Tusk cat

The tusk cat was a fawn-colored feline predator found on the world of Naboo and its moon Rori.

Biology
Tusk Cats were large feline predators with a large pair of distinct tusks growing from their lower jaws. This put them at morphological odds with many tusked animals which often featured tusks growing from the upper jaw. A second, less-noticeable pair of tusk-like fleshy appendages grew from their cheekbones. Tusk cats were covered in fur that could range from browns to almost red. They seemed to share some features with ungulates, with toes ending in hoof-like appendages. Some smaller subspecies featured more claw-like digits as well as variations on the number of tusk-like facial wattles. Their tails were long and muscular, ending in a leaf-shaped spur. They appeared similar to the larger Naboo predator known as the Narglatch.

Behavior
Tusk cats were carnivorous and preyed upon smaller animals native to Naboo. Their tusks were used as both offensive hunting weapons as well as for defense. Though they were aggressive predators, they could be domesticated and even ridden.

Mounts
Despite their predatory nature, tusk cats could be tamed for a variety of uses, notably as mounts. Tusk cat riders were employed as shepherds for various livestock, including shaak. Tusk cats also served as military patrol vehicles for the Naboo military, recreational attractions, and ceremonial beasts with royalty. When outfitting a tusk cat mount, the traditional bridle was abandoned in favor of a harness attached to the tusks. During the Victory Races of Naboo, Queen Padmé Amidala herself rode a tusk cat.

Pets
Tusk cats were among many creatures moved off-planet as pets following The Battle of Naboo due to the growing demand for Naboo pets among spacers.

Behind the scenes
In the context of the Galactic Battlegrounds computer game, wild tusk cats (and other animals such as gundarks) work as the equivalent of wolves and other neutral/Gaia units from Age of Empires. Tusk cats appear both as wild creatures, and as mounts for the Naboo cavalry units in Clone Campaigns, replacing the kaadu in Galactic Battlegrounds.

Appearances



 * Star Wars Episode I: The Gungan Frontier
 * Imperial Commando: 501st
 * Star Wars: Empire 20: A Little Piece of Home, Part 1
 * Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Yoda's Challenge Activity Center
 * Dark Journey
 * Omen
 * Dark Journey
 * Omen