Falumpaset

The falumpaset (plural: falumpaset or falumpasets) was a large mammal native to the planet Naboo.

Behavior

They roamed the plains, forests and swamps of the planet (their long, stilt-like legs being excellent for wading) in large herds (as well as in family groups containing one adult bull and four to seven adult cows and their young),^[5] and their distinctive bellowing calls 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. Wild falumpaset had long shaggy fetlocks to protect against nipping nyorks, etc.^[6] They were excellent swimmers.^[5] Bigger enemies included sando aqua monsters breaching the surface of the swamps from the abyssal ocean beneath.

The terazod, the falumpaset, and the fambaa represented three different within the Gungan Swamps: they were three plant-eaters that existed in the same territory but had different feeding strategies. In the case of the falumpaset, when feeding underwater, it could only reach midlevel crustaceans and plants.^[6]

Biology and appearance

Falumpasets were large mammals found in Naboo's swamps. They were omnivorous creatures, and ate both plants and crustaceans.^[1]

A breed of falumpaset was also native to the jungle world of Onderon. They were gray in color and had dark strips across their back.^[4]

History

Wild falumpasets engage in twilight bellowing.

Two specially trained Gungan handlers were required to properly control a falumpaset. According to Gungan fables, such handlers aren't allowed to form close relationships with other beings lest the stubborn falumpasets grow jealous and even more ornery.^[5]

Because of their great strength, 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.^[3]

Behind the scenes

According to information Star Wars Insider got from art designer Terryl Whitlatch, the "notoriously stubborn" falumpaset:

"[May be easily confused with] the fambaa...But the falumpaset is much smaller and mammalian in appearance. When Jar Jar accidentally opens the back gate of a battle wagon and releases a payload of energy balls, the creature pulling the wagon is a falumpaset. 'The falumpaset is like a rhinoceros,' says Whitlach. 'A giant extinct rhinoceros, but without horns. I experimented with legs and like the look of a Clydesdale horse, so the falumpaset has the stocky sturdy legs of a Clydesdale.' Falumpasets don't look much like elephants, but behaviorally they are close kin. Elephants are so intelligent that they have shown evidence of tool-using and sophisticated communication...Falumpasets are as intelligent as elephants, which is both a blessing and a curse to their Gungan trainers, since the creatures are notoriously stubborn."^[7]

The falumpaset's coloring in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace was inspired by that of an Appaloosa horse.^[5]

The falumpaset, along with pikobis and fambaas, are identified as also being a native animal to the planet Onderon in the trivia slideshow for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode "A War on Two Fronts."^[4]