Besalisk/Legends

Besalisks, also known as Ojom, were a race of multi-armed humanoids from the cold ocean world of Ojom. Besalisks evolved from large, flightless avians, though were often mistaken for a reptilian species.

Biology and appearance
Male Besalisks had prominent crests and four arms. Females of the species could have as many as eight arms. The addition of these appendages required a hearty metabolism, and these bulky beings were able to store food and water for many days, and if the need arose, they could survive for long periods without either. Scruffy sensory whiskers lined the area below their noses, just above the robust wattle most adult Besalisks possessed.

History
Quick-witted and sociable, Besalisks easily integrated into any civilized society, though few Besalisk colonies existed outside of sparsely-populated Ojom. Besalisks never sought representation in the Galactic Republic, content to go about their business while politicians and bureaucrats ran the Galaxy. During the rule of the Empire, Besalisks narrowly avoided enslavement by calling in favors with various influential underworld connections—though many Besalisks spent years working off this debt, especially those foolish or desperate enough to seek aid from the Hutts.

A notable member of the Besalisk species was Dexter Jettster, a gruff, honest being who owned a diner in Coruscant's CoCo Town district.

During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi fought body to body with the red skinned besalisk separatist commander Xerius Ugg in the planet Kiros after the droid armies occupied it.

Behind the scenes
In medieval European legends, a basilisk was a bird-like reptile with a crown-shaped crest and large wattle. Basilisks were usually depicted with six or eight limbs, and despite their reptilian appearances were more closely related to the chicken, a flightless avian. Under more modern definitions, basilisks are simply large snakes.

In a picture in the Ultimate Alien Anthology Besalisks are shown very short, approximately 1.6 meters

Appearances

 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Commencement
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 22: Knights of Suffering, Part 1
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 47: Demon, Part 1
 * Nomad
 * Jedi Quest: The Trail of the Jedi
 * Jedi Quest: The False Peace
 * 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 junior novel
 * ''Star Wars: The New Droid Army
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Slaves of the Republic - Chapter 1: The Mystery of Kiros
 * Star Wars The Clone Wars 2: Slaves of the Republic - Chapter 2: Slave Traders of Zygerria
 * The Clone Wars: Decide Your Destiny: Crisis on Coruscant
 * Star Wars: Republic: Trackdown
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars: Republic: Into the Unknown
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * The Last of the Jedi: Underworld
 * The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
 * The Last of the Jedi: A Tangled Web
 * The Last of the Jedi: Secret Weapon
 * The Last of the Jedi: Against the Empire
 * The Last of the Jedi: Master of Deception
 * The Last of the Jedi: Reckoning
 * Echoes of the Jedi
 * Rebel Force: Hostage
 * Star Wars: Cantina
 * Star Wars: Empire: Darklighter
 * Echoes of the Jedi
 * Rebel Force: Hostage
 * Star Wars: Cantina
 * Star Wars: Empire: Darklighter

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace

Notes and references
Besalisk Besalisko Besalisk Бесалиски