Nexu

<Nexu

Edit

Click here for Wookieepedia's article on the Canon version of this subject.

This article covers the Legends version of this subject.

For other uses, seeNexu.

Help me,Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.

This article is in need of referencing per Wookieepedia'ssourcing guidelines.

This article needs appropriate citations. Help usimprove this article by referencing valid resource material. Remove this notice when finished.

Nexu

Biological classification

Designation

Non-sentient^[1]

Classification

Feline

Subspecies

Forest nexu^[1]

Physical characteristics

Average height

1meter^[1]

Average length

1.83 meters (Without tail)
4.51 meters (Including tail)^[2]

Average mass

225kilograms^[2]

Hair color

Bornwhite; age tobrown^[3]

Eye color

Red

Distinctions

Foureyes; spiked spines

Sociocultural characteristics

Homeworld

Cholganna^[4]

"Oh! It's a nexu – and she has cubs! How cute!"
"For creatures with four eyes and a mouthful of teeth, they are rather cute."

―Allana Solo andLeia Organa Solo^[3]

Nexu werefeline creatures native to the chilly forests of theIndona continent on theplanet ofCholganna.^[5]

Characteristics[]

There were other breeds of nexu on Cholganna's other continents, but only theforest nexu had an additional set of eyes able to view ininfrared wavelength, which aided in their hunting ofbark rats and tree-climbingoctopi. They were often exported and trained as security beasts, as used for patrolling onMalastare, or used in arena combat, as seen onGeonosis. Nexu were 4.5 meters long^[2] and generally 1 meter tall.^[1]

The nexu appeared to be feline in nature, with claws which could slice aHuman in half. They had quills along their back, and a long tail that in the wild allowed the nexu to swing from tree branch to tree branch. The tail also split into two equal sections for a better grip on the tree branch they were swinging from. They had extremely sharp instincts and reflexes, although they were known to tire easily, and often used swift movements to finish an enemy quickly, biting down and thrashing their head about to break their victim's neck. Theirtongue could be served as a delicacy.^[6] Cubs were born purewhite.

A particularly stealthy variety was theblack nexu; this species was also one of the rarest.

History[]

During theCold War between theGalactic Republic andreconstituted Sith Empire, an escapedzoo population of Nexu thrived on the destroyedOuter Rim planet ofTaris.

Difficult to train aswatch-beasts, they were instead sought after for arena battles where their ferocity was much appreciated by spectators ( It was the most favored monster). This resulted in many big-game hunters making regular visits to Cholganna, hoping to capture a live nexu for export. Many hunters ended up dead however, when tracking prides of nexu, and as a result fees for live nexus often ranged up to half a million credits per animal. Buyers such asSenator Ask Aak ofMalastare andArchduke Poggle the Lesser ofGeonosis willingly paid such prices however, in order to add these magnificent creatures to their collections.

In32 BBY,^[7] after theInvasion of Naboo by theTrade Federation, thebounty hunter Jango Fett faced many nexu on his visit to Malastare, during hishunt forKomari Vosa.^[8]

Bestial Fury SM — A nexu leaps from the trees on Cholganna

Anexu was used during the attempted execution ofPadmé Amidala prior to the outbreak of theClone Wars, and its actions could be considered typical of the species. It would climb towards its victim, strike, then return to the ground quickly, waiting to see if its enemy would strike back. It was an extremely aggressive creature, snapping, clawing and roaring in the general direction of Amidala. When aGeonosian guard attempted to direct it with a blast from hisstatic pike, this only served to irritate the creature further and the guard was quickly devoured. An agile hunter that sacrificed bone mass for speed, a kick from Amidala knocked it down, weakening its tender body greatly. Areek, steered byAnakin Skywalker, finally rammed the stunned nexu, killing it instantly.^[9]

After asking for a pet for years, Skywalker and Amidala's great-granddaughterAllana Solo was given a nexu cub in43 ABY. This was afterLeia Organa Solo killed the baby nexu's mother to save an Ithorian, who was under attack from the creature at theCoruscant Livestock Exchange and Exhibition. She named the baby cubAnji.

By130 ABY, wild nexu were a common and dangerous sight onCoruscant and tourists were advised to stay with their groups when sightseeing on the capital. The nexu were usually seen in areas of the planet still scarred by theYuuzhan Vong war, a hundred years prior.

Behind the scenes[]

Nexu Concept Art — Concept art byRobert E. Barnes

The nexu seen inStar Wars: Episode IIAttack of the Clones was nicknamed as "Bad Kitty" by theILM animation team during production of the film.^[10]

Art Department concept sculptor Robert Barnes developed the look of the nexu, after several early sketches depicted rather literal interpretations of alion-like creature. By intermixing different species traits, likereptilian and even human characteristics, Barnes developed an unsettlingly vicious design.^[5]

In the non-canon comic bookStar Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back,Jabba Desilijic Tiure has a pair of nexu that are later released by the protagonists, instead of his infamousrancor. These nexu ravage Jabba's throne room, and it is later remarked that a better choice for a pet would be something more stable—like a rancor, hinting that Jabba might have had nexu^[11] prior toReturn of the Jedi.^[12] However, this story is an "alternate reality" and not considered canon.