INFO: The Lepus carnivorus, more commonly known as Lepi, were a species of rabbit, ranging in color from green to dark blue. Their most distinctive features were long ears and feet and buck teeth. Native to the planet Coachelle Prime, their high reproductive rate forced them to colonize the entire star system to avoid overcrowding. The Lepus carnivorus were typically gregarious individuals, although prone to bursts of anger if their family or species was insulted. Lepi were constantly in motion and were known for their speed.
The most famous Lepus carnivorus was the smuggler Jaxxon, best known for his part in defending a village on Aduba-3, alongside New Republic hero Han Solo. Along with six others, they repelled the superior forces of the Cloud Riders. Other notable Lepi included the criminal Grubbat Fhilch, executed by Jabba the Hutt, and the Tatooine colonist Heff, killed by Jodo Kast.
RACE: Lepi (AKA: Lepus Carnivorous)
HEIGHT: 1.6 to 1.9 Meters Tall
SKIN (FUR): Green, dark blue, white, gray
DISTINCTION: Can see in the Dark (Red Eyes)
LANGUAGE: Lepese, Galactic Basic
HOMEWORLD: Coachelle Prime was a planet in the Mid Rim, not far from the Centrality. It was home to the rabbit-like Lepi, who lived underground in massive warrens.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:The Lepus carnivorus were bipedal lagomorphs with large ears and feet. They had lanky frames, with males averaging 1.9 meters in height, while the smaller females averaged 1.6 meters. The strong legs of the Lepi were capable of great speeds as well as delivering powerful kicks, often used in fights to bludgeon their opponents. Lepi were covered in short fur that ranged from green to dark blue to white. Lepi also had tails, although these seemed to differ in length from stubby to quite long.
The Lepus carnivorus had large eyes—likely adapted for dark warrens—which gave them sharp vision. This occasionally led to the misconception that Lepi consumed space carrots, which were known to improve eyesight. However, most Lepi preferred various forms of meat, such as hambones. Some Lepi even claimed to be carnivorous. A number of long whiskers grew from their short snouts. Long incisors, occasionally referred to as "buck teeth," jutted from their jaws, useful in their omnivorous diets.[8] The long ears of the Lepi were very sensitive and occasionally colored in different shades, such as pink fur.
The Lepus carnivorus had a very high metabolism such that they were virtually always in motion, giving them an appearance of flightiness. This skittishness was also influenced by their evolution from high-strung herbivores; their "fight-or-flight" instinct very much favored flight.
Lepus carnivorus sexually matured around age ten, when they were considered young adults. Females gave birth in prodigious numbers; mothers often had up to three dozen offspring in their lifespan. Lepi reached old age around 60 to 74, after which they were considered venerable.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:Lepus carnivorus society revolved around the vast warrens they built under the surface of their planets. Larger families lived in their own smaller burrows. Lepi were fiercely loyal and proud of their families. They were quick to anger and prone to violence, especially in reaction to insults to their family or species. Their awkward appearance made them prone to mockery, and they were particularly sensitive to being referred to as rodents. However, as a whole, Lepi were typically a gregarious species, quick witted with a strong sense of humor.
The Lepi were often curious and impulsive, leading many to seek out adventure far from their homeworlds. This also stemmed from a desire to rise above the insults they often received. It was common among Lepi to find a determination to achieve great deed not only for personal fame, but also to redeem their species in the eyes of the galaxy.
The native language (both written and oral) of the Lepi was Lepese or Lepp. However, this quickly became secondary to Basic as the language of preference. Non-Lepi, such as Seeqov Thranx, a Vratix research scientist, were capable of learning the language. Little was known of Lepi religion, but their exclamation "heavenly hutches" suggested belief in an afterlife. Some Lepi also carried lucky charms.
Lepi names were typically one word, with examples including Augdon, Gagen, Javilla, Lupher, Maximort, Nevlin, Roonis, Saper, Zylo, and Trixx.
The Lepus carnivorus evolved on the planet Coachelle Prime, located in the Terr'skiar sector of the Mid Rim. The world was shrouded by streamers of gas from the Thornhedge Nebula, and formed part of the Coniglio Sciocco constellation — known for its vibrant colors, most particularly raspberry, lemon, and orange. Due to their high reproductive rate, they soon filled their world to capacity and were driven to develop stardrives in order to avoid overcrowding. They swiftly colonized all five planets in the Coachelle system, along with its asteroid belt. This seemingly provided enough room for their species, although some Lepi were involved in other colonization efforts such as on the planet Tatooine and they were part of the wider galaxy by as early as 3,964 BBY. The many colony ships used in these endeavors were later left largely intact and poorly guarded, susceptible to theft by enterprising Lepi, such as Jaxxon.
Coachelle became a minor trade world, located at the end of the Ootmian Pabol hyperlane, and connected to Terr'skiar, the sector capital. The droid manufacturing company Coachelle Automata shared its name with the Lepi homeworld. The company produced the LEP servant droid which was in common use during the Clone Wars. This droid model had distinctive "ears," reminiscent of the Lepi species.
"Y'KNOW HOW US ROCKET RABBIT TYPES ARE: WE JUST CAN"T STAND STILL":The Coachelle system had long provided sufficient living space for the whole of Lepus carnivorus civilization. Despite this, a number of Lepi ventured beyond their star system into the galaxy at large. They tended to stick to the fringe as scouts and tech specialists, while some of the more aggressive became soldiers. Some Lepi were known to have the capacity to become Jedi Knights, although none were known to have achieved this feat.One Lepi to leave the Coachelle system was Heff, who was part of colonization efforts of the planet Tatooine during the early period of the Galactic Empire. Heff established a gift shop called Heff's Souvenirs in Mos Eisley and lived to be one of the last three surviving members of the colony. He had at least one daughter, Tebbi. However, Heff was killed in 0 ABY by the bounty hunter Jodo Kast, who was hunting the Rebel Adar Tallon. Heff's daughter later sold the shop to the Sullustan Moplin Jarron.
A less upright Lepi citizen was Grubbat Fhilch. He embezzled credits from the podracing operation of Jabba the Hutt. He was subsequently tracked down to his home warren by the bounty hunter Boba Fett who handed him over to the crimelord. Jabba had him thrown into a sarlacc pit as retribution. Fhilch was notable for possessing a long tail.
Perhaps the most famous Lepus carnivorus of all was Jaxxon, who featured in the Tri-Nebula Entertainment holo-doc "Eight for Aduba-3: The Saga of the Starhoppers". Originally raised on Coachelle Prime in a family of twelve siblings, he had a checkered past before his involvement in those events. After a youth spent in juvenile centers, Jax stole a freighter and ventured out to the Outer Rim Territories. He lived on Nar Shaddaa for a time before joining a mercenary group in the Corus system. After the group was double-crossed in the Corporate Sector, he purchased a WUD-500 star yacht which he called the Rabbit's Foot. The dysfunctional ship forced him to land on Aduba-3, where he would make his claim to fame. While there, he answered a call from Han Solo for warriors to protect the village of Onacra against local brigands.
Jaxxon, the Lepi smuggler.
Solo assembled a group of six mercenaries for the task, in addition to himself and his Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca. Wielding twin heavy blaster pistols, Jaxxon and his eclectic companions fought strongly against Serji-X Arrogantus and his Cloud Riders, finally repelling them with the aid of the Behemoth from the World Below which was summoned by a local shaman. With his reward credits, the green Lepi was able to leave Aduba-3, having teamed up with the Human woman Amaiza Foxtrain.
The ramifications of the Aduba event did not finish there for Jaxxon, however, as he was soon attacked by the bounty hunters Fud and Dafi, under orders of Beilert Valance. He was seeking one Jimm Doshun from Aduba-3, erroneously believing him to be Luke Skywalker. Jax was tortured, but showing typical Lepi resilience, gave up little information to the hunters. However, when they later inadvertently revealed the location of Jimm, the Lepi nobly returned to Aduba to fight off the hunters.
Another likely Lepus carnivorus was the manic lagomorph that worked with Jedi Knight Kyle Katarn on one, perhaps two, occasions. Possibly called Max or Maximort, he was shorter than the average Lepi but otherwise very similar in appearance. He was present in Barons Hed, Sulon, when Katarn was on a mission there, and may have aided him in firefights using his Bryar pistol. He later aided Katarn in apprehending the Ketton spy Derrida while on the Kwenn Space Station. Between them, they almost destroyed the station.
Later, in 137 ABY, the Lepi Gusha owned Gusha's Luck, a cantina on Tatooine. It was frequented by another Lepi, along with the former Jedi Padawan turned smuggler Cade Skywalker.
APPEARANCES:Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: Commencement, Part 2
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 21" (Possible appearance)
The Clone Wars: Invitation Only (Appears on a poster)
Fortune, Fate, and the Natural History of the Sarlacc (Retcon)
Tatooine Manhunt (Retcon)
Rookies: Rendezvous
Star Wars 8: Eight for Aduba-3 (First appearance)
Star Wars 9: Showdown on a Wasteland World
Star Wars 10: Behemoth from the World Below
Star Wars 11: Star Search (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars 16: The Hunter
Underworld Appendix: Swoops, Spice, and Wretched Rogues
Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II (Possible appearance)
Star Wars Legacy 38: Tatooine, Part 2
SOURCES:"The Starhoppers of Aduba-3" - Star Wars Gamer 4
Ultimate Alien Anthology
Thyferra: Bacta Basics on Wizards.com (article)
The Hunt Within on Wizards.com (article)
The Dark Forces Saga on Wizards.com (article) (Possible appearance)
"20 Most Memorable Moments of the Expanded Universe" - Star Wars Insider 83
"Comic Marvels" - Star Wars Insider 91
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Galactic Hunters (Card: Merchant Trainer)
Serji Arrogantus in the Databank
Jaxxon in the Databank
I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.
