Nuna

Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.

This article is in need of referencing per Wookieepedia's sourcing guidelines.

This article needs appropriate citations. Help us improve this article by referencing valid resource material. Remove this notice when finished.

"Legendary for their stupidity and curiosity — have been known to wander onto and accidentally stow away on visiting spacecraft."

―Lyrre T'enna's notes on the Nuna^[2]

Nuna, commonly called swamp turkeys,^[2] were reptavian gamebirds native to Naboo that spread to many other planets. They were exported all around the galaxy for use as pets, meat, egg layers, or curiosities.^[2]

Subspecies include the common nuna and the dwarf nuna.^[2]

Anatomy

Nuna were diminutive bipeds, mostly covered in scaly skin and sporting a distinctive dorsal ridge. They came in a variety of shades, ranging from greens^[2] to browns,^[1] depending on the subspecies. They possessed a notably prominent jutting jaw and two large wattles hanging from either side of their mouths. They had large three-toed feet which were quite massive with respect to the rest of their bodies. Though the nuna were flightless, their skeletons were birdlike, as evidenced by a large keel-bone and pelvis. Distinctively, they featured a large anterior body cavity that the male nunas could inflate when agitated.^[2] Furthermore, the females laid one egg that was huge for the creature's size, which could contain up to ten chicks. Apparently, the temperature influenced the sexual determination of the eggs.^[2]

A dwarf subspecies existed, known as dwarf nuna, the adult of which was approximately the same size as a chick of the common species. This small subspecies also had a darker green skin than the common nuna.^[2]

Behavior

Nuna often exhibited awkward behavior, running with more of a waddle than a stride on their long legs. When vocalizing, a nuna's wattles erected outwards from their face. When angered or agitated, the male nuna could inflate its body to a strikingly larger size, similar to the coexisting Gullipud.^[2] Nuna survived on a primary diet of swamp plants, though they exhibited opportunistic omnivorous behavior, occasionally eating worms and other small invertebrates.^[2] Although they were non-aggressive, they could effectively defend themselves with kicks from their powerful clawed legs when cornered.^[3] Nuna also exhibited a high reproductive rate, laying considerable batches of eggs that also acted as a decent fertilizer if not hatched.^[2]

Nunas were heavily preyed upon by other creatures but flourished due to their fast running, ability to adapt, disease resistance, and sheer fruitfulness. Young common nuna could be eaten by pikobis.^[2]

History

Origins and Spread

Nuna were common in the swamps of Naboo,^[1] notably in the Lianorm Swamp.^[5] Though it is unknown how or when the nuna evolved on Naboo, it is understood, in part, how they spread to other planets. A number of dwarf nunas were exported to Tatooine as pets of Jabba Desilijic Tiure, who enjoyed callously killing the creatures, flicking them off great heights.^[1] Over time, the imported population apparently escaped domestication and large numbers of wild dwarf nunas dwelt invasively in the deserts during the time of the Galactic Civil War. Nuna eventually spread to other planets, including Saleucami^[6] and Coruscant,^[4] where they were considered vermin,^[3] game,^[7] and household pets.^[2]

Sports

As a pastime, Naboo Gungans were known to use nunas in their bloated, agitated state for sport, kicking them around like balls. "Nuna-ball" would gain some interest in the rest of the galaxy after the Invasion of Naboo. Thus arose another cause of galactic emigration as nunas were exported to many worlds to meet demand for nuna-ball. On some worlds, nunas were even raced in betting matches. The Committee Against Non-Sentient Abuse, an organization that protested the mishandling of animals, raised its voice against Nuna-ball matches for their misuse of nunas.^[7]

Culinary Use

"Deep-fried nuna leg mmm. Delicious!"

―Orn Free Taa^[8]

Nuna apparently had made it as a dish as far away as Saleucami^[9] by 21 BBY^[10] as evidenced by Captain Rex's encounter with one at a farmer's dinner table.^[6]