Acklay Acklays were amphibious reptillian crustacean s with six deadly claws and razor - sharp teeth native to the planet Vendaxa . They were used as execution beasts by the Geonosian s , and one attempted to kill Obi - Wan Kenobi , Anakin Skywalker , and Padmé Amidala in the Petranaki arena prior to the outbreak of the Clone Wars . Biology and appearance . The acklay was a non - sentient mix of crustacean and reptile with amphibious traits that allowed it to inhabit the water and land of its homeworld of Vendaxa . The gigantic creature was protected by a hard , shell - like carapace of bony nodules . They walked on six hardened , skin - covered claws , and had grappling hands . Its mouth was filled with razor - sharp teeth , and used an organ beneath its chin to sense the body electricity given off by its prey , which it would then spear with its pointed legs . The species had stretchy stomachs and three eye s . Behavior . Acklays were carnivorous , predatory creatures , and though they typically lived underwater on Vendaxa , they came on land to hunt the planet ' s plains for lemnai . Surprisingly agile , acklays scuttled around on their six pointed legs , using an organ beneath their chins to sense the body electricity of their prey . They speared their prey with their claws , biting through them with razor - sharp teeth and swallowing them into their stretchy stomachs . Vicious creatures possessing agile fury and bestial rage , acklays were known for their bite , and were strong enough to bite through a polearm and smash a stone pillar to the ground . Acklays were known to be used as killer beasts in execution arenas , such as the Petranaki arena on Geonosis . There , Geonosian picador s kept the creatures under control with jabs from long - handled spear s , and at other times the beasts were chained . Acklays in the galaxy . At least two acklays were kept in the Petranaki arena on Geonosis as of 22 BBY ; the mated pair shared a pen , and were utilized as killer beasts by the Geonosian s . One of these acklays was unleashed during the attempted execution of Senator Padmé Amidala , Anakin Skywalker , and Obi - Wan Kenobi by the Confederacy of Independent Systems . The acklay was steered towards Kenobi by its picador , although the Jedi Knight outmaneuvered the beast , causing one of its powerful claw strikes to shear the chain binding him to a pillar . The acklay pursued Kenobi , rending holes in the arena floor with vicious stabs of its claw - like legs . Kenobi armed himself with a picador ' s polearm , though the acklay shrugged off his strikes and bit the spear in two . Ultimately , Kenobi bested the beast after obtaining a lightsaber once Mace Windu ' s Jedi assault team arrived to battle Count Dooku ' s battle droid s . Kenobi sheared through the acklay ' s legs , and finished the dangerous beast off with a downward stab with his blade . Acklays were present in the Petranaki arena during celebrations for the Eve of Meckgin and Poggle the Lesser ' s homecoming , and were chained alongside reek s while Poggle announced the Stalgasin hive ' s involvement in the Death Star project . Even the execution beasts quieted as Poggle made his speech to the hushed arena .