Critokian

Critokians were a species of two-meter-tall, arachnid sentients from Critoki, many of whom dwelled in tribes on the moon Yavin 4. They used large claws to hunt their prey on the jungle world, and several of their number were able to make their way off-world, to find work as bounty hunters. The Critokians' biological makeup featured a complex nervous system and six holes though which they could both communicate and breathe.

Biology and appearance
Critokians were sentient beings, two meters tall, arachnoid, yet bipedal, and possessed four limbs. Their fingers were tentacle-like in nature, an arrangement that allowed them to manipulate objects. Critokians possessed large claws, and could not only run fast, but possessed the ability to swim at a rapid pace. They had six holes on their foreheads that allowed them respiration on both land and water, as well as facilitating communication. The upper portion of their main body, or head, housed their complex nervous system. The lower portion contained the Critokian heart, as well as their circulatory and digestive systems. The skin of the Critokians was yellow, although it also featured black coloring at its joints, as well as at the base and tip of its body. Their anatomy featured two eyes, one on each side of the body, slightly above the point at which the larger limbs joined with the main body.

Society and culture
The Critokians hailed from Critoki, and also lived in tribal societies on the jungle moon Yavin 4. With their large claws, they could kill their prey. In order to communicate, they used a series of hoots and whistles.

Critokians in the galaxy
Several Critokians were able to find their way off Yavin 4 and become skillful bounty hunters. Furthermore, they were not an uncommon sight at Sok Brok's Fiftieth Annual Pet Show on Taris, where it was possible for one of the arachnoid Critokians to own a bipedal ornuk as a pet.

Behind the scenes
Ooi Say Hien, at the age of 13, created the Critokian species, through the "Design an Alien" competition held in Star Wars Galaxy magazine. The contest was launched in Star Wars Galaxy 3 (1995), and the winners were published in Star Wars Galaxy 7 (1996). Hien's entry was the winner for the "Under 16 years old" subdivision of the contest. Continuity editor Leland Chee later stated that published "Design an Alien" material was to be considered canon. The Critokians were subsequently referenced by James Luceno in his novel Millennium Falcon (2008), making it the only "Design an Alien" alien to be directly referenced in a later work. In The Essential Atlas (2009), authors Daniel Wallace and Jason Fry established the world of Critoki. Fry had drawn the reference from Millennium Falcon, and was unaware of the species' origins in "Design an Alien." Although the source did not directly establish Critoki as the original homeworld of the species before they potentially emigrated to Yavin 4, Fry has declared that it would "make more sense that way."

Appearances

 * Millennium Falcon