Acklay / Legends The acklay ( ) was a non - sentient carnivore native to Vendaxa . Acklays had sharp claws , thick skin , and averaged 3 . 05 meters tall . Due to these attributes , as well as the species ' ferocity , acklays were often exported from Vendaxa to be used in gladiatorial combat . The creatures could be found on Geonosis , where they were commonly brought in to fight other creatures — and sentients — in the Petranaki arena . An acklay was used in the attempted execution of Jedi Knight Obi - Wan Kenobi in 22 BBY , but was killed by Kenobi . In addition to Geonosis , the creatures could be also found on worlds such as Lehon and Felucia . Biology and appearance . The acklay was a three - eyed amphibious non - sentient crustacean native to Vendaxa . Though acklays lived underwater , they could go on land to hunt , which they frequently did , as the lemnai , a creature that lived on the plains of Vendaxa , was their main source of food . As they resided in the oceans of Vendaxa , their eyes enabled them to see in darkness , although they were near - sighted . Despite their crustacean - like nature , acklays also had characteristics possessed by reptiles , such as their powerful jaws filled with sharp teeth . The acklay had a tough , leathery skin that ranged in color from green to brown , another trait from its reptilian heritage . Its belly was more vulnerable than other parts of its body , as the flesh covering it was not as tough as it was elsewhere . Acklays had a bony crest around their neck , used for both intimidation and protection . These creatures had small stomachs , but were capable of expanding them when necessary . They had a high metabolism , which gave them substantial amounts of energy , but also caused them to starve quickly . Acklays were aggressive creatures , making them favorites in gladiatorial combat . Each acklay had six deadly claws , used for both pinning an opponent in combat or slicing them . Their limbs were long , allowing them to strike at enemies from a distance . While their claws — actually fingertips covered by hardened skin — themselves had no feeling , hairs on their bodies allowed the creatures the sensation of feeling . These cilia also enabled an acklay to sense the of other life - forms . The acklay ' s exoskeleton was strong enough to be used by some cultures as chitinous personal body armor . Although not high tech , it was occasionally used as a trophy item . Like some reptilian species , Acklays have a bony neck plate that they display to intimidate opponents . This also protects the Acklay from overhead neck attacks . In addition , Acklays can use this plate as a type of weapon , by bucking and weaving their heads to and for to strike an opponent . Acklays could be Force - sensitive , although this was an extremely rare mutation . Such creatures could teach themselves to use the Force and could fire Force lightning from their mouths . History . Acklays were native to Vendaxa , where they were one of the main predators . However , acklays were transported to other planets , most notably the Outer Rim world of Geonosis , where they were a common fixture in gladiator arenas . During the Second Imperial Civil War , a type of aquatic vehicle called the Acklay Battle Fortress was used by Darth Krayt ' s Galactic Empire . In 137 ABY , Cade Skywalker and his companions encountered an acklay on Vendaxa , following Marasiah Fel ' s escape from Socorro . The acklay pursued its prey through a crash site , but was ultimately killed when Jedi Wolf Sazen and Shado Vao joined the fight , plunging their lightsabers through the acklay ' s chest . Acklays in the galaxy . Acklays were prized by collectors of brutal exotica . The Geonosians — who traded droids and machinery for acklays — also took to breeding them , and the acklays soon found their way into the ecosystem of the barren planet , quickly carving out a niche for themselves . In some instances , acklays even destroyed entire hives by sneaking in through the lower tunnels and feasting on worker drones . The acklay also became the dominant predator of the stagnant Ebon Sea area , as it had only one predator on Geonosis : the merdeth . Due to chemical contamination in the water , a population of amphibious mutant acklay s developed in Golbah ' s Pit . They had glossy black skin and were larger , stronger and more heavily armored than their cousins . They could also breathe underwater when they hunted in the Ebon Sea . Several of the creatures were brought to fight in the Geonosian arenas , with two acklays being held in the Petranaki arena and used in gladiator matches . The Geonosian gladiator Acklay Chopper became fight manager of the arena after he fought and killed an acklay in it . Prior to the onset of the Clone Wars , one of the acklays was unleashed upon Jedi Knight Obi - Wan Kenobi , his Padawan Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala , who had been convicted of espionage and sentenced for execution . The acklay attempted to kill Kenobi , though the Jedi was able to free himself by timing the creature ' s attack so its claws broke the chain holding him to a pillar . After a Jedi task force intervened to rescue the trio , Kenobi was able to obtain a lightsaber and use it to kill the beast . The fallen acklay ' s mate survived in their holding pen . During the Clone Wars , an acklay on Burnout , a space station in the Thaereian system , made appearances in an arena there , where prisoners of the Thaereian military would be fed to it , while spectators watched from viewscreens . The Trandoshan Nim ' Ri was one such prisoner and he was given a vibro - axe to fight the creature with . However , it pushed the axe out of his hands and killed him , much to the delight of the crowd . A short time later , a group of prisoners from the Cularin system were put in the arena with it . However , several agents working for the Cularin Militia entered the arena and fought the creature , while rescuing the prisoners . The slaver Phylus Mon , who favored huge , monstrous beasts , dealt with acklays as well . Acklays were also exported to the world of Felucia . During the Clone Wars , the 501st Legion encountered acklays trying to destroy an All Terrain Tactical Enforcer during the Battle of Felucia . The clone troopers were initially overcome by the creatures , but were able to kill all of them . During the rule of the Galactic Empire , a number of acklays were owned by Molpol ' s Traveling Circus . Around this time , a ride called the Geonosis Arena Acklay - Rider was in operation at Aucellis Park , an entertainment center located on the moon Keriba VI . At least one acklay was believed to be present in the rumored Geonosian Bio - Lab on Yavin 4 . The Hutt Borvo also kept one in the dungeon beneath his hidden base in Moenia , on Naboo . An engineered acklay was kept inside a secret laboratory that was operated by Doctor Maldien on the planet Corellia . However , around 1 ABY , the creature escaped and killed Jenson , the faciliy ' s lead creature handler . The Imperial officer Ozzik Sturn , who enjoyed hunting , kept an acklay head as a trophy by 2 BBY . Acklays could also be found on the planet Lehon , located in the Unknown Regions . Behind the scenes . The acklay first appeared in the of , which was released a month prior to its theatrical debut . It has since made appearances in a number of other works , including reference guides . The design of the acklay originated when George Lucas requested the creation of an arena creature sharing the characteristics of and . Later refinements added features to the creature . Designers also used dried fruits and vegetables to create the texture of the acklay ' s skin . The acklay ' s fight with Obi - Wan Kenobi was inspired in part by the movie " Mysterious Island " , particularly the scene where a marooned sailor fights a giant crab with a spear . The Acklay ' s sound was created from the sounds of a dolphin and a pig . Dried melons were used as a texture plate , in order to find a color scheme .