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Zalaacas were swift, intelligent, and fierce omnivores native to the Gungan swamps of Naboo.[1]
Biology and appearance
Little was known about their habits. They seemed to dwell primarily in woody uplands, yet were strong swimmers. Narglatches would not attack adult zalaacas but zalaacas would attack and eat narglatches.[1]
A zalaaca female
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 dappled blue. Zalaacas also had sharp claws, fetlock spikes, and a finned tail for swimming. Due to certain anatomical similarities, zalaacas might have been related to sando aqua monsters.[1]
Not much was known about their breeding habits. It was conjectured that zalaacas lived in family groups of one adult male to between one and four adult females and their young, and that the adult female gave birth to one offspring every ten years.[1]
Gungan war mount
A Gungan rite of passage was to capture a foal with the intent of training it as a cavalry mount, this was extremely dangerous, and not often successful. As zalaacas were a natural enemy of the kaadu, this was a test of courage for both mount and rider.[1]
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.[1]
Behind the scenes
Quigga concept art made for The Phantom Menace.
During the production of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, a "gungan cavalry beast" nearly identical to the Zalaaca in appearance but named "Quigga" was designed by Terryl Whitlatch; however, the creature didn't make it into the final film.[2] Whitlatch would later design the Zalaaca for The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide.[1]
Appearances
- Darth Plagueis (and audiobook) (Appears on tapestry)
Sources
- The Art of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 100 NAB 41-44: Naboo – Animals
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia