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 , hands and ( most commonly ) feet . Their leathery skin and blood were both light green . Their sharp teeth suggested a carnivorous diet . The diet of the most famous member of the species , Jedi Master Yoda , consisted of nutrient most other beings considered disgusting . This species resembled the Lannik species , both having a short stature , large pointed ears , and , in some cases , a topknot of hair . Whether this species was related to the Lannik is uncertain , though Yoda was at least once mistaken for a Lannik . A genetic connection between the two species was unlikely , though , because Lannik were much more humanoid and appeared to have evolved from simians , while the unknown tridactyl species had features that suggested an amphibian or reptilian ancestry . 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 . Members of this elusive species were rarely seen in the known galaxy . Notable members . Yoda , the most famous member of this species , was the Jedi Grand 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 . Two other Jedi , Yaddle , and Vandar Tokare were also powerful Masters who both sat on the Jedi Councils on Coruscant and on Dantooine respectively . A fourth Jedi Master of said species , Oteg , served during the Cold War . A fifth , lesser - known Jedi of this species , Jedi Knight Minch , served the Jedi Order around 700 BBY . Although little is known about him , he proved himself quite able in the ways of the Force when he single - handedly defeated a Dark Jedi Master in combat . In contrast to the other four masters , who had all shown exceptional calmness and self - control at all times , Minch had a slightly more fiery temperament and was known to have once lost his cool when subjected to Dun Möch . A statue of an unknown Jedi of this species was inside the Valley of the Jedi on Ruusan . Behind the scenes . For reasons unknown , 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 and . " Prior to the creation of Yaddle for " " , Lucasfilm actively discouraged licensees from exploring Yoda ' s species , wishing to avoid confirming that an entire species of Yoda - like individuals even necessarily existed . Lines cut from " " simply refer to the species as " Yoda ' s species . " 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 " " , which also includes a cameo of Santa Claus , a member of this species can be seen on the floor of a hanger of the starship " Independence " . Because of their three fingers on each hand and three toes on each foot , some have called Yoda ' s species a " tridactyl . " Many fans have speculated that this unknown species is the Whills ( as in the " Journal of the Whills " ) , but , in an interview , George Lucas has denied this . A misconception that Yoda is a Whill from the planet " Grentarik " originated on the fan - fiction site run by " SuperShadow . " Number of toes . The number of toes that members of this species possess has been inconsistently portrayed over the course of the " Star Wars " franchise , including in the films . A tridactyl foot would only have three toes , but this version has only appeared once , in " The Phantom Menace " , whereas the puppet used in " " and " " , as well as the digital model from " Revenge of the Sith " , all have four toes . 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 feet . In " The Phantom Menace " , the puppets of both Yoda and Yaddle feature three forward - facing toes and a blunted Human - like heel instead of the original puppet ' s anisodactyl arrangement , thus having truly tridactyl feet . " " has a fully digital Yoda but contains no close - ups adequate to discern the toe arrangement . The digital Yoda in " Revenge of the Sith " returns to the original trilogy puppet ' s anisodactyl design , as seen in shots of Yoda plummeting to the Senate Rotunda floor at the conclusion of his battle with Darth Sidious , and when jumping down into Bail Organa ' s speeder shortly afterward . One earlier shot of Yoda lying momentarily stunned on a senate pod during the battle also seems to display a rearward fourth toenail , indicating that the fourth digit is indeed a toe , but the shot is not adequately clear at DVD resolution . Likely as a result of the above inconsistency , various Hasbro action figures of Yoda produced since " Return of the Jedi " have featured three , four or five toes in a variety of arrangements . None of these precisely matched his anisodactyl feet in " The Empire Strikes Back " until " Revenge of the Sith " figures molded a toenail onto the ambiguous rear - facing fourth digit of the " Empire Strikes Back " design , definitively making the digit a toe . Whether Hasbro based this on a " Revenge of the Sith " digital model or access to the original trilogy ' s puppet , or if this was speculation on their part , is unknown . The 2006 reference book " The New Essential Guide to Alien Species " , on page 216 , states that Yoda ' s species had " five - toed feet , with three toes in front and two toes in back . " However , the five - toed arrangement is not visible in any film , so this statement contradicts the more common anisodactyl version featured in the majority of the films ( which naturally possess a higher level of canon ) . This five - toed version remains the least used in any incarnation of " Star Wars " media . The 2008 animated film and television series " " uses a CGI model of Yoda that matches the one - off tridactyl arrangement from " The Phantom Menace " , with three forward - facing toes and a blunted heel . The episode " Ambush " has shots of Yoda ' s feet showing three forward toes and a pointed heel in back . In the " Ask Lobot " feature of " Star Wars Insider 122 " , released in December 2010 , Holocron continuity database keeper Leland Chee stated that Yoda has four toes : three in the front and one in the back .