Gungan
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Gungans are separated into two races: the lanky orange, yellow or red-skinned Otolla race, and the heavier green-skinned Ankura race. However, they all exhibited many of the same basic physical traits.
Starting life as tadpoles, Gungans develop into tall beings with extremely flexible cartilaginous skeletons. Strong leg muscles allow for powerful and quick frog-kick style swimming through water as well as a remarkable jumping ability while on land. Fin-like ears (called haillu) also aid them in swimming, as well as expressing emotions like aggression, friendship, and fear. They have partially retractable eyestalks with nictitating membranes when underwater. They also possess a unique mucus-creating organ that help when underwater which they use to stop water from entering their nasal passages and mouth. Green eyes are unusual amongst Gungans.
Expressive faces and long bills with flaring nostrils are signatures of Gungan physiology. Lengthy muscular tongues and large blunt teeth allow them to eat lesser amphibians, while a layer of tough skin on the head allows for burrowing. A Gungan's arms end in four digits, and their feet have three stubby toes, unlike a human's. Females are smaller with sleeker faces and tend to tie their ears back. As male Gungans age, some develop prominent whiskers. Both sexes have a lifespan of roughly 65 galactic standard years.
Gungans have nostrils that seal when they entered the water. They also boast very strong compound lungs, allowing them to both hold their breath for extended periods of time, breath underwater, and withstand the pressure of deep water, along with well-padded kneecaps and powerful calves and legs for increased swimming speed. However, because they are so well-adapted to their watery environment, their skin dries easily in hot and arid climates.
Gungans were detailed in the Republic Xenosociological Database, under Subdirectory ORT831-23,794,928/1N.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Female Gungans with light-coloured ear flaps are considered very attractive by male Gungans, while the ones with dark-coloured haillu are thought of as 'boyish'.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Gungans speak a variation of Basic known as Gungan Basic, or "Gunganese," which occasionally incorporated elements of Old Gungan, a language spoken during the time of the Old Republic.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Gungans were generally a generous and peaceful race until the Trade Federation invaded. They truly love to have visitors and warmly welcome them; however, they remain suspicious until visitors had earn their respect.
Gungans are not tolerant of anyone who threaten their peaceful culture. They have very strict laws, and go to extremes to punish anyone who commits even a minor crime. Vandals, for example, could be given a sentence of exile, caning, or even stoning.
If a Gungan is cast out of society, it is very difficult for them to return. If they do manage to return legally, they will often be subjected to heavy discrimination. This could make life very difficult for them and could go on for months or years until their past offences disappear from memory. In addition, returning back illegally to the settlement from which they are exiled could sometimes result in the death penalty, especially if they bring along outsiders.
History
Gungans and the Human inhabitants of Naboo did not have an easy coexistence, as the Gungans believed the Naboo to be pompous cowards while the Naboo believed the Gungans to be barbarians. This attitude lasted until Queen Amidala united the Gungans and Naboo to fight the Trade Federation in the Battle of Naboo. Gungans, over the millennia of Human presence, have developed their own dialect based on their language, called Gungan Basic.
After the Battle of Naboo, the Gungans attained representation in the Galactic Republic Senate through Representative Jar Jar Binks. The Gungans also colonised the moon of Ohma-D'un, due to overcrowding on Naboo. A number of extremist Gungans colonised Naboo's other moon, Rori, at about the same time. During the Clone Wars in 22 BBY, a CIS biological weapon known as the "Swamp gas" was unleashed on Ohma-D'un and wiped out much of the population. Later, a Jedi task force defeated the CIS forces on the moon during the Battle of Ohma-D'un, thus saving Naboo.
Following the end of the war, the newly formed Galactic Empire established a presence on Naboo. Fearing enslavement, the Gungans went into semi-seclusion. However, Gungan resistance fighters have fought in a number of clashes with Imperial forces.
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