Swokes Swokes / Legends The Swokes Swokes were a sentient species native to the Outer Rim planet of Makem Te . Large , stocky creatures , they had sharp , protruding teeth , perpetually grinning mouths , a series of horns crowning their pallid heads , one to three nostrils , and no hair . Some members of the species had long , heavy , spiked tails . Swokes Swokes had the ability to regenerate lost body parts , an ability that afforded them considerable bravado on the battlefield . Death was a prominent aspect of their culture ; indeed , the Tract was an enormous expanse of tombs and crypts on their homeworld that supported a major part of the planetary economy and was visible from space . The Swokes Swokes viewed jewelry as a status symbol and often had gems implanted close to vital organs . Most Swokes Swokes were religious zealots . Makem Te society had little advanced technology . Builders relied on sturdy yet delicate - looking cast iron for their primary construction material , and transport often relied on domesticated serpentine creatures called schinga s . A coalition of royal families known as the Congress of Caliphs ruled the species ' homeworld . The planet and its natives escaped widespread attention from the greater galaxy until scientists from the Galactic Republic discovered rich veins of ore and spice on the world and brokered a mining deal with the planetary government . The introduction of galactic technology set off a wave of social unrest on Makem Te , disturbing the tradition - minded people and spurring several religious schisms . The Temple of the Beatific Razor , a violence - worshiping sect , attracted enough adherents to challenge the authority of the aristocracy . Over the next few decades , the caliphs called in the aid of a succession of multi - system governments as their allegiances swung from one political pole to another : first the Galactic Republic — a body in which the species was represented at the time of the Invasion of Naboo — then the Confederacy of Independent Systems , and finally the Galactic Empire . The Swokes Swokes never joined the New Republic , although they did establish relations with the New Jedi Order . Biology and appearance . The Swokes Swokes were large , stocky , sentient bipeds who stood between 1 . 4 and 2 meters tall . They had four or five clawed fingers on each massive hand , which enabled them to effect a firm but soft grip . Four forward - pointing toes on each foot were balanced by a single backward - facing digit . The beings had long , thick tails that ended in knobby spikes , although not all members of the species exhibited this trait . Their glistening , hairless loose - hanging skin covered their rolls of fat , which made striking a member of the species feel like hitting soft dough . The skin ranged in color from sallow gray to ashen off - white , and their soft tissue was thick and rubbery . The Swokes Swokes visage was primarily flat and featured two large , lidless eyes that ranged from black to red , blue , or white set into black sockets and hidden behind goggle - like natural shades . A gaping grin of irregular , fang - like incisors — unable to form a frown — and one to three nostrils lie beneath . The bulbous head was situated atop the fleshy neck , although the neck itself was hidden under folds of flesh . The head was ringed by a series of sharp horns , and another set of horns at the top . To non - Swokes Swokes , the overall appearance was almost humorous or at the very least unattractive , but was often thought more akin to that of a creature common to the nightmares of many cultures . Internally , Swokes Swokes biology resembled that of more primitive lifeforms , such as flatworm s . The species ' nervous system was underdeveloped in comparison to other sentients , lacking all but the most essential pain receptors . This gave the beings a remarkably high pain threshold but deadened their sense of touch . Swokes Swokes blood had the consistency of watery sap and oozed through their bodies . Like flatworms , they had the ability to regenerate lost body parts , although the process left scars . Regrowing a missing limb took about 10 standard days , provided the individual avoided physical exertion . Swokes Swokes could not regenerate a head , so beheading killed them instantly . Nevertheless , coupled with their naturally damage - resistant hides and resistance to pain , their regenerative properties made Swokes Swokes fierce , relentless opponents in battle . Despite their unique internal physiology , Swokes Swokes were susceptible to certain forms of spice , including Tempest . Once addicted , they were immune to the physical pain of withdrawal , although they suffered psychological effects during such abstention . The species was divided into two sexes : male and female . Swokes Swokes entered adolescence at 9 standard years and were considered adults at 14 standard years . An average member of the species lived to 75 standard years . Swokes Swokes grew tougher and more resilient with age . The oldest were often the most difficult to take down in a fight . Society and culture . The Swokes Swokes had a reputation as merciless , unscrupulous , overbearing ruffians who cared only for personal prestige . This desire manifested differently from being to being , with some Swokes Swokes guided by mercurial longing for money and others more concerned for fame , notoriety , or influence over others . The view of the Swokes Swokes as brutes was reinforced by official Swokes Swokes institutions and religious doctrines . Wealth was one measure of status , and expensive gifts were a sure way to gain an audience with a Swokes Swokes . A popular status symbol was to have gemstones surgically embedded in the flesh near vital organs . The practice became so common that bioscan ners operated in most Swokes Swokes buildings so that the relative status of the individuals inside could be detected and monitored ; this practice prevented all but the most determined Swokes Swokes from trying to pass themselves off as coming from a higher station than their own . Although not graceful creatures , Swokes Swokes were known for their fierceness in battle and their violent culture . The beings seemed made to fight , what with their resistance to pain , ability to regenerate lost limbs , natural weapons , and belligerent mindset ; when injured in battle , members of the species might cry out , but such a reaction was due to surprise or shock rather than pain . Swokes Swokes relished conservatism and the past . Ancient traditions guided the people for millennia , and the species disliked change . The most visible manifestation of this penchant was in Swokes Swokes religious beliefs . The standard Swokes Swokes diet consisted of food and drink such as spiced , boiled meats served with schinga scales and still - living sandbug s ; broiled beetles ; alcoholic scentwine served in double - handled mugs ; muja fruit ; and necrotic sugar candies shaped like the skulls of various species . They generally ate by sitting on iron stools and eating with forks from communal troughs , which ran the length of the table ; still , at least some Swokes Swokes restaurants featured standard tables for patrons of other species . Swokes Swokes preferred cool temperatures and kept their businesses cold . Likewise , some Swokes Swokes made their living as waiters in these establishments . They were loud and messy eaters , and they cared little for oral hygiene . Cannibalism was an acceptable punishment for disgraced members of the species and came in varying degrees of severity : to be eaten by one ' s own family members was preferable to being eaten by strangers . The Swokes Swokes ' language was known as Swoken . Other species found the language harsh and guttural , or shrieking when Swokes Swokes got into disagreements . Written Swoken used a primitive alphabet . Members of the species sighed to convey forlorn feelings and laughed to convey amusement . Most Swokes Swokes could speak and read Basic as well , although their voices sounded slurred and gurgling to outsiders when using that language . Likewise , Basic sounded unattractive and overly fluid to Swokes Swokes sensibilities . Some Swokes Swokes names were simple , such as Machug and Sorpaat . Others names commonly consisted of a given name followed by one other element . For some , this was a region of origin or a notable feature . Examples include Burba of Strekk and Fabswa the Mutilated . Other Swokes Swokes had two different names , such as Oakie Dokes . Notable Swokes Swokes adopted a double name as a symbol of their fame . Examples included Woorta Woorta , Yeb Yeb Adem ' thorn , Chako Chako , Gragra , Kruke Kruke , and Wruuta Wruuta . Institutions . The Congress of Caliphs , a body made up of hereditary family leaders , ruled the two billion Swokes Swokes of Makem Te , the species ' homeworld . Individual caliphs had sovereignty over individual settlements or portions of a larger population center . For example , 12 caliphs shared sovereignty over Thousand Thousand , the largest city on the planet with its some two million inhabitants . The caliphs often hired Swokes Swokes or offworlders to do various services , especially if such job seekers brought appropriate offerings . Makem Te dispatched ambassadors and diplomats to other worlds ; such individuals had to attend innumerable conferences , uphold protocol , and wear specialized dress . Confrontations between Swokes Swokes often centered on religious disagreements . Indeed , rival religious sects vied for the devotion of the people . The most prominent of these was the Temple of the Beatific Razor . Its doctrines stressed fanatical devotion and the use of force against those who violated the order ' s precepts . Some Razor penitents flayed large strips of flesh from their bodies as a sign of their devoutness ; such individuals appeared thinner than most Swokes Swokes . The Temple was ruled by 11 High Mystics . Its radical policies , violent protests , and ever - growing popularity led to its banning by the Council of Caliphs . Regardless of their sect , most Swokes Swokes believed in the veneration of their ancestors . Funeral planning was an artform in Swokes Swokes culture , and the dead were either buried or cremated . The death of a high - status Swokes Swokes carried with it a mandatory mourning period at the place where the individual died . Swokes Swokes carried relics of their deceased relatives — their ashes or small body parts such as fingers , gallstones , or teeth — in small pouches . These were considered good luck charms . This zealous devoutness was most readily apparent in the Tract , an enormous patch of one of the planet ' s continents made up of two - meter - wide squares of polished stone , each housing a monument called a " stela " . Each tile was thought to contain the soul of a deceased Swokes Swokes . When Republic scouts discovered Makem Te some 25 , 000 to 24 , 000 years before the Battle of Yavin , the Tract had already reached 2 , 300 kilometers on a side . By the time of the New Order , the Tract was home to more than 1 . 2 trillion stela and took up 7 % of Makem Te ' s landmass . The Tract appeared as a large , white mass from space ; indeed , when Republic scouts first saw it from space , they mistook it for a polar icecap . The Tract was listed among the Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy . The Tract was of such importance to the Swokes Swokes that it supported its own industry . The maintenance of the area and its continued expansion required vast outflows of capital and a large workforce . This was overseen by the Tract Conviction . Record - keeping and accounting alone required millions of Conviction employees . Other Swokes Swokes , known as flatstender s , traveled the Tract in landspeeders , looking for areas in need of repair or for supplicants in need of help . Tract stones came from rock quarries . Flying over the Tract or traveling its expanse in vehicles was verboten and met with force from Makem Te defenses . Instead , supplicants were expected to enter only at specified points , register with the Conviction , and pay a fee of up to 500 . This covered the necessary sacraments , including a spotted robe of a color that signified which portions of the Tract the supplicant had the right to access . Even with flatstenders on guard , visitors still fell prey to desert hazards or attacks by wild creatures known as schingas . Offworlders faced the additional threat from penitents of the Beatific Razor , who considered visits by non - Swokes Swokes sacrilege and attacked such interlopers . Settlements near the Tract catered to pilgrims with restaurants , tapcafes , and shops that sold funeral goods . Trade and technology . Although the Swokes Swokes had access to only primitive technology before contact with the Galactic Republic , they perfected the industries of metal working and animal husbandry . For centuries , Swokes Swokes cities were made of cast iron , although by the time of the New Republic , this material was supplemented by wood as well as by plate glass for windows . This building strategy was originally a survival mechanism to withstand the constant wars on the planet , yet Swokes Swokes smiths embraced the material and developed it to new heights of aesthetics . While such a material might have proved clumsy or unworkable to some species , Swokes Swokes smiths learned to create buildings and structures with intricate , even delicate , designs , constructing structures such as spiral staircases from the material . They practiced recycling as well . The funeral industry was highly developed on Makem Te ; practitioners of the funeral trade took great pride in their expertise , and one of the few situations in which a Swokes Swokes might prove helpful and friendly to an outsider was when planning for the interment or cremation of the deceased . Indeed , Swokes Swokes settlements sported large bazaars and marketplaces served by myriad alleyways . Vendors specialized in various items necessary for that sector of the planet ' s economy ; these vendors sold such items as metal memorials , robes , funeral wrappings , tapestries , mementos , ointments , and wreaths . Warehouses supplied these salesbeings with wares . Meanwhile , seers and spiritualist s offered to contact the spirits of the newly deceased for family members worried about the adequacy of recently conducted funeral ceremonies . Alchemical shops also serviced the cities . The Swokes Swokes domesticated species of the serpent - like schinga , the dominant lifeform on Makem Te . For example , the schinga equa was used for its strength and obedience , while the schinga shikou was the most conducive to riding . To ride a schinga , the Swokes Swokes developed equipment known as a coiling tack set : a bit , bridle , reins , and saddle . A long electropole was used to guide the schinga — and as an impromptu weapon in the event of an attack . Schinga shikou breeding was an important industry on Makem Te ; the creatures were pricey signs of status . Makem Te lay along the Perlemian Trade Route and enjoyed a steady flow of space traffic . Hundreds of mining machine s operated on the planet . Although the machines were owned by offworld interests , a cut of the profits from the ores and spices extracted went to the Council of Caliphs . The mining machines were common targets for the Temple of the Beatific Razor , which opposed foreign influences on Makem Te . Major exports from Makem Te included raw ores and spices , while major imports were food and high technology . History . The Swokes Swokes evolved on Makem Te , a desert world in the Outer Rim Territories . The species ' ancestors evolved thick hides to resist either fierce predators or severe radiation . With no surface water to drink , they learned to dig into the planet ' s subterranean aquifers , which were replenished by heavy rains twice each local year . A number of families rose to prominence and came to dominate the rest of the species . The heads of these families , known as caliphs , waged war on one another for generations . Under this constant onslaught of rival armies , Swokes Swokes turned to cast iron for a building material for its sturdiness . At some point before or shortly after the Galactic Republic discovered their world , the Swokes Swokes royalty joined forces to form the Congress of Caliphs , a governing body with planetwide jurisdiction . The Swokes Swokes developed a native religion based on ancestor worship . Religion joined warfare at the pinnacle of Swokes Swokes endeavor , and a planetwide graveyard known as the Tract began to take shape from an early date . Between 25 , 127 and 25 , 096 BBY , strangers explored the areas of realspace in Makem Te ' s neighborhood . They belonged to the forces of Xim the Despot , and before long , the Swokes Swokes ' home system had fallen within the bounds of Xim ' s empire . Despite Xim ' s death in 25 , 095 BBY , Makem Te became part of a region of the galaxy known to both the Tionese and the Hutts . Sometime between 15 , 000 and 10 , 000 BBY , a Republic scout visited the Makem system while mapping the Perlemian Trade Route . The explorer made little note of Makem Te and even mistook the Tract for an ice cap . The scout ' s report made no mention at all of the Swokes Swokes . Long after the discovery , a Republic beacon crew came to install a navigation buoy in the system . Intrigued by Makem Te ' s large supposed ice cap , the mission sent a team of scientists to visit the surface . There , they learned of the Tract ' s true nature and made contact with the Swokes Swokes . At this point the Tract had already sprawled to 2 , 300 kilometers on a side . The scientists entered the Swokes Swokes ' iron cities and learned more about the planet and its lifeforms . As news of the species and their world spread , the historian Vicendi included the Tract on his list of the Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy in 10 , 000 BBY . Makem Te eventually became part of the Nilgaard sector . Although Makem Te joined the Republic at some point before the Invasion of Naboo , the Swokes Swokes and their planet were little more than a passing interest in the early days of their contacts with the galaxy at large . The Republic installed a fueling station in orbit around Makem Te and left the world largely to its own devices . Nevertheless , over the centuries , the Swokes Swokes and their homeworld were caught up in galaxy - spanning conflicts . During the Great Sith War , the Dark Reaper campaign passed through their system and the Sith Empire scored a victory there . Years later , the Mandalorian Wars saw Mandalorian and Republic forces clash in the system , an encounter that resulted in a Mandalorian victory . Later , their world fell within Darth Revan ' s Sith Empire during the Jedi Civil War from at least 3959 to 3956 BBY . Eventually , a pair of bored geologists , stuck at the Makem Te orbiting station for a long period , visited the surface and investigated one of the quarries where Tract stones were obtained . What they saw astounded them : Makem Te housed rich deposits of metal ores and medicinal spices . News of the discovery spread , and soon , Republic investors struck a deal with the Congress of Caliphs to allow them to establish mining operations on the world . Offworlders and advanced technology quickly became common sights on the planet and profoundly affected Swokes Swokes society . The miners paid little heed to environmental safeties , and the already harsh biosphere of Makem Te became even more inhospitable . As a people comfortable with ancient traditions , the infusion of foreign influences made some Swokes Swokes question their ages - old faith and institutions . Religious sects sprung up across the planet . One of these was the Temple of the Beatific Razor , which preached a faith of blind religious fervor and violent protest . As the Razor ' s popularity grew , the Temple ' s 11 High Mystics and swelling ranks of penitents gained enough influence to challenge the primacy of the Congress of Caliphs . The planetary government responded by calling in the aid of the Galactic Republic Judicial Department . Security officers were dispatched to quell the Razor - led rebellions , pleasing the caliphs . but outraging the populace and driving more adherents to the Razor ' s cause . After the outbreak of the Clone Wars , the Beatific Razor eliminated all Republic peacekeepers on the planet . The galactic government , already taxed from waging the Clone Wars , abandoned its mission . Seeing little choice , the caliphs approached Count Dooku and the Confederacy of Independent Systems for help in quelling the Razor ' s aggression ' s . Troops from the Separatist - allied Techno Union undertook the task of repelling the Razor penitents and propping up the caliphs . These forces became common sights near Thousand Thousand . At some point before the end of the war , Makem Te rejoined the Galactic Republic to safeguard its mining sector . The Separatists stationed an experimental landtank called the " Bogg Behemoth " outside Thousand Thousand . The Republic deployed a legion of clone troopers led by the Human Jedi Obi - Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to defend the city and destroy the weapon before it could be made operational . The Republic ' s intelligence proved faulty , however , as the tank had already been brought online ; during the ensuing battle , the Republic forces destroyed the tank and captured its engineer , a Geonosian named Bogg . After the rise of Emperor Palpatine , the Galactic Empire maintained deals brokered with the Separatists , but provided the caliphs with advanced weaponry and only kept occasional troops on Makem Te . Despite the defeat of the Empire at the Battle of Endor , the Council of Caliphs remained affiliated with various Imperial factions for nearly another 20 years . Imperial troops remained on Makem Te , making it a fortress world . However , after Mon Calamari forces allied with the New Republic won a battle at the nearby Emmer system , Makem Te found itself isolated from other Imperial systems . In 7 ABY , the forces of the Warlord Zsinj expanded Zsinj ' s Empire to include the Makem system , once again reuniting the Swokes Swokes with the Empire . The affiliation was short - lived , however , as Zsinj died in 8 ABY , and his empire dissolved . The Swokes Swokes maintained their Imperial allegiances during the Thrawn campaign , despite the fact that their world lay within the disputed Borderland Regions . When its final Imperial patron was vanquished , the caliphs remained neutral in galactic affairs and refused to join the New Republic . By 19 ABY , the Congress of Caliphs had established diplomatic ties with the New Jedi Order on the moon Yavin 4 . That year , Makem Te became a hub for the distribution of Tempest , a powerful form of spice that caused long - term users to fly into fits of murderous rage . The Pantoran Jedi Knight Toro Irana became addicted to the substance and visited Makem Te to buy more . While waiting for a Rodian drug dealer named Dejarro at a restaurant , Irana , high on Tempest , became embroiled in a brawl with Choka Chok , the nephew of a Swokes Swokes caliph . The encounter ended in not only Chok ' s death , but also that of five others , dismemberment for twelve other Swokes Swokes , and Irana ' s own death after he misjudged his momentum and fell out a window . Afterward , the Congress of Caliphs complained to the Jedi about the incident , and Irana ' s Jedi Master , the Human Jedi archivist Mander Zuma , traveled to Makem Te to arrange Irana ' s funeral and to investigate the death . The search took the Jedi to a warehouse , where he came under attack by Rodians of the Bomu Clan and their Swokes Swokes minions . Zuma escaped with the help of Toro Irana ' s sister , Reen Irana , and her Bothan companion , Eddey Be ' ray . The trio continued the investigation and followed the trail of the Tempest trade , which they endeavored to shut down . As their efforts bore fruit , the Bomu Clan slowly abandoned their spice dealings on Makem Te . Swokes Swokes addicted to the spice grew increasingly agitated as their supply was curtailed until only one dealer , a Rodian named Rolan , remained . During the Yuuzhan Vong War , the invaders targeted Makem Te in an attempt to disrupt the Perlemian Trade Route . They bombarded the orbital fueling station , still in use since its creation millennia ago , and sent it crashing to the surface of the planet . It narrowly missed the Tract . Years later , Makem Te fell within the bounds of the Galactic Empire of Darth Krayt . Swokes Swokes in the galaxy . While many members of the species gained renown on their homeworld — such as influential importer and schinga breeder , Woorta Woorta ; and the First Glorious Assassin of the Temple of the Beatific Razor , Fabswa the Mutilated — others emigrated . These often capitalized on their natural fighting abilities to find employment as bodyguards , bounty hunters , and mercenaries . For example , a Swokes Swokes was among the crew of the Twi ' lek pirate Reess Kairn sometime before 27 BBY . Later , during the Clone Wars , the Swokes Swokes diplomat Mokshok found himself stranded near a black hole in the Unknown Regions and joined the Black Hole Pirates trapped there by its gravity well . Mokshok became the first mate of the Human pirate captain Hethra Mcgrrrr until the Trandoshan Bossk managed to usurp Mokshok ' s position . Higher - ranking Swokes Swokes sometimes took up residence on out - of - the - way planets and became involved in organized crime . Even Yeb Yeb Adem ' thorn , Makem Te ' s Senator during the last days of the Republic , was accused of corruption after he took up residence in an opulent abode on Coruscant . Others tried to fit in with high society as gamblers or dilettantes . Oakie Dokes left her family ' s schinga ranch on Makem Te to show livestock on the galactic capital planet , Coruscant . There , she mismanaged her funds and fell into poverty . She eventually discovered a talent for art — with works that necessitated the killing of her subjects . At least one Swokes Swokes was present at the Galaxies Opera House in 19 BBY when Anakin Skywalker and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine were in attendance . By 0 ABY , another Swokes Swokes had clawed her way into high society on the planet Ord Mantell . On the desert world of Tatooine , Swokes Swokes lived in Mochot Steep and Mos Espa . In the latter location , the Swokes Swokes Gragra sold a variety of food items from a market stall , primary among them gorgs , which she raised in the sewers beneath the town . Another member of the species tended bar at Mos Espa ' s Poodoo Lounge . Several Swokes Swokes worked in the nightlife establishments of Coruscant ' s lower levels in the latter days of the Republic ; such beings had difficulty telling a Human ' s age , so Human teenagers sometimes slipped into clubs illegally . A Swokes Swokes was among the victims of the ruthless dictator Uda - Khalid . A number of Swokes Swokes served in the Jedi Order and due to their lack of hair , Swokes Swokes Padawans planted medallions into the flesh beneath their foreheads as an alternative to the standard Padawan braid worn by apprentices . Behind the scenes . Artist Terryl Whitlatch designed the Swokes Swokes as one of the species for the Galactic Senate scenes of . Whitlatch ' s concept art depicts the species as much fatter creatures with six breasts ; short , pudgy legs , a plump body , and no clothing . The design was later used for Gragra the gorgmonger as well — a role that Whitlatch had originally conceived as being played by a Pacithhip . Live Action Creature Effects Supervisor Nick Dudman named the species for his wife , Sue Oakes , during the film ' s production . The film , released in 1999 , features the first appearance of the species , and its most prominent Swokes Swokes , Gragra , appears in several adaptations , including the , , and . The aliens have since appeared as background characters in the other prequel films and in various " Star Wars " comics . " Podracing Tales " ( 2000 ) and " " ( 2006 ) feature two of the few Swokes Swokes characters with speaking roles . A 2003 issue of " The Official Star Wars Fact File " presents the earliest history of the species . According to the " Fact File " , the Clone Wars and the anti - alien policies of Emperor Palpatine caused the Swokes Swokes to all but disappear . The article suggests that they were little known throughout the galaxy during the New Order , their homeworld possibly destroyed or located far from major spacelanes . The " Fact File " then contradicts itself , claiming that as early as 32 BBY , the Swokes Swokes had gone largely unseen for at least a generation and that representatives such as Gragra may have been scouts or trailblazers . A starkly different background is detailed in the Wizards of the Coast roleplaying supplement " Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds " ( 2004 ) . This source adapted material originally written by Dan Wallace in 1999 and 2000 for the canceled " The Essential Guide to Episode I " . In game terms , the book ' s Swokes Swokes are listed as being stronger and hardier than most species but less agile , clever , and likable . Later sources , such as " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " ( 2008 ) , support the Wizards of the Coast version of the species ' background , so this is assumed to be the canonical one within " Star Wars " Legends . Even in Legends depictions , there are discrepancies in the Swokes Swokes ' physiology . Both " Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds " and " " depict the aliens with large tails , but " The Official Star Wars Fact File " and the Hasbro action figure line show that the Gragra costume used in " The Phantom Menace " had no tail at all . Similarly , the comic book " " ( 1999 ) shows Swokes Swokes characters with different nostril and finger configurations than the aliens seen in the films and described by Wizards of the Coast . Likewise , the novel " Scourge " by Jeff Grubb ( 2012 ) describes Swokes Swokes as having a " random " number of nostrils . These may be continuity errors , although it is possible that these are genetic variations , representations of subspecies , or illustrative of quirks in the Swokes Swokes ' regenerative abilities .