Dianoga

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"Do not cling to me like a dianoga! Attack!"

―Grievous^[src]

Dianoga were large omnivorous cephalopods that hailed from the planet Vodran in the Si'Klaata Cluster. Although primitive, they were actually sentient, and some dianoga were sensitive to the Force.

Biology and appearance[]

Dianoga were sentient^[1] cephalopods characterized by seven suckered tentacles, an eyestalk, a mouth of sharp teeth,^[2] and several hearts.^[1] They could grow to a length of 7^[3] to 10 meters.^[4] Their blood had a blue tint.^[1]

Although they could survive in the open air for short periods of time, dianoga were entirely dependent on water, lest they completely dried out.^[1]

While physically hermaphroditic, dianoga could choose to identify as female, diangous (the most common gender), or male. The mating process involved partners exchanging eggs with one another.^[1]

The normal skin color of a mature individual was a deep purple, but dianoga could change their color and patterns for active camouflage. They could notably turn black, gray, and even transparent. They also had the ability to regenerate lost limbs.^[1]

Dianoga were omnivores,^[6] feeding on smaller animals like fish and crabs, but also feed on bones and aquatic plants.^[1]

Society and culture[]

Dianoga had a primitive tribal culture. When they were not feeding, they often spoke a deep, complex humming language. Because its reverberations carried so completely in the water, that language scared away all nearby prey. Their people venerated water, which they called "the Great Cleanser When It Was Time to Be Cleansed", and believed in reincarnation.^[1]

History[]

Dianoga hailed from Vodran, a swampy planet located in the Si'Klaata Cluster.^[2] They shared their world with the sentient Vodrans, who usually stayed well away from the deeper wetlands.^[1]

Dianoga in the galaxy[]

A dianoga in the water tanks of the SoroSuub refinery on Sullust.

One dianoga inhabited the junkyard world Bracca during the early days of the Galactic Empire. The being made a home within the waters that flooded the remains of a derelict Venator-class Star Destroyer, one of many such vessels left for scrap on the planet.^[5] Around the year 19 BBY,^[7] members of the rogue clone commando squad Clone Force 99 entered the wrecked cruiser, searching for a medical bay within the ship. One of their number, the hulking Wrecker, briefly wrestled with the dianoga when he found himself dangling from a cable over the being's watery home. Blasterfire from the other clones, however, drove the dianoga off and ended the encounter.^[5]

At some point before the Battle of Yavin in 0 BBY, a female dianoga named Omi was captured by Vodrans, who handed her to members of the Empire en route to their new Death Star battle station. She was dumped into the Death Star's garbage masher 3263827, where she would feed on the organic materials that occasionally fell in.^[1] During the rescue of Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker first realized something was alive in the garbage compactor, but shortly after his realization, Omi dragged Skywalker underwater. Han Solo and Organa were unable to locate him, but the dianoga released him just before the walls began to close.^[8]

Experienced chefs could make grilled dianoga into a tasty breakfast dish, but overcooking it would activate the blood parasites in the fatty tissue, destroying the flavor.^[9]