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- "Look, I know you're better than him. He knows you're better than him. Even the duraslugs back home know you’re better than him, but there's no need to rub his face in it."
- ―Sifo-Dyas speaks to Dooku about their fellow Jedi Arath Tarrex
Duracrete slugs, also known simply as duraslugs, were a species of non-sentient slug found in the underworld of the planet Coruscant. They fed on the artificial stone duracrete, then after digesting it, secreted it from their bodies to form a hard outer shell. The creatures used a series of mouth tentacles to sense their surroundings and could grow up to ten meters in length.
Biology and appearance
The duracrete slug was a species of non-sentient slug that fed on duracrete, a type of sturdy[1] artificial stone that it could break down with its abrasive and muscular mouthpart.[3] Though born with soft skin,[4] the slugs would digest the duracrete, then secrete it through their skin[3] or excrete it to form a hard outer shell[4] of armor-like skin.[1]
As its underdeveloped eyesight was all but useless, the duracrete slug's main sensory apparatus[3] was a series of tentacles around its mouth[1] that served as feelers[3] to sense its surroundings.[1] The slugs also used two of their power mandibles to devour duracrete in large quantities.[2] The slug's armored skin was tan in color, while its two small eyes were black. The body of an adult slug could grow up to ten meters (thirty-two feet, eight inches) in length[1] but they averaged between three and five meters.[2] Each slug was covered in a series of spiked ridges that ran from the creature's mouth to its tail.[1]
Behavior
Duracrete slugs were capable of causing much more damage then granite slugs and generally could be found in the lowest levels or foundation of a building. Within a few weeks, a single slug could cause permanent damage to a large building.[2]
History
Also known simply as duraslugs,[5] duracrete slugs were one of several unique forms of wildlife that evolved on the planet Coruscant due to the thousands of years of urbanization that resulted in the world becoming an ecumenopolis. Adapting to incorporate the artificial into their biology, they fed on the duracrete used in the construction of buildings in the Coruscant underworld and came to pose a threat to the area's structural stability.[3]
Exterminators on Coruscant carried pest control equipment to eradicate duracrete slugs[4] and were deployed by the city authorities in constant campaigns to keep the infestations under control.[2] In around 90 BBY,[6] the Jedi Initiate Sifo-Dyas mentioned duracrete slugs while trying to convince his friend Dooku not to antagonise their fellow Initiate Arath Tarrex during a trip to the planet Serenno.[5]
Behind the scenes
- "The duracrete slug is a species-shift from the slug in the Wildlife of Star Wars book by Terryl Whitlatch. The slug is based on her design, but with a twist -- instead of having a soft/slimy skin, it has an armored skin developed from consuming and excreting duracrete, so that they're really tough -- and big."
- ―Robert E. Barnes
The duracrete slug was based on a sketch of a duracrete worm by Terryl Whitlatch.
In the new Star Wars canon, duracrete slugs were first mentioned in the 2015 reference book Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know.[1] The species was originally created by concept sculptor Robert E. Barnes in collaboration with author David West Reynolds exclusively for use in the 2002 Star Wars Legends reference book Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary.[7]
Barnes created a sculpture of the creature to be photographed for the book based on a sketch of a duracrete worm created by concept artist Terryl Whitlatch for the 2001 Legends book The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide. Barnes shifted the design to have armored skin rather than soft skin based on the idea of the creature exuding duracrete.[7]
Appearances
- Dooku: Jedi Lost (Mentioned only) (In flashback(s)) (First identified as duraslug)
- Dooku: Jedi Lost script (Mentioned only) (In flashback(s))
Sources
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know (First mentioned)
- Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- Star Wars: How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks and Other Galactic Survival Skills
"Coruscant" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
"Coruscant" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dooku: Jedi Lost
- ↑ The Dooku: Jedi Lost script states that Dooku was twelve years old during his trip to Serenno as an Initiate. Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know states that Dooku was 80 years old at the time of the First Battle of Geonosis, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 22 BBY. Therefore, Dooku's trip to Serenno must have taken place in around 90 BBY.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Building a Complete Visual Dictionary on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
