Thrantas were a group of flying animals originally found on Alderaan. While there were multiple species and breeds varying in size and functions (some for personal travel, others for massive air ferries), most thrantas served as air transport.
The predominant physical features of these creatures were their manta ray-like figures.
Common thrantas and Balana thrantas survived the extinction of most Alderaanian life by the first Death Star, however, due to a few members of their species having been shipped to the tibanna gas-rich planet Bespin. There they enjoyed the open skies under the watchful care of the mysterious Thranta Riders. A large variety known as giant thrantas, larger versions of the common kind, were similarly preserved. However, all other species of the group were apparently wiped out along with their homeworld.
Some thrantas were also transplanted to Coruscant but died due to the air pollution. Only on Bespin did the thrantas thrive, and were a tourist attraction both as wild beasts and in thranta rodeos.
Thrantas stayed aloft using airsacs in their bodies. They fed upon small flying creatures and airborne zooplankton.
Species[]
Many species of thranta existed on Alderaan before the first Death Star destroyed them.
- Pilotta thranta
- Balana thranta
- Great thranta
- Common thranta, also known as the Alderaan thranta or the Bespin thranta
- Giant thranta
Often misidentified as a thranta was the aiwha of Kamino, an imported species originally hailing from Naboo.
Appearances[]
Sources[]
- "Still Designing A Galaxy Far, Far Away: A Profile of 'Artiste Extraordinaire' Ralph McQuarrie" — Star Wars Insider 24 (Picture only)
- The Illustrated Star Wars Universe
- Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back, Second Edition
- "On Our Planet: Alderaan" — Star Wars Kids (1997) 5
- The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
- Alien Anthology
- The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 5 (BES4, Bespin)
- "Rodeo Thranta" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Coruscant and the Core Worlds
- Galactic Gallery: Air Whales on Hyperspace (content obsolete and backup link not available)
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Unknown Regions
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: What Makes a Monster?
- Stay on Target