Bantha/Legends

"Baby banthas are quite cute..."

- Darth Vectivus

Banthas were a sturdy and easily domesticated beast of burden that was mysteriously found all over the Galaxy.

Anatomy
The bantha was one of the most adaptable herbivorous creatures in the galaxy and could be found on several worlds. They were able to survive in almost any extremes of environment and could go without food or water for several weeks. Although bantha subspecies have diverged from their baseline ancestors most shared similar characteristics. They were quadrupeds that were covered with shaggy fur and had large curved horns. A common bantha adult (Banta majorus) was between two and three meters tall and could weigh up to 4,000 kilos. Their lifespan was between 80 and 100 years and they reached sexual maturity at the age of 20.

Bulls tended to be slightly larger than the cows and both genders grew a pair spiral horns. Most female banthas achieved just a single spiral during their lifetimes, while a male could achieve two full spirals before its death. The distinctive spiral horns of the bantha grew at the rate of a knob each year. Thickness and condition of the horns were an indicators of the bantha's health and environment. Bulls fought each other by butting heads in ritual combat and the spirals on the horns could cause a pair to become entangled. This almost always meant death for both banthas as the pair would eventually collapse with exhaustion and starve to death.



Banthas used their dexterous, sensitive tongue as a sort of hand, pulling up grass and shrubs from the ground. Also located on the tongue were breathing and scenting spiracles, which allowed the bantha to determine an if an object was edible without stooping or reaching awkwardly. Male banthas raised their tongue as a way to signal their readiness to mate.

They traveled in herds of up to twenty-five individuals, led by the oldest, strongest female. A herd which grew too large was split, with the second oldest and strongest female taking the new herd. The gestation period was 30 months and the newborn's birth weight was about 50 kilos.

Subspecies
The bantha was domesticated on most worlds, and was used for pulling heavy loads, transportation, and even as war beasts. The meat and hide of the bantha were much sought-after. While the origins of the bantha were unknown, every world on which is existed laid claim to being its homeworld. Most banthas bred in captivity were trained as beasts of burden, and most of those were bred for desert environments. There were at least three distinct subspecies found on the planet Tatooine: the common bantha, the dwarf bantha, and the dune bantha. Noted for their docility, the dwarf race (also referred to as "miniature banthas") made amiable pets, as in the case of Ebenn Q3 Baobab's companion, Nuke.

Another additional subspecies, the Kashyyyk bantha, was suitably adapted for life on the Wookiee homeworld and the Kilian bantha was adapted for living in the mountainous regions of Kilia IV.

Feral banthas were also found on Talasea where they developed a mean personality and roamed the forested world at will.

Banthas of Tatooine
The bantha was as much at home being used as transport by the Tusken Raiders, or Sand People, on Tatooine as it was on grassy plains and frozen tundra. When a Tusken Raider child reached the age of seven he or she was ceremonially presented with a bantha of the same age as a companion for life. The youth learned to care for the creature, and the two build a mystical bond between Tusken and creature. When the bantha reached maturity, the male Tusken Raider would saddle his companion and ride it into the desert for adult initiation ceremonies. When Tuskens married, the couple's banthas would also mate, and when the Tusken pair had a son or daughter, their banthas tended to have a calf of the same sex.

The banthas of Tatooine were known to form deep bonds with the Tusken Raiders of the planet and often committed suicide if their riders were to die first. Banthas which died naturally were placed in vast graveyards, which held a kind of ceremonial reverence with the banthas.

The bantha in culture

 * Dim-U was a religious order based in Mos Eisley that worshipped the bantha.


 * In one version of the Corellian sport of Phrenbi, banthas were used as mounts.


 * Banthas were also the focus of a children's story called The Little Lost Bantha Cub, which was the favorite bed time story of Jacen and Jaina Solo.


 * Apparently, stuffed banthas were popular toys among children in the galaxy, as Lumpawaroo enjoyed his when he was young.


 * Bantha meat was often eaten by Tatooine locals, in the form of bantha steaks, bantha burgers, bantha rump, and Jerked bantha meat. The milk of the female bantha was used to produce bantha butter. Even the blood of the bantha was utilized to create Bantha-blood fizz. Bantha Breakfast Biscuits were also believed to be derived from the bantha.

Behind the scenes
In the original version of A New Hope, the bantha was played by a trained elephant named Mardji in a fur costume. Re-releases and the prequel trilogy featured digital banthas. Also, a very large and rare bantha figure was released from Kenner several years ago. For The Star Wars Holiday Special, a toy bantha was created, although it was never released as a toy to the public.