The Road to Episode Infinity: 10 Species from the Old Expanded Universe

Lasat
(1988)

The Lasat were a tall species known for their impressive strength (which rivalled that of a Wookiee). They were also distinguished by their purple or grey fur, large ears, and yellow eyes.

The Lasat evolved on the planet of Lira San, but many immigrated to a planet called Lasan. Most of the galaxy believed that the Lasat had originated on the planet Lasan, including the Lasat there. The Lasat living on Lira San, however, remained hidden. During the age of the Empire, Lasan was demolished and millions of Lasat were killed.

The Lasat species originated from the 1988 role-playing game “Tatooine Manhunt”. The species was based on an early Ralph McQuarrie concept drawing for Chewbacca. The Lasat species was obscure and largely unknown to fandom until “Star Wars: Rebels” introduced Zeb (Garazeb Orrelios) as one of its main characters.

Anomid
(1989)

Anomids, from planet Yablari, vaguely resemble humans, but were distinguished by their fin-like ears and their metallic face masks. Many people assume that the masks that Anomids wore were breathing filters but, in fact, Anomids used these masks to vocalize. Without the masks they were incapable of speech.

Anomids originated from a 1989 Star Wars roleplaying game called “Riders of the Maelstrom”. They were further popularized “The Old Republic” video game. It is said that the “Rogue One” background character Silvanie Phest is an Anomid, but it is hard to tell under her heavy robes and bulky helmet.

Chiss
(1991)

The Chiss are a mysterious race from the Unknown Regions of the galaxy. Chiss were highly secretive and virtually most of the Galaxy. Anyone who chanced to see one would be surprised by their red eyes. Chiss also had Blue Skin and were sometimes mistook for Pantorans.

It is said that Chiss referred to The Force as “Third Sight” which gave the user precognitive powers. This ability was very rare, but when it did show up it was almost exclusively among the young females. Unfortunately this “Third Site” would diminish as the individual aged.

Grand Admiral Thrawn is the most famous Chiss in fandom and was created by Timothy Zahn for the 1991 book “Heir to the Empire”. In 1998, the name of Thrawn race (Chiss) first appeared in the novel “Visions of the Future”.

Noghri
(1991)

The Noghri were a short, fearsome species proficient in stealth and hand-to-hand combat. They had a keen sense of smell and could use their natural claws or teeth in a fight. The Noghri could walk upright, but ran on all-fours. They could also leap great distances.

The Noghri were created for the 1991 novel, “Heir to the Empire” by Timothy Zahn. Traditionally they were heavily muscled with long faces. However this version of the species was erased from Canon after the Disney merger.

The Noghri were redesigned for the television series “Rebels” where the character “Rukh” has a more humanoid face and a sleeker build. Rukh used a personal cloaking device to render himself virtually invisible to his attackers.

Sith
(1994)

The Sith were an ancient species from the planet Korriban. They could be identified easily by their red skin and facial tentables. Many Sith were Force users and many tended to use the Dark Side. They were a warlike species with strict caste systems. One delicacy in Sith culture was bloodsoup. The Sith also tended to be left-handed.

Long after the Sith species disappeared from the Galaxy, dark side users appropriated the term “Sith” to establish an Empire. Eventually the Sith Empire crumbled and the term referred to a small order of dark side force users.

The Sith species first appeared in “Tales of the Jedi” by Kevin J. Anderson in 1994. The species is no longer considered Canon under the Disney universe.

Falleen
(1996)

The green skinned Falleen were often associated with the Black Sun crime organization. The Falleen were able to produce powerful pheromones to attract their mates and it sometimes worked to attract other species as well.

The Falleen were thought to have evolved from an aquatic species on the planet Falleen in the mid-rim. The species could hold their breath underwater for long periods of time. It was rumored that Falleen skin would change pigment based on their mood and that some Falleen possessed the ability to command this color change.

Prince Xizor is the most famous Falleen in fandom and was created by Steve Perry for the 1996 novel “Shadows of the Empire”.

Yuzhan Vong
(1999)

The Vuzhan Vong were a race that originated from outside the known Galaxy. The Vong were notable because their religion shunned mechanical technology. Instead the Vong used organic genetic engineering to produce weapons, armor, and planets.

In the old Expanded Universe, the Yuzhan Vong launched a full-scale attack against the New Republic and the Galaxy at large. The Yuzhan Vong were not able to be sensed through The Force, which meant that even the knights of the New Jedi Order were weak against the Vong. Though the Galaxy was able to rid itself of the Vong invasion eventually the War resulted in the deaths of 365 trillion sentient beings.

The Vong first appeared in the 1999 book “Vector Prime” by RA Salvatore, the first in the New Jedi Order series. Although, Nom Anor a character from the 1998 comic “Crimson Empire II” was eventually revealed to be a Vong. Though the Yuzhan Vong are no longer Canon they almost appeared in “The Clone Wars” series. A species called the “Grysk” appared in the 2018 novel, “Thrawn Alliances” are quite similar to the Yuzhan Vong.

Feeorin
(2001)

The Feeorin were a blue-skinned species noted for their head and face tendrils. They hailed from the jungle world of Odryn. The species was tough and grew stronger as they aged due to their odd metabolism. Feeorin also had very simple names, which contained very few letters

The Feeorin species originated in the 2001 game “Starfighter” in which the pirate Nym is a Feeorin.

Selkath
(2002)

Selkath had large broad faces and originated from the aquatic world of Manaan. Selkath who ventured out of the water wore specialized armor to keep their skin moist. The Selkath were regarded as a peaceful species, many of whom dedicated themselves to preserving the oceans of their homeworld or taking care of the sick. However, the Selkath also had natural defenses, including retractable claws which produced venom. Some Selkath were known to work as bounty hunters during the Clone Wars.

Selkath originate from an official Star Wars website called “Holonet News”, which was designed to promote “Attack of the Clones”. In the May 2nd 2002 issue, a fishy creature is spotted behind Count Dooku. The creature would show up again in the video game “Knights of the Old Republic” in 2003 where it was identified as a Selkath. The Selkath were further popularized in third season of “The Clone Wars”.

Lepi
(1977)

The long-eared buck-tooth Lepi species were native to the planet of Coachelle Prime where they lived in subterranean burrows. Lepi were known to have large birthrates which resulted in the overpopulation of their planet. Fortunately, the Lepi developed space travel and were able to colonize the other planets, moon, and asteroids in the Coachelle system.

The Lepi were also associated with a droid manufacturing company known as Coachelle Automata which produced the LEP servant droid, commonly seen in “The Clone Wars” TV series. Notably, the LEP servant droid has long upward-facing “ears” that bore a resemblance to the Lepi species.

Jaxxon, the most famous Lepi, was created for the 1977 Star Wars comic “Eight for Aduba-3”. Though Jaxxon was originally panned by fans and ignored in canon, he eventually became a beloved oddity. Jaxxon was reintroduced into Star Wars canon with the 2018 “Star Wars Adventures” comic “The Lost Eggs of Livorno”.

Star Wars Aliens

The Aliens of the Cantina

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-aliens-of-cantina_1.html

The Aliens of “The Empire Strikes Back"

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-aliens-of-empire-strikes-back-what.html

The Aliens of Jabba’s Palace

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/07/aliens-of-jabbas-palace.html

The Aliens of Max Rebo’s Band

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-aliens-of-max-rebos-band.html

The Aliens of the Battle of Endor

http://roadto7.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-aliens-of-battle-of-endor.html

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