It is requested that this article, or a section of this article, be expanded.
See the request on thelisting or on this article'stalkpage. Once the improvements have been completed, you may remove this notice and the page's listing. The following needs expanding on: all sections
The Mon Calamari were a bipedal,amphibiousspecies with high-domed heads, webbed hands and large, goggle-like eyes,[1] which stuck out from the sides of their head.[18] In addition to being webbed, the Mon Calamari hand presented three suction-cup like holes on its palm, and featured five claw-tipped fingers: one opposable thumb, two long middle fingers, and two very short outer fingers.[10] Although they were shaped like flippers,[5] their feet could nevertheless fit into boots designed forhumanoid feet.[13] Thefemales were distinguished from the males by their more prominent chest areas.[19]
The Mon Calamari's skin faded from vibrant in theiryouth to more worn out as they got older. The individuals that hailed from the colder polar extremes of their planet were noticeably lesscolorful than those who came from the tropical zones.[2] Prolonged periods without exposure to water would result in a Mon Calamari's skin drying and peeling, creating a painful bleeding that could be exploited as a form oftorture. To survive through droughts, a Mon Calamari's body was able to release ahibernation shell that covered their body, resulting in the Mon Calamari entering a state ofbiostasis through which they would wait out the drought.EcologistElping Tsoo theorized that the stasis could also be triggered by stress or illness; indeed, the Mon Calamari Ghal Tarpfen found her protective shell released as soon as she was infected by theblight. During droughts, the Mon Calamari would retreat to the safety of an exposed sea bed, effectively forming a wet, muddy cocoon around themself and the protective shell. As such, the shell retracting over a Mon Calamari in a dry environment could be dangerous and result in suffocation.[20]
The hand of a Mon Calamari
Male and female[21] Mon Calamari hadbarbels on their chin. Only having one barbel was an indication of youth, and Mon Calamari gained more as they aged.[22] Their barbels were also used to help detect pressure changes underwater.[23] The Mon Calamari were vigorous swimmers and were capable of living underwater for long periods.[5] The Mon Calamarispawned many offspring. For example,Raddus's grandchildren numbered in the dozens. However, because not all spawns were expected to come of age, the Mon Calamari felt loss less keenly than humans, who reproduced comparatively rarely and fewer.[24] The early life of a Mon Calamari was known as their "spawning days."[17]
Society and culture[]
It was common forroyalty or elite members of Mon Cala society to adorn their barbels with ornaments.[2] The Mon Calamari were known to find it offensive to sneeze loudly.[25]
History[]
"The Mon Calamari make fine ships, but they have proved poor sailors."
―Imperial AdmiralTyrus Meori, underestimating the Mon Calamari[16]
Legend held that the young Mon Calamari Carus encountered a great leviathan.
The Mon Calamari originated on the planetMon Cala, which they shared with theQuarren species.[1] Both species were influential and most comfortable underwater, where they preferred to build theircities as they preferred to be immersed in liquid.[14] However, tensions arose between the Quarren and Mon Calamari that resulted in a difficult co-existence.[5] Before Mon Cala's environment was able to be influenced by modern technology, the Mon Calamari at times suffered through droughts, which they responded to by entering exposed seabeds and sleeping through the drought in suspended animation.[20] Legend held that a young Mon Calamari namedCarus ventured into theGreat Ungeness Trench when the Mon Calamari were a fledging species, ignoring the wishes of his friends and family to try and make a name for himself. Within the trench, he uncovered and was killed by asquid-like creature that shook the ground around hiscity before it returned to its slumber. Carus's story would be spread as a cautionary tale about why one should not enter the trench, lest the leviathan awaken again.[26]
In response to escalating tensions between the Mon Calamari and Quarren, the Republic dispatched a peace mission consisting ofSenatorPadmé Amidala and herJedi protectorAnakin Skywalker. Following the failure of mediation, both sides prepared for war. Prince Lee-Char andCaptainGial Ackbar prepared the Mon Calamari for war. The Republic also dispatched a company ofClone SCUBA troopers underJedi GeneralKit Fisto and thePadawanAhsoka Tano. Backed by Jedi and Republic reinforcements, the Mon Calamari managed to fight off a Quarren and Separatist assault onMon Cala city. However, Prince Lee Char and his Jedi and Republic allies were forced to retreat when the Quarren counter-attacked withHydroid Medusases, gigantic jellyfish with electrified tentacles.[5]
Mon Calamari soldiers during the Battle of Mon Cala
Under the orders ofCountDooku, the Separatist leader Tamson rounded up the Mon Calamari population in Mon Cala City and shipped them to internment camps. Meanwhile, Prince Lee Char, the surviving Mon Calamari forces and their Republic allies retreated to a few caves near the city.[5] Following a failed attempt to smuggle Prince Lee-Char and SenatorMeena Tills offworld, the Prince and his Republic and Jedi allies resolved to continue resisting the Separatist occupiers, who had begun enslaving the Mon Calamari population. Despite the arrival ofGungan reinforcements from Naboo, the Quarren and their Separatist allies succeeded in capturing most of the Mon Calamari and Republic/Jedi resistance with the exception of Prince Lee Char and Ahsoka.[30]
Prince Lee-Char decided to rally Mon Calamari prisoners and to win the Quarren over in order to drive out the Separatist invaders. While attempting to rally prisoners at a Mon Calamari prison camp, he was captured by Separatist forces but secured an audience with Riff Tamson. By this stage, Tamson had strained relations with his Quarren allies by planning to crown himself as the new ruler of Mon Cala. Tamson sentenced Prince Lee-Char todeath but his plans were sabotaged by the Quarren chieftain Nossor Ri, who experienced a change in heart and ordered his followers to support Ackbar and the Mon Calamari. Together, the Mon Calamari, their former Quarren foes, the Republic, Jedi, and the Gungans succeeded in driving the Separatist forces out of Mon Cala. Following thebattle, Lee-Char wascrowned as the new king and restored peace between the Mon Calamari and Quarren.[31]
A pair of Mon Calamari alongside Rebel troopers
At the end of the Clone Wars, with the Jedi exterminated and Palpatine's rise to power as Emperor of the newly formedGalactic Empire, he subjugated and enslaved the Mon Calamari and occupied Mon Cala. In response, the Mon Calamari threw their weight behind theAlliance to Restore the Republic and played an important role in supplying warships to theAlliance Fleet.[1]
After years of peace awar broke out between theFirst Order and theResistance. After theBattle of Crait,GeneralLeia Organaled her depleted Resistance to Mon Cala to rally the Mon Calamari people to her cause and get much needed Mon Calamari cruisers.[32]KingEch-Char was reluctant to offer the cruisers at first,[33] but agreed after they were betrayed and the First Order took over.[34] Following the lead ofAftab Ackbar, theMon Cala fleet joined the rest of the Resistance and helped with the rebuilding of theResistance navy.[34]
Mon Calamari in the galaxy[]
Several Mon Calamari, including Gial Ackbar, aboard theHome One
LEGOStar Wars(Set:75186 The Arrowhead)
Mon Calamari in theDatabank(backup link)
Much to Learn You Still Have: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Mon Calamari onStarWars.com(backup link)