Kaadu/Legends

Kaadu were large, flightless, reptavian waterfowl that lived in the swamps of the planet Naboo. Gungans used them as mounts.

Characteristics


The kaadu was a two-legged reptavian at home both on land and in the water: they were excellent runners and strong swimmers, as they had a lung capacity allowing them to remain underwater for up to two hours. They could be found in huge herds, with the total record documented as 3.4 million animals. Kaadu females laid their eggs on land, often in fields. As predators such as the peko-peko were known to eat kaadu eggs, the average clutch of eggs was large, usually 100-250, thus ensuring at least some of the younglings survived. Kaadu had sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell. They were also very fast reaching a top speed of 50 miles per hour and usually out run most other creatures.

Kaadu lacked upper incisors, as such were unable to chew their food. Their diet consisted primarily of snails, tlickweed, and aquatic plants.

Kaadu were known to be fearless creatures, and many were domesticated by Gungan warriors as steeds during times of conflict, or as patrol animals to police the Gungan cities. Kaadu were highly loyal to their owners, and it was said that a Gungan and his kaadu made an inseparable team. Warriors often decorated their steeds with huge titavian feathers. Officers of the Gungan Grand Army rode into battle against the Trade Federation during the Battle of Grassy Plains upon their kaadu mounts. Kaadus came in shades of yellow, and bright oranges. The area around their eye was a periwinkle color. Their eyes were black.

Behind the scenes
The kaadu was originally developed as a beast of burden on Tatooine for The Phantom Menace. The creature was later given more aquatic characteristics and transferred to Naboo.

It should be noted that Episode I Adventures 15: The Final Battle erroneously describes the kaadu as a four-legged creature.

The kaadu seen in Episode I are computer-generated models. Their run-cycle features a hopping trot that moves them across the battlefield at a brisk pace.

The wing-decorated kaadu look quite similar to the real-world Polish Hussars.

The kaadu's bill look quite similar to the real-world Ringed Teal Duck.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Commencement
 * The Monster
 * Episode I Adventures 10: Festival of Warriors
 * Episode I Adventures 12: The Bongo Rally
 * The Death of Captain Tarpals
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace novel
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace junior novel
 * Star Wars: Episode I Jedi Power Battles
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Gungan Frontier
 * Deep Spoilers
 * Star Wars: Republic: The New Face of War
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * ''Star Wars: Invasion 1: Refugees, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * ''Star Wars: Invasion 1: Refugees, Part 1

Non-canon appearances

 * Star Wars Math: Jabba's Game Galaxy
 * Star Wars: Yoda's Challenge Activity Center
 * Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga