Varactyl/Legends

"Good girl."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi to Boga

The varactyl, also known as dragonmounts, were reptavian herbivores native to the planet Utapau, though some specimens found their way to worlds such as Kashyyyk and Belsavis.

Biology
They had beaked faces and long, powerful tails that could stretch to 10 meters long. The varactyl's flexible neck supported its armor-plated skull, and both male and female dragonmounts had crests and a ridge of mid-body spines displayed during courting ritual. While females sported blue green plumage and skin, males were mostly dull shades of orange and brown. Most important were the varactyl's five-clawed feet. Not only could a varactyl run at very fast speeds, but their claws were adapted to climbing the rocky walls of Utapau's sinkholes. This marked the varactyl as an excellent mount for the native Utapauns.

A varactyl's vocalizations were short, loud hooting calls.

Varactyls were very intelligent creatures with the ability to remember its riders far into the future. Depending on how that rider treated them previously corresponded to the varactyl's reaction to them, either loyal and affectionate to a good rider, or hostile and dangerous to an abusive one.

Varactyl subspecies included the dwarf varactyl, varactyl venomblade, varactyl preystalker and deathspine varactyl. It could be related to the Nos monster on Utapau.

History
Long ago, the stunted Utai learned to tame wild varactyl, and still served as wranglers for the dragonmounts, acting as keepers of both varactyl and their flying dactillion cousins. Varactyl were known to be loyal and obedient steeds. Riding a varactyl was reportedly similar to riding the speedy suubatars of Ansion. Both creatures were fitted with high-backed saddles for their riders.

In order to track down General Grievous, Obi-Wan Kenobi used a particularly swift and loyal varactyl named Boga. In record time, Boga reached the tenth level of Pau City, and engaged General Grievous in his wheel bike in a furious chase through the city.

Commander Cody carried out Palpatine's execution of Order 66 and ordered an AT-TE's gunner to fire upon Boga and Obi-Wan, however the AT-TE's cannon blast hit a wall near them, and the two plunged to the grotto below.

Many years before the Galactic Civil War, someone had brought a live varactyl egg to Kashyyyk. When the egg was subsequently lost, it hatched and soon dozens of varactyl populated a section of jungle on the Wookiee homeworld. As varactyls are not known to be able to reproduce asexually, how this happened is unknown. A long time ago, a large number of varactyls attacked the Wookiees of the Kerritamba Village. After they had finally fended off the attacks at the Great Tree, the Wookiees drove the varactyls out of the Kkowir Forest.

Behind the scenes
The Varactyl's roar was used in the Pokémon television series for the roar of Palkia, albeit merged with the roars of famous daikaiju Godzilla and King Ghidorah. It was again used as Palkia's roar in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but King Ghidorah's roar was not present in this particular rendition. Either way, in the standard Pokémon games, Palkia's roar holds no similarity to any of the above. The sound was also used in Double Fine's game Brutal Legends as the Raptor-Elk's scream.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 6: Commencement, Part 6
 * Star Wars: The Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Grievous Getaway
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith comic
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope