Yoda's species/Legends

The Jedi Master Yoda was the best-known member of a species whose true name is not recorded. Known in some sources simply as Yoda's species, this species of small carnivorous humanoids produced several well-known members of the Jedi Order during the time of the Galactic Republic.

Biology and appearance

The name and homeworld of this species are unknown.

Members of the species were much shorter than an average Human, most standing below 70 centimeters, with lifespans of many hundreds of years (though their average lifespan is unknown because all known members of the species were Jedi, who generally lived longer than ordinary members of a species). Adults of the species were characterized by sharp, elfin ears, ridges on their foreheads, tridactyl hands and anisodactyl feet. Their leathery skin and blood were both light green. The diet of the most famous member of the species, Jedi Master Yoda, consisted of nutrients most other beings considered disgusting.

All known members were very wise and had extraordinary Force potential. Most of them, though not all, spoke an idiosyncratic dialect of Galactic Basic Standard, utilizing nonstandard grammar and formalized sentence construction.

Notable members

Yoda, the most famous member of this species, was the Jedi Master during the time of the Galactic Republic for over two centuries and one of the most powerful Jedi in the history of the Order. Master Yoda died from natural causes at the age of 900 standard years.

A statue of an unknown Jedi of this species was inside the Valley of the Jedi on Ruusan.

Behind the scenes

"I never really figured out where he came from, what his species is called… he's a mystery character. He's a magical character. He has no background. He comes and he goes. He's the subversive secret mysterious stranger that enters the film and then exits at the end."

―George Lucas, on Yoda

George Lucas maintained a strict policy of keeping the history, name, origin, and whereabouts of this species unknown. When asked what species Yoda is, Lucas has only joked, "He's a frog." In the documentary "From Puppets to Pixels," he joked that Yoda is "the illegitimate child of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy." Lucasfilm actively discouraged licensees from exploring Yoda's species, wishing to avoid confirming that an entire species of Yoda-like individuals even necessarily existed.

Donald F. Glut's novelization of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back referred to Yoda as an elf.

Lucas's policy has resulted in certain Star Wars publications being canceled. A significant example was when Lucasfilm (likely at the direction of George Lucas) ordered the pulping of the entire print run of a yet-to-be-released Star Wars trading card depicting a group of the unknown tridactyl species worshiping a larger-than-life statue of one of their number, led in prayer by an individual who may have been intended to be Yoda.

The Essential Guide to Characters listed Yoda's homeworld as Dagobah. However, newer material states that Yoda was not born there.

Santa Claus appears to be a member of Yoda's species (as shown in Star Wars Adventure Journal 8), though this is an Easter egg and therefore is non-canon in Legends. In Star Wars: X-Wing, which also includes a cameo of Santa Claus, what appears to be a member of this species can be seen on the deck of a hangar of the starship Independence.

Number of toes

Because of their three fingers on each hand and three toes on each foot, some have called Yoda's species a "tridactyl."

In the Empire Strikes Back shot of Yoda rummaging through Luke's supplies, Yoda's soles are visible. Although there are definitely three forward-facing toes, an additional digit protruding in the opposite direction is ambiguously either a fourth toe or a prehensile heel of some kind (if such a thing is anatomically possible). The clear presence or absence of a fourth toenail would settle the matter, but the angle of the shot makes it impossible to see whether one is there. If the fourth, rear-facing digit is a toe, then Yoda's species have anisodactyl feet.

Appearances

See also: Yoda/Legends#Appearances

• Dark Forces: Rebel Agent (Statue)

Sources

• "It is Dark" – Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi (Indirect mention only)
• The Essential Guide to Characters