When Cindel Towani was befriended by Wicket after her family crashed on Endor, he showed her an Ewok-made pulga statue, which she identified as a horse. Apparently, at least one world visited by the Towani family in the Galactic Empire had horses.

The Ewoks mainly used small gaupas to ride, but also used large pulgas for heavier loads. In the quest to rescue the Towani parents, most of the Ewoks involved rode gaupas, while Cindel and Wicket traveled in a children-carrying basket aboard a full-sized pulga.

The Force-sensitive witches of Dathomir possessed beautiful black horses, which they sometimes rode instead of Dathomiri rancors. Some of the witches, notably Charal, possessed rings of mysterious (possibly Sith) origin with strange Force “magic” properties that allowed the witches to change the physical shapes of both themselves and their steeds.

Charal apparently brought her Dathomiri steed with her to the forest moon. To lure Cindel into a trap, she changed her own shape into a beautiful lady, and her horse into a white steed. Apparently, white horses were considered symbolic of purity and nobility in the Galactic Empire.

The Sanyassan Marauders under King Terak also used large horses as mounts. It is possible they brought these steeds with them to the forest moon, as Charal brought her own horse. The Marauders crashed on Endor almost 100 years before the Battle of Yavin, and the horses and ponies used by the Ewoks may well have been descended from Marauder-introduced stock.
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Bordok:::::::

The bordok was a vaguely equinoid herbivore native to the forest moon of Endor. It was used by Ewoks as a pack animal and a mount when tamed. Very sure-footed, and in spite of their size, they were capable of carrying very large loads.

Although somewhat similar in appearance to horses, bordoks were not true equines. They had upward-curving horns that were short on young and female bordoks but could grow to larger size on an adult male. Bordoks also had split hooves that helped them climb through the trees of their arboreal home.

There were two species of bordoks: The lesser bordok grew to no more than 1.5 meters tall at the shoulder. The rarer greater bordok could reach twice this size. Both species were fairly intelligent, and were not startled easily. However, they did instictually become more skittish at night due to the various nocturnal predators that stalked the moon’s surface.

Adult bordoks were extremely protective of their young, and when domesticated, over their master as well. Young bordoks were commonly taken as pets and often developed a life-long bond with their owner. Princess Kneesaa had a pet baby lesser bordok named Baga
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Temptor::::::

Temptors were forest dwelling amphibians native to Endor.

Temptors were named for using their furry lure-like tongues to draw their prey toward their hidden jaws. Food was always abundant on Endor and the temptors usually ate rodents, birds and other small creatures.

Temptors had pale fleshy skin covered with mucous, which allowed them to slither into tight spots and then strike prey fast after luring them with its tongue.

Even though it slithered it still had claws for anchoring itself to the ground or wherever it was hiding. Temptors had excellent eyesight due to multiple eyes on its head.
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Geejaw:::::::::

Geejaws were reptavians native to Endor.

Known for their wide variety of calls and mimicry, geejaws were inquisitive creatures. They were small red birds with sharp beaks which they used to build nests, laying several eggs at a time and both parents would care for helpless chicks.

Common prey of the temptors and other animals on Endor, geejaws had to build nests high above ground or in hard to reach places.
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Rugger::::::::::

Ruggers were cute, fluffy rodents native to the forest moon of Endor. They lived in the planetoid’s grassy plains (yellow-furred variety) or high in the trees (greenish-white-furred variety), eating nuts and berries and hibernating in the winter. They had sharp front incisors and suction-like foot pads among their adaptations. Ruggers were favored prey of Yuzzum and temptors. Domestic ruggers were kept as pets by the wealthy on Coruscant and had white fur.

The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide is a 2001 book written by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau, and published by Chronicle Books. The book details the wildlife of the Galaxy up to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Information on the habits and habitats of each species is included, and many species are broken down.

The Star Wars universe is a vast and varied place, populated with an amazing array of creatures. These fascinating fauna have been captured here in the only comprehensive annotated field journal of its kind. Many years of extensive study and on-site observation have gone into these renderings, and great risk taken to learn about the natural habitats of all of the creatures. From the ice fields of Hoth and the pastures of Naboo to the concrete jungle of Coruscant and the intense heat and wind of Tatooine, identify and learn about the mating habits, feeding patterns, herding instincts, and defense mechanisms of these incredible beings.

This extraordinary field guide provides the ultimate look at the wildlife of Star Wars.
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:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::BESBIN:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Beldon:::::::

The beldon was an enormous gas-filled creature native to the skies of Bespin.

Beldons metabolized the natural chemicals and biospheric planktons of the slushy gas-liquid-solid interface of Bespin’s lower atmosphere via long, trailing tentacles. They traveled in free-floating herds. Beldons reproduced sexually, but did not mate: eggs and sperm were released into the atmosphere and drifted like plankton until random fertilization occurred.

Beldons excreted Tibanna gas, which could be collected and used as hyperdrive coolant. They were surrounded by a small electrical field to detect approaching predators, like velkers.

Some rare species of beldon could actually survive in space, drifting in interstellar nebulae or gas clouds. They could also consume minerals in small planetoids and asteroids by secreting acid on their tentacles to bore into rock and metal. They have been known to even latch onto crippled starships for their mineral content. Like the beldons on Bespin, these “space beldons” also excreted Tibanna gas.
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Velker:::::::::

The velker was a flying creature the size of a starfighter found on the planet Bespin. It looked like a flying wing with eyes, a tail, and a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. It could produce electrical energy fields to stun threats and its natural prey, beldons. Large groups would feed on a stunned beldon, shredding it to pieces as it fell.
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Rawwk::::::::

Winged mammals native to the planet Bespin, rawwks inhabited the gas giant’s upper atmosphere, hunting other airborne creatures with a screech that disoriented their prey. That distinctive screech gave them their name.

A large colony of rawwks that inhabited Tibannopolis formed an empathic connection with future Jedi Master Streen; when he left Bespin, the entire flock, numbering in the thousands, took to the air in a farewell gesture.
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Floater (animal)::::::::

Floaters was an umbrella term describing many species of animals found in the atmospheres of Bespin and Yavin Prime.

The Bespinese species were zooplankton which fed on algae. At least one species of them could also be found in the jungles of Kashyyyk. Some species resembled arthropods, while others resembled flying fish.

The twelve species of floaters native to Yavin Prime were behemoth-sized creatures, more similar to Bespin’s beldons. Gas-filled beings, ten of the species were herbivores, being preyed upon by the other two species (“floater sharks” an “floater squid”), which were carnivores.
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Thranta:::::::::

Thrantas were a group of flying animals found originally on Alderaan. While there were multiple breeds varying in size and functions (some for personal travel, others for massive air ferries) most thrantas served the purpose of being air transport.

The predominant physical feature of these creatures were their mantaray like figures. Often misidentified as a thranta is the aiwha of Kamino, an imported species originally hailing from Naboo.

Thrantas survived the extinction of most Alderaanian life by the first Death Star however, due to a few members of their species being shipped to the tibanna gas rich planet, Bespin. Here, they enjoyed the open skies under the watchful care of the mysterious Thranta Riders.

Some thrantas were also transplanted to Coruscant but died due to the air pollution, and only in Bespin could one see the thrantas thrive as a tourist attraction to the world as either wild beasts, or in thranta rodeos.

*The Pilotta thranta was one of the several species of Thranta that were native to the planet Alderaan, which was destroyed by the Galactic Empire, and thus became extinct. They were considered the second largest of the thranta species, smaller only than the Great Thranta.

Unlike the other species of thranta, the pilotta thranta possessed black skin on its dorsal side, while it had white skin on its underside. Their noses were short and pointed. The tails of the beasts were also somewhat different as they possessed three lobes instead of the four that were present on the Common Thranta and Balana Thranta. Like its cousins, the pilotta species would be trained to carry passengers with a compartment hanging from their bodies.

*Balana Thranta were one of the many species of Thranta that were native to the planet Alderaan and became virtually extinct upon the planet’s destruction.

The Balana subspecies was distinguished from the others by its larger body that had a brownish coloration. Furthermore, the wings themselves seemed more hook-like at the front giving an appearance of hands. The tail itself was also different with the horizontal lobes being larger then the vertical ones. Like the other Thranta species, the Balana Thranta would be trained to serve as a form as a transportation beast and allowed an open seated raft to be strapped on the creatures back.

*The Great Thranta was the largest of the Thranta species native to the planet Alderaan and became extinct when the world was destroyed. Its size was estimated at being fifteen times longer then the Pilotta thranta.

This species of the thranta differed as they possessed a white coloration to their skin as well as a long neck ending in a stubby head. Their tail also differed as it was proportionally smaller and lacked the horizontal lobes common to the other species. As was expected, the wings of the beasts possessed strong muscles that allowed them to fly in the skies of their homeworld. Like the other subspecies, they were trainable and would be controlled by handlers who would place a compartment on the back of the beasts head while a larger passenger compartment was placed around its chest.

The species should not be confused with the giant thranta, which was merely a large breed of the common thranta.

The nature of our position is that of idealism. We, as Jedi, cling to the hope that life can, and will be, better. We cling to the belief that we have an effect through our actions, and that by counteracting negative events, we can turn them into positive ones. This leads to the issue of balance. Much has been made of “Balance” in the force, and the existence of Light and Dark…such as the belief that to have a Light Side, you must have a Dark side…to know love, you must also know hate. But this is simply theoretical. The Force, by our definition of it, does not choose sides.
Therefore, it has no “Light” Side, and it has no “Dark” Side. It simply exists, and we, as conduits of this force, use it in “Light” and “Dark” ways. In my personal belief, balancing the force is a way of achieving the purest form that the force may be used in. By doing so, you negate the outside influences. My personal feeling is that the purest way the Force may be used in is for good. By that standpoint, negative uses of the force are an abberation. Of course, there are many different standpoints.
Dark Side force users feel that the force should be used in such a way as to bring power to the user. The Force is a very powerful energy, and can be used in whichever way the user wishes it to be used. This is why we adhere such labels to users…Light Side, Shadow Side, Dark Side…it is not an actual facet of the force, as much as it is a reflection of ourselves. It is a way of classifying the different users of the force into tangible ideals and motives.
For me, I am a Jedi because I believe in optimistic ideals, I believe in humanity, and I feel that we all have an energy that we can tap into as a cohesive world…a universal “power outlet” that we can all use to make the world a better place. That’s what we, as Jedi, must use this to do. We must keep our ideals…we must retain our hope…and we have to continue to believe in something better for everyone as a whole.