INFO: A gundark was a fearsome anthropoid from Vanqor known as one of the most vicious, strong, and aggressive species in the galaxy. These semi-intelligent creatures stood between 1 and 2.5 meters tall, with four powerful arms and large ears as wide as their head. Both their hands and feet ended with opposable digits. Gundarks were covered in short brown or gray hair.
RACE: Gundark
HEIGHT: 1 to 2.5 Meters Tall
SKIN (FUR): Black when born, then lightens to a light red.
DISTINCTION: Four arms, large ears
LANGUAGE: Gundark
HOMEWORLD:Vanqor was the largest planet in the Uziel system. It was located 6 parsecs away from Florrum.
Vanqor had two red moons that orbited in tandem. It was a planet full of deserts, canyons, and highlands. It was primarily populated by Humans as well as wild beasts known as gundarks. A few years prior to the Clone Wars, Vanqor's inhabitants began a conquest that led to them controlling the entire Uziel system, except for the planet Typha-Dor.
Despite the lack of resources, it was able to create a massive amount of power for itself through cunning use of the resources it had and skillful conquest of those with resources, in contrast to planets like Typha-Dor and others that had large amounts of resources but no drive to succeed.
In 26 BBY, while investigating the planet, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi fought off a nest of gundarks. Around this time, Jenna Zan Arbor also hid on the world while experimenting with her new drug, the Zone of Self-Containment.
Vanqor was defeated by strategic maneuvering of the Typha-Dor fleet that allowed it to surrounded the much larger Vanqor fleet, partially with its own fleet and partially with Typha-Dor's two moons. The Vanqor capitulated without a fight rather than face the destruction of most of their military. A ceasefire was worked out with mediation from the two Jedi.
Early in the Clone Wars, Kenobi and Skywalker returned to the planet accidentally while pursuing the Separatist leader, Count Dooku. They crash-landed on a desolate plain, and were attacked by a female gundark while tracking Dooku through a cave. Though nearly suffocating from a poisonous gas, the duo were saved by Ahsoka Tano and a detachment of clone troopers. Dooku slipped away from them by hitching a ride with a Weequay pirate gang who had landed to scavenge his crashed solar sailer.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:Gundarks were birthed live with black coats of fur, and were able to fight almost as soon as they left the womb. A gundark's hair lightened as it grew older and its ears began to enlarge until, at puberty, they reach the width of its head, hence the expression "strong enough to pull the ears off a gundark." A gundark was born with only two of its four adult arms, with the second pair emerging during adolescence.
SubspeciesThere are a few subspecies of Gundark, including the Burskan Gundark of Burska and an unidentified green subspecies with four equal sized arms, a tail ending in a pincher-like pair of claws, two toed feet, and a more reptilian appearance.
Another sub-species was the Brachian Beastlord which was found on the moon Lamus. It was particularly vicious compared to main-line Gundarks, and had a poisonous bite.
In addition to true gundarks, other species of carnivores were called Gundarks by a young scientist named Kin Kimdyara, not because of physical resemblance but because of a similarly vicious, surly temperament. These species included the long-necked Gundark of Kharzet III and the aquatic Gundark of Yavin 4.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:Gundarks were found on many worlds throughout the galaxy (such as Naboo and Alaris Prime) and tended to live in temperate climates, though reports of arctic and desert gundarks were not unheard of. The gundark homeworld was most likely Vanqor, for that was the only planet they were found on during the Clone Wars. Most gundark populations on other worlds were the offspring of escaped slaves or groups moved to new planets by Galactic Republic agents attempting to protect them from slavery. Though it was illegal to capture or hunt gundarks on many planets the creatures were often captured and sold on the black market. Because of their reputation as fearless combatants, gundarks were often placed in gladiatorial arenas, and were considered the ultimate prey by many big game hunters.
Saying that someone "looked strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark" meant that they were healthy and strong.
BEHAVIOR AND INTELLIGENCE:Though not quite as intelligent as sentient creatures, gundarks were advanced enough to use simple tools such as rocks and clubs. (In spite of this, the expression "Gundark brain" was used as an intelligence insult.) They lived in organized family units inside hollowed-out trees or caves. Several Gundark families often lived together as a tribe, working for their common survival. Gundark society was matriarchal, with the oldest and most cunning female ruling the tribe. Males built the tribal homes and defended them ferociously from all intruders, attacking anything that entered the vicinity of the nest (and even some things that did not). Female Gundarks were usually hunter-gatherers, acquiring the food needed by the tribe and training the young Gundarks who weren't old enough to go out on their own.
Gundarks had intense sibling rivalries that sometimes ended in fatalities. Young Gundarks usually set out on their own after five standard years with their clan, fighting their way into a new clan whom they would then call family. This practice helped the Gundarks keep a great deal of genetic diversity. Gundarks usually hunted in groups when out for food or protecting the home. Male Gundarks were particularly fierce while on the hunt, and female Gundarks considered most sentient species to be their food.
COMBAT:In gladiatorial arenas, a Gundark was one of the most dangerous and feared opponents. The Gundark's short temper and thirst for blood meant that it would attack without provocation. A battle-scarred Gundark was frequently the favored creature in most arena matches, even against opponents such as rancors or trompa. Because of a Gundark's especially keen senses they were sometimes put into contests blinded or blindfolded to make the event "more sporting". Spectators would wait to see how long a less formidable creature could stay away from the Gundark's lethal embrace. The fearsome and unpredictable nature of the four-armed beast encouraged trainers to handle it with extreme caution. Trainers would often use a force pike to control their gundark, or else assign it a special guard detail. Gundarks were often kept sedated during transport. Due to the cost of Gundark containment measures, trainers rarely had more than one in their pool of gladiators.
Gundarks normally fought with bare hands and relied on their enormous four-armed strength to overcome opponents, but were also capable of using simple bludgeoning weapons. Gundarks were strong enough to smash bones with their hands. In the wild, they often ambushed opponents, hiding until their prey was within close range and taking the victim by surprise. If unarmed, a Gundark would often try to grapple its foe in an attempt to crush it to death.
APPEARANCES:Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Reunion (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 19: Daze of Hate, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (Mentioned only)
The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Starfighter (Mentioned only)
Outbound Flight (Mentioned only)
Jedi Quest: The Moment of Truth
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Way of the Jedi (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Dooku Captured"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes (Mentioned only)
"Philology" (Possible appearance)
Rather Darkness Visible
Labyrinth of Evil (Mentioned only)
Evasive Action: Recruitment (Mentioned only)
"The Last Hand" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 13 (Mentioned only)
X-wing Rogue Squadron ½ (Mentioned only)
Rebel Force: Renegade (Mentioned only)
Galaxy of Fear: City of the Dead
Galaxy of Fear: Planet Plague (Mentioned only)
Galaxy of Fear: Clones (Mentioned only)
Nerf Herder (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back junior novel (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (First mentioned)
Star Wars 40: The Empire Strikes Back: Battleground: Hoth (Mentioned only)
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars 51: Resurrection of Evil
Star Wars 52: To Take The Tarkin (Mentioned only)
Star Wars 60: Shira's Story (Mentioned only)
X-wing Rogue Squadron: The Warrior Princess (Mentioned only)
X-wing Rogue Squadron: In the Empire's Service (Mentioned only)
Lucky (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (First appearance)
Chessa's Doom (Mentioned only)
Heir to the Empire (Mentioned only)
Junior Jedi Knights: Kenobi's Blade (Mentioned only)
Edge of Victory I: Conquest (Mentioned only)
Edge of Victory II: Rebirth (Mentioned only)
The Final Prophecy (Mentioned only)
Betrayal (Mentioned only)
Tempest (Mentioned only)
The Wellspring on Wizards.com (article)
SOURCES:The Essential Guide to Alien Species
Alien Anthology
The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide (Picture only)
Who's Who: Imperial Grand Admirals
Threats of the Galaxy
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
"A Mon Alone" (Mentioned only)
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
The Art of Star Wars: The Clone Wars
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