Iguana/Legends
Iguanas were a species of reptiles found on the Forest Moon of Endor. Chief Chirpa of the Bright Tree Village kept one such iguana, who served as both his pet and advisor.
Biology and appearance
Iguanas were a species of reptilian[2] quadrupeds, the body of which was covered in fine scales. They had a spiny crest along the back and a thin, long tail banded alternatively in different colors. At least one known iguana was gray with dark brown scales on the tail. The body of an iguana was about the length of an Ewok's head, not including the tail.[3]
History
The Ewok Chirpa, Chief of the Bright Tree Village, kept an iguana with grey scales as his pet and advisor. The Chief showed affection to his iguana, as he would let it clamber over his head during sessions of his tribe's Council of Elders.[3]
Behind the scenes
- "The novelization mentions that this reptile is not only Chirpa's pet, but also his advisor. It is unknown whether the advice went further than the taste of delicious plants and leaves (the iguana is a herbivore)"
- ―Tim Veekhoven and Mark Newbold
An iguana first appeared in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the third installment of the original Star Wars trilogy, which was released in 1983.[3] The novel adaptation of Return of the Jedi said Chirpa's iguana was "his pet and advisor." A literal reading of this phrase implies that iguanas can think and communicate concepts, and thus are at least semi-sentient, but that not all the narration in the novel is meant to be read literally is evidenced by such lines as "Threepio… smiled apologetically."[1]
In 2013, Tim Veekhoven and Mark Newbold mentioned Chirpa's iguana in "Drawing from the Present: Familiar Creatures in a Galaxy Far, Far Away," an article written for the Star Wars Blog. The article mentioned the iguana's uncertain level of sentience and joked about the creature agreeing to join the Rebel Alliance.[2]
Appearances
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi novel (First appearance)
Sources
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Coloring Book (Max Rebo) (Picture only)
Drawing from the Present: Familiar Creatures in a Galaxy Far, Far Away on StarWars.com (article) (backup link not verified!)- Yub Yub: Meet the Ewoks from Endor on StarWars.com (backup link not verified!)