Clawdite / Legends Clawdites were a humanoid sentient species native to the planet of Zolan . They were one of the few shape - shifting species in the galaxy , and were sometimes referred to as Changelings . Biology and appearance . In their natural form , Clawdites had the appearance of reptilian humanoids , and in fact had evolved from reptomammal s . Due to genetic manipulation , Clawdites possessed the extremely rare ability to change their appearance . When using this ability , they could change the color and texture of their skin and eyes , mimicking the appearance of other similarly - shaped beings , such as Humans . Shifting into a Weequay , a species with similar facial features , was considered to be an easy task . Though they could not add physical mass to their bodies , they were able to form hair , and could actually make it quite long . Clawdites were also able to mimic the appearance of clothing or jewelry , provided that the item laid directly on their skin , as it was merely a manipulation of their skin ' s texture . They could not change the appearance of their actual clothing , and had to rely on holographic technology in order to change such items . The growth of their abilities mainly relied upon a Clawdite ' s age . Younglings were only able to change color , a talent that began at infancy , and baby Clawdites used different hues and colors to indicate their needs to their parents . Unlike most shape - changing species , the Clawdite ' s shifting abilities actually caused them great physical discomfort . While the range of their abilities varied in individuals , with both age and practice , they could work through the pain of changing in order to alter their appearance in more and more extreme ways . Even the most talented Clawdite , however , lacked the fine coordination it would take to mimic a specific individual ' s appearance precisely . Only a very talented Clawdite was able to sleep and retain their altered form . If a Clawdite was suitably distracted or hurt , and certainly if they were killed , they would revert to their true form . It was thought to be impossible for a Clawdite to actually change their body structure or body mass , though it appeared that some individual Clawdites , such as Zam Wesell , Rolsat Noviee and Nuri , managed this feat through unknown means . As most sentient beings ' bodies were composed mostly of water , xenobiologist s speculated that the Clawdites ability to change may have laid in the manipulation of water , and that Wesell may have been able to exert greater control over her body ' s water than most . It was further presumed by those in the field that Wesell used some sort of medical device or injected substance , or that she managed to figure out how to expel and consume water in various quantities to reduce or increase her mass . Though scientists attempted to test their theories about Wesell , no Clawdites were willing to subject themselves to study , fearing repercussions or prejudice should their abilities be fully revealed . Society and culture . By nature , Clawdites were quiet and solitary beings , often shunning the company of others unless it benefited them . They viewed the rest of the galaxy pragmatically , and were often harsh realists who were often mistrustful and suspicious of others . Not all Clawdites used their shape - shifting abilities , but those who did were forced to undertake great physical pain and effort in order to do so . They often learned meditation and concentration techniques , over long periods of time , in order to maximize their capabilities . It was also necessary for Clawdites to treat their skin with specialized oils in order to prevent cracking or tearing of their skin , due to the difficulty in physically maintaining their disguises . While in their natural form , they were considered to be indistinguishable from their Zolander brethren , but it was possible to distinguish the two via genetic examination . The Mabari were an ancient order of warriors from Zolan , which survived at least until the last decades of the Galactic Republic . Though a few Clawdites , like Zam Wesell , were allowed entry , it was predominantly composed of Zolanders . The Zolanders wisely presumed that training too many Clawdites in the ways of war could create a powerful group of shape - shifting fighters , capable of overthrowing their rule . Any Clawdites who were accepted were closely monitored , and were they to leave the order , they were forcibly pressured to leave their homeworld as well . Those who joined the order often wore Mabari armorweave , and the group presented clasps to their adherents , which signified their ranks . On their homeworld of Zolan , Clawdites were feared and shunned by the Zolanders , who were a deeply religious people . Among their many strong convictions , the Zolanders believed the Clawdites to be impure and sinful . Because of their prejudice , the Zolanders forced the Clawdites to live in slums all across the planet . These ghettos were secured , so that the Zolanders could prevent the Clawdites from spreading . This subjugation continued for centuries on end , and it wasn ' t until after 4 ABY that they were able to change their situation . After the rise of their new government , the Clawdites began to hold classes for schoolchildren , in order to teach them greater control and efficiency with their abilities . The few Clawdites who left their world most often took advantage of their natural abilities to join militaristic professions , such as spying , assassination , and bounty hunting . Joining groups such as these were the rare occasions where Clawdites afforded their loyalty to others , and they saw it as a positive contribution to the galaxy . They often sought to protect the liberties of other species , sensing in their pain the disparity their own people suffered . History . Hundreds of generations in the past , the planet of Zolan began to become bombarded with harmful solar radiation . Zolander scientists experimented on a group of volunteers , activating dormant skin - changing genes in the volunteers ' genetic codes . To the repulsion of the rest of the Zolanders , these volunteers gained the ability to change their appearance . As they passed their genes down , a new species was formed , and the Zolanders quickly sought to marginalize and restrict this new species . After suffering persecution at the hands of their brethren , the very beings who had made them what they were , the altered Zolanders decided to create a new name for their species , to distinguish themselves from those who oppressed them . They now called themselves Clawdites . Hundreds of years after the divergence of their species , the Clawdites still lived in subjugation on their homeworld . During the Separatist Crisis , the assassin Zam Wesell , an ally of Jango and Boba Fett , was hired to help Fett kill Senator Padmé Amidala . Her assassination attempt went awry , however , and she was tracked down and captured by two Jedi , Obi - Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker . As she lay wounded in the street on Coruscant , Fett felt that rather than allow her to reveal what she knew or attack the Jedi himself , he had to kill Wesell . He shot her in the neck with a poisoned Kyber dart , killing her . Around this same time , the famous pugil athlete , Rolsat Noviee , was discovered to be a Clawdite , due to a random blood test . Noviee had been posing as a Lannik for nine years , and was the highest - scoring and highest - paid player on the planet . After he was found out , Noviee fled offworld . During the Clone Wars , the Clawdites formed a political government for the first time , and sought the help of the Confederacy of Independent Systems . After contacting Count Dooku , they believed they would be able to overthrow the Zolanders . Two different Clawdites were known to have worked for the Separatists . One was the bounty hunter , Cato Parasitti , who helped fellow hunter Cad Bane in his mission to steal a holocron from vaults of the Jedi Temple . Another , Braxus Lyn , worked for the CIS as a spy . The Clawdite ' s hopes of help from Dooku were shattered when he was killed near the end of the Clone Wars by Skywalker . Conversely , some Clawdites served the Republic during the conflict . Bargu was a Clawdite Padawan in the Jedi Order , and a contemporary of Tallisibeth Enwandung - Esterhazy . Bargu competed in the Jedi Temple Apprentice Tournament in an attempt to show a Jedi Master that she should be chosen as their apprentice . She was hurt and disqualified during the eighth and final round . After the fall of the Republic , and the subsequent rise of the New Order , the Clawdites decided to act and struck back against their oppressors . The rebellion was short - lived , however , as the Galactic Empire , arrived and forcefully put down the uprising . Subsequently , the Clawdites were trapped on their planet by a forced blockade . Following the death of Emperor Palpatine and the fracturing of his Empire , however , the Clawdites rose up once more and fought against the Zolanders , in what become the Zolan Civil War . Inspired by the actions of the New Republic , the Clawdites triumphed during the war , and managed to gain control over seventy - five percent of their planet . Shortly after emerging victorious from their civil war , the Clawdites contacted the New Republic , and sought to become members of the new galactic government . Almost immediately , however , the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy , ignited a devastating war . A group of Clawdites formed Guile Company , which served as an intelligence unit behind Yuuzhan Vong lines . With their members numbering just over one hundred , and entering the most hostile of enemy territories , the Clawdites suffered an extremely high casualty rate . Even still , Guile Company kept receiving new volunteers , and they selected only the best shape - shifters . Because the casualty rate was so high , and the fact that their numbers galaxy - wide were so low , Clawdites who had children were disallowed into their ranks . Despite this , some hid the fact they had children from the recruiters , and managed to join . Guile Company remained intact after the war ended , and soon began work for the Galactic Alliance .