Reek/Legends

The reek was a large thick-skinned, horned, bovine-esque quadruped, native to Ylesia. Subspecies could be found on Iridonia and Ithor. They could also be found in ranches on the Codian Moon, Tatooine, and Saleucami.

Biology and appearance


Reeks were herbivores by nature, but they were often fed meat for exhibition sport and executions. This turned their leathery skin a dark red and made the reeks much more aggressive. Reeks could not thrive on meat, so they were given just enough plant matter to keep them healthy. This method was used by the Geonosians for their Execution Arena reeks. One in particular was about to execute Jedi Anakin Skywalker, but was briefly tamed by the Jedi with the help of the Force and was later shot in the head and killed by Jango Fett. Yet another reek was tamed for General Grievous to ride on after his ship was shot down and crashed on the planet Saleucami.

All reeks, including subspecies, were normally brown in color and only changed depending on their diet.

Reeks were usually found in herds and resided in the mossy grasslands of Ylesia. They were very protective of their territory.

Subspecies
Reek were commonly exported to other worlds, causing them to adapt and become subspecies.

Ithorian reek
One subspecies, the Ithorian reek, was exported to Ithor. Their yellow skin color was attributed to their diet consisting of yellow flora and bafforr trees. They were used as plow animals by the Ithorians and were larger and stronger than those found on Ylesia. Their horns were also smaller because of the lack of hostility between reeks. Males and females were separated to reduce competition and to isolate mating periods.

The Ithorian reeks were wiped out during the Yuuzhan Vong War.

Iridonian reek
Another subspecies was the Iridonian reek. Reeks attracted the attention of the Zabrak when they developed interstellar travel. They saw reeks as excellent candidates for war mounts. Soon after, they were exported to Iridonia to be bred. Instead of giving them a meat diet, the Iridonian reeks were given a natural diet consisting of plant matter in order to be healthy enough for war. This gave them a tough, gray skin that helped them resist sharp and blunt weapon attacks during battle. The Iridonian reek's horns were much sharper and longer than other reeks and were also decorated with tattoos that represented its name or the family it belonged to. Unlike the Ithorian reek, Iridonian reeks were encouraged to fight for mates, making them less likely to buck or bolt in battle.

As the Zabrak advanced, the use of reeks in war declined. However, riding war mounts was still taught in most Iridonian military schools.

Kashyyykian reeks
A highly uncommon subspecies is the Kashyyykian Reek, also known as a Ryyk to the Wookiees. The reeks on Kashyyyk died off as a majority due to the climate change and the predators, however, a select few did survive and then learned to thrive. The adaptations required to do so made the Kashyyykian Reeks a much larger size than their cousins. Their horns became narrower, but longer and stronger, and there were one or two examples of the development of poisons beginning to be secreted at the tips.

Behind the scenes
The initial designs of the reek were inspired by Placerias, a stout, four-legged tusked species from the Triassic era. As the designs evolved, it began to take on more bull-like characteristics. Concept sculptor Michael Patrick Murnane was most responsible for developing the reek's final look in a very detailed concept maquette.

The creature's tall central horn came out of specific performance requirements George Lucas needed&mdash;Anakin Skywalker was to wrap his chains around the reek's horn when trying to control it.

The massive insect Insectosaurus in the 2009 film Monsters vs. Aliens has a call almost identical to the Reek's.

The reek looks quite similar to the real-world rhinoceros.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Old Republic
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (novel)
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
 * Boba Fett: The Fight to Survive
 * The Lesson
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
 * MedStar II: Jedi Healer
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows
 * Death Star
 * Star Wars Adventures Volume 1: Han Solo and the Hollow Moon of Khorya
 * Rebel Force: Target
 * Rebel Force: Renegade
 * Omen
 * Rebel Force: Renegade
 * Omen

Notes and references
Риик Reek Reek Reek