Krayt dragon

"Of course. I've been to Tatooine, actually, and bagged a krayt dragon there. Its pearls paid for the upgrades on the Jewel."

- Nakari Kelen

Krayt dragons were large, carnivorous reptiles that hailed from Tatooine, a desert planet in the Outer Rim region of the galaxy. They came in two subspecies and, despite their fierceness, were hunted for the precious pearls found in their bodies.

Biology and appearance
Krayt dragons were giant carnivorous reptiles that came in two subspecies: the smaller and more common canyon krayt, and the larger greater krayt. Due to their large size and ferocity, they were the apex predators of Tatooine. Their bodies produced krayt venom, which helped the dragons as an acid in pre-digestion of their food.

Behavior
Hungry krayt dragons posed a serious threat to the diminutive Jawas, and their cry was enough to ward off the fierce sand nomads known as the Tusken Raiders.

History
Krayt dragons were commonly known for their pearls, bodily concentrations that were considered to be highly valuable.

At the time of the Invasion of Naboo, one krayt dragon had taken up residence in the Laguna Caves on Tatooine, in which rescue teams for the Boonta Eve Classic did not dare to go.

Behind the scenes
Although a Krayt dragon's skeleton appeared in the 1977 movie Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, living specimens made their first appearance in canon in Disney Interactive's mobile strategy game Star Wars: Commander, which was released on August 21, 2014 for iOS devices. In celebration of the game's second anniversary, players were awarded five Krayt dragon gift units, along with five Droideka Oppressors and five Droideka Sentinels.

Appearances

 * Adventures in Wild Space: The Nest
 * Thrawn
 * Bounty Hunt
 * Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
 * Star Wars: A New Hope (paperback novel)
 * The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight
 * Star Wars Battlefront
 * Heir to the Jedi
 * The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure
 * Star Wars: Commander
 * Star Wars: Uprising
 * Aftermath: Empire's End