Neimoidian / Legends Neimoidians were a species of humanoids that were distant genetic relatives of Duros . They were native to the planet of Neimoidia and also lived on colony worlds in the same sector like Cato Neimoidia , Deko Neimoidia , and Koru Neimoidia . Neimoidians placed tremendous value on wealth and material possessions , and would go to great lengths to gain money and power , resulting in a stereotype of being greedy and cowardly ; however , they were very easily intimidated , and hated combat . In the years prior to the Clone Wars , the Neimoidians became infamous for running the Trade Federation , a massive corporate entity . Famous Neimoidians included Nute Gunray and Rune Haako , high ranking members of the Trade Federation who later joined the Confederacy of Independent Systems , a separatist movement which waged war on the Galactic Republic . This proved to be their species ' undoing : Neimoidia and its colonies were blockaded and invaded by the Republic in the war ' s final year , destroying many Neimoidian grub - hatcheries and catastrophically affected the long - term survival of the species . Thereafter , the Neimoidians faded from prominence in galactic affairs . Biology and appearance . Since the Neimoidians were distant genetic relatives of the Duros , they retained many similarities to them , including basic form , noseless faces , and green - blue skin ( though Neimoidians tended to be grayer ) . Their eyes also had pupils that split horizontally , and they were distinguished by small lumps on their foreheads and down - turned mouths . Their sense of smell came from glands under their eyes . These genetic differences were attributed to the distinct features of their homeworld , Neimoidia , including its gravity , which was heavier than Duro . Additionally , the planet ' s star was dimmer , and the planet itself was humid and widely shrouded by fog and mist . Neimoidian skin often took on a mottled look if the being was too self - indulgent or often prone to great stress , such as Nute Gunray . A Neimoidian ' s lung pods would expand and contract convulsively under great stress , leading to an old saying characterizing Neimoidians as the only sentient species with an entire organ devoted to worrying . Nauseated Neimoidians ' skin turned pink . The Neimoidians had five fingers and two clawlike toes . Neimoidians were born in a larval state called a " grub " form . Although hive - mothers had , the grubs were born live and not from eggs . Many Duros took great offense at being compared to their Neimoidians cousins . In the TriPlanetary Press reference source known as the " Encyclopedia Galactica " , the entry for Neimoidian read , " " See : Duros " " . The classic example of what " not " to say detailed an employer for a shipping company who was curious as to why a Neimoidian would be applying for a pilot ' s position when it was , in actuality , a Duros . The reason for the offense is obvious : Neimoidians tended to be cowardly , greedy , and fearful of death , while Duros were an adventurous , gregarious , and peaceful race . It is well - known that Neimoidians were notorious disease carriers . According to a joke made by Ebenn Q3 Baobab , onetime doctor for a Neimoidian fleet , " the principal export of the Neimoidian home planet is Brainworm Rot Type C " . Baobab further explained in his " Galactic Phrase Book & Travel Guide " that both the Great Pandemic of Deersheba and the Intestinal Revenge of Bars Barka ( which emaciated scores of Ubese colonists ) originated with the Neimoidians . At several times in the past , Neimoidia had been quarantined and forbidden to travelers . Upon death , Neimoidian bodies would desiccate rapidly if not immediately buried or burned . The corpse ' s face would elongate , and the brain sac would shrivel into a series of tiny pods behind the head . It was this terrifying image of death , coupled with the Geonosian physique , that inspired the appearance of the Trade Federation ' s B1 battle droids . Society and culture . Education and social life . Neimoidians spent their formative years as puny grubs in the communal hives of Neimoidia , until the age of seven standard years . They were knowingly neglected by being given limited amounts of food . In this way , the weaker individuals were weeded while the most acquisitive ones could hoard more food than they could eat by themselves . The Neimoidian education ensured the survival of the greediest . Because of that , the Neimoidians would retain ill memories of their homeworld and tried to avoid it as much as possible . In fact , Neimoidia ' s most able individuals typically left the planet at a young age , often joining the Trade Federation and its trading starships . Meanwhile , the weakest and least capable of the species were sequestered on Neimoidia and the purse - worlds , where they tended to vast insect hives , fungus farms , and beetle hatcheries . In large part because of their formative years and communal hives , the Neimoidians tended to place positions such as Trade Federation Viceroy as absolute and obey them without question , nor could they even make independent decisions . As such , if the Viceroy was killed , incapacitated , or otherwise indisposed during a conflict , the Neimoidians will be unable to continue fighting . This trait was notably exploited during the Battle of Naboo by Queen Padmé Amidala to ensure a quick and decisive end to the crisis . As adults , Neimoidians had a reputation of being skilled in matters of business and were well known for their leadership of the Trade Federation . Unfortunately , Neimoidians were stereotyped by other species as greedy , fearful of death , lazy , corrupt and even child neglecters . This is evident by the use of droids for almost everything . It was often said that one of the most difficult concepts for a Neimoidian to understand was loyalty . Members of other species often perceived the Neimoidians as villainous . In fact , the notions of morality and ethics that motivated other societies were completely absent from the Neimoidian culture . From infancy , they were reared to believe that anything they could appropriate was theirs by right , regardless of the means used . Their species was noted for being highly fearful to fight their own battles yet were deceitful to the point that they did not trust living soldiers . Such traits meant that they were often criticized for their cowardly nature and was one of the reasons why they made use of a mechanized army consisting of droids . In addition , the discussion of an individual ' s feelings was considered an anaethema amongst Neimoidians . Clothing . Because of their obsession with status , the Neimoidians placed great importance in clothing . Among their kind , elaborate clothes were specifically designed to assert an individual ' s personal wealth and rank and also to instil jealousy or envy in others . Not only did their robes , cloaks , hats and collars all have particular symbolic meanings , but so did their fabrics and colors . The Human Rella once joked that a Neimoidian would never spend some of their profits unless they could spend it on new robes . Ranks and garments were so closely associated that a Neimoidian disgraced by their peers would be stripped of their clothes immediately . They were particularly attached to their hats , and a popular opinion was that a Neimoidian would never be seen without it unless he or she was dead . That may not have been true for all historical eras , however , as bare - headed Neimoidians would frequently be spotted during the Galactic War . The numerous types of Neimoidian headgear ranged from simple caps that revealed the complete forehead to a wide variety of miters and crowns , some of which even comprised wig - like ornaments . In fact , the Neimoidian clothing etiquette was so complex that the Republic Xenosociological Database contained a whole subdirectory pertaining to that subject . Language . The native language of the Neimoidians was called the Pak Pak . That term actually referred to both a verbal language and a nonverbal way of communication that consisted in complex hand gestures . To non - Neimoidians , the verbal Pak Pak sounded like a string of guttural croaks that had a certain musical quality . While most Neimoidians were able to speak Basic , they did it with a heavy accent . History . In 25 , 000 BBY , a Duros colony was established on Neimoidia under the leadership of Chla C ' cHaan . Due to the distinct features of Neimoidia , including a gravity which was greater than Duro , the Duros colonists became a separate species from their genetic cousins , thus starting the Neimoidian species . During an expansionist period in the Old Republic era , the Neimoidians colonized several nearby worlds . The wealthiest and most resource - rich colony worlds were known as " purse worlds " , that also served as administrative posts and ruled their own set of colonies . Notable purse worlds included Cato Neimoidia , Deko Neimoidia , and Koru Neimoidia . In 350 BBY , the Neimoidians helped establish the Trade Federation , an association of business and trade groups which grew to dominate entire star systems . In 33 BBY , Darth Sidious had all the non - Neimoidian members of the Trade Federation Directorate murdered at the Eriadu Conference . As a result , the Neimoidians assumed complete control of the Federation . Despite centuries of running the Trade Federation , their control began to subside when the Galactic Republic began taxation of the trade routes that they had established . This act destroyed the Neimoidians along with their delicate financial control over the Trade Federation which began to crumble as a result . The institution of taxes on trade routes to the outlying regions left the Neimoidians furious . This resulted in the Trade Federation ' s Invasion of Naboo . However , the Trade Federation forces were defeated during the battle of Naboo . From this event , most of the stereotype regarding Neimoidians as greedy , conniving cowards was gained . Their humiliating defeat during the trade blockade of Naboo left the Neimoidian reputation entering into a downward spiral . After being bereft of position and power , they began considering every possibility in order to regain their status . During the Separatist Crisis , the Neimoidians aligned themselves with Count Dooku ' s growing Separatist movement . With the start of the Clone Wars at the Battle of Geonosis in 22 BBY , Neimoidians became a species commonly associated with the Confederacy and were usually either deported from or prevented from entering Coruscant . In addition , Neimoidian warriors and brutes were used in the Separatist armed forces as a part of Neimoidian Gunnery Battalion . In 19 BBY , the Republic retook Neimoidia and its purse worlds from the Confederacy before Viceroy Gunray and Settlement Officer Rune Haako were killed at Mustafar by Darth Vader . During the assault on Neimoidia , the planet was ravaged , and the destruction of many Neimoidian grub - hatcheries would affect the Neimoidian species . Under the Galactic Empire , the Trade Federation was disbanded after Acting Viceroy Sentepeth Findos signed a treaty on Neimoidia that gave Emperor Palpatine control of the Trade Federation ' s assets . Neimoidians then began adopting the culture of the baseline Duros to disassociate themselves with the Trade Federation ' s shameful legacy , something no doubt encouraged by the book " Encyclical on Historical Greatness " written by influential Neimoidian Chal Haan . The Duros , of course , vehemently denied this , as it was considered a great insult to be associated in any way with their genetic cousins . By the time of the rise of the New Republic , however , the Duros were friendlier towards the Neimoidians , and respected their business skills . Fewer Neimoidians also traveled far from their homeworlds , although their vehicles and weaponry — such as " Sheathipede " - class transport shuttles , " Vulture " droids , and " Lucrehulk " - class battleships and core ships — were often used by various corporate entities , particularly in the Corporate Sector . Neimoidians are known by most denizens of the galaxy as being notorious virus carriers , responsible for such diseases as the Great Pandemic of Deersheba and the Intestinal Revenge of Bars Barka , with many claiming that the chief export of Neimoidia was Brainworm Rot Type C . This history of reported disease cases grew so virulent that by 6 ABY , Neimoidia was officially quarantined and declared off limits to all travelers . During the Yuuzhan Vong War , some Neimoidians joined the New Republic and Galactic Federation of Free Alliances as pilots . Many others fell in with criminal organizations as well . One known Neimoidian was a member of One Sith during the Legacy era , tasked with guarding the Chambers of Persuasion in XoXaan ' s Temple on Korriban . Neimoidians in the galaxy . C . 529 BBY , Neimoidian traders sold a decommissioned Hoersch - Kessel LH - 3010 capital freighter to Hugo Bartyn , who used it to build his own city in Lamaredd . Five centuries later , Bartyn ' s descendant Guther welcomed the visit of a Neimoidian dignitary and competed with him in a global race . Behind the scenes . Though the etymology of the Neimoidian name is unclear , their original designation " S ' hatnarian " was explained by George Lucas in the cut segments of the 2007 interview by , featured on the Region 2 DVD . During the troubled filming of , Lucas frequented a bar not far from Industrial Light & Magic in the Presidio of San Francisco named " Hombres " ( now " La Terrasse " ) . There he met , and would regularly meet , who was living in San Francisco at the time doing stage work . The two became good friends and , as Lucas explained " Star Wars " , Shatner joked " You ' ll have to name a character after me . " George nodded and agreed , but never followed through . Upon restarting the " Star Wars " franchise with " Episode I " , he considered " S ' hatnarian " as a title for the Neimoidians , only to drop the name later . Early Neimoidian designs portrayed them as a thin - faced species , intending for the B1 battle droids to mimic their appearance . When this design was dropped , they were given a new look based on that of the Duros . In the process , they went from computer - generated characters to actors wearing animatronic masks . The original design was eventually modified to become the Geonosians , thus preserving the idea that the battle droids resembled their makers . The intended association between the appearance of battle droids and the Neimoidians was not dropped , though , as reference material published around the time of " " stated that the droids were based on Neimoidian skeletons . Much as Imperial officers were given accents , Silas Carson , who portrayed Nute Gunray in , was asked to imitate a actor ' s reading of his lines when looping Nute Gunray ' s dialog for the movie . The use of accents to depict the Neimoidians was cited by reviewers as part of a broader issue with racial stereotypes in that film . In the version of the prequel trilogy , the Neimoidians were given accents . In the , , Czech and versions , the Neimoidians were given accents .