Bith/Legends

Bith were a highly advanced craniopod species native to the planet Clak'dor VII. They had pale skin, large heads and eyes, and long fingers. Bith had acute senses of smell, high manual dexterity, and could sense the tonal qualities of sound as well as other races sensed colors. They could also see microscopic details of nearby objects, but were extremely nearsighted as a result. Bith never slept unless utterly exhausted.

History
Bith were one of the galaxy's most ancient races, with a history going back millions of years. Their society was highly regimented, with everything from mate selection to political leadership controlled by sophisticated computer programs. Bith were also unable to reproduce naturally, instead relying on artificial conception and gestation.

Mates brought genetic material to a Computer Mating Service for analysis against prospective mates. Bith children were created from genetic material from two parents, which was combined, fertilized, and incubated for a year. The Bith's internal systems were different than most humanoids, as the Bith had only one lung. Bith also lacked a proper nose, instead having olfactory organs hidden in the flaps of their cheeks.

Circa 300 BBY, the Bith city-states of Nozho and Weogar engaged in a massive civil war over patent rights to a new hyperdrive. The aftermath of the war destroyed Clak'dor VII's ecosystem and crippled the Bith industrial capacity, forcing the Bith to retreat to sealed cities and rely on imported goods and machinery to keep their society functioning. It also brought out a strong pacifistic streak in Bith culture. For example, though they were eventually persuaded to support the Confederacy of Independent Systems against a Galactic Republic they viewed as morally corrupt, they restricted their support of the CIS to technological and artistic contributions. After the Clone Wars, the Bith did not resist the Galactic Empire, instead putting their technical expertise at the service of the Imperial war machine. The Bith were horrified by the Empire, however, and were among the first to be liberated by the New Republic.

After the Nozho-Weogar War, Clak'dor VII's main exports were the products of the Bith intellect. Many Bith worked as engineers or data analysts. Their hearing also made Bith such as Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes (the house band in the Mos Eisley Cantina circa 0 BBY) excellent musicians.

Behind the scenes

 * The Bith species were originally meant to be called the "Sicmoo".
 * The Bith costumes seen in A New Hope were built by Doug Beswick.