Mustafarian / Legends Mustafarians were an insectoid sentient species native to the volcanic planet Mustafar . They were divided into two subspecies : the taller , thinner northern Mustafarians , and a smaller , stockier , and hardier southern Mustafarians . Biology and appearance . An insectoid sentient species , the two subspecies of Mustafarians had different physiologies as well as different roles in their society . The northern Mustafarians were significantly taller than their southern cousins and physically weaker . Because of their frail physiology , those who served as sentries commonly had their limbs enhanced with cybernetic prosthetics . The southern Mustafarians were stronger and shorter in stature than their northern cousins . They handled the " heavy lifting " jobs of the their planet ' s lava mining , and could withstand higher temperatures than northerners . Since they spent more time near the lava , they wore breath masks and thick armor to compensate . There were similarities between the two subspecies , though . Both were hard - shelled arthropods with long snouts and insectoid eyes . Their exoskeletons lay in plates over leathery skin , serving as protection from the heat they experienced on Mustafar . Unlike most species of the galaxy , they had very little water in their bodies . Society and culture . The Mustafarians were an egocentric people who wanted nothing more than to squeeze any resource they could off their volcanic planet . They were generally unconcerned about the affairs of outsiders , and were not commonly seen off - world . If they were , it was usually for trade or business reasons . They fashioned armor from lava fleas to protect themselves from the hotter lava flows on the surface which separated Mustafarian townships such as Fralideja . Even without lava flea armor , Mustafarian skin was tough enough to resist standard blaster bolts , so they used weapons which fired bolts of kinetic force instead . They were not a naturally aggressive species , but used the weaponry as protection . Northern Mustafarians also domesticated lava fleas to serve as mounts , and had a manhood ritual that required youth to jump a lavafall on a lava flea without protective clothing . Mustafarians spoke a buzzing , insectoid language and had a highly symbolic culture . Their architecture was based on the shape of the kahel cave fungus , and they lived and worked in saucer - shaped buildings near mine entrances . These buildings extended several levels below the ground , often utilizing empty mines that no longer produced ore . The cooler hollows of dormant volcanoes also served as dwellings . Southern Mustafarian miners rode harvesting platforms skimming over the active lava flows , extracting metals with large , pole - mounted cauldrons . Mustafarians also worked in industrial complexes which took advantage of their planet ' s abundant mineral resources and geothermal energy . History . The Mustafarians evolved from arthropods whose natural habitat was the slightly cooler hollows and caves inside Mustafar ' s dormant volcanoes . When the Techno Union arrived on Mustafar about three hundred years before the Clone Wars , the Mustafarians signed a trade treaty with the off - worlders . Technology gained through trade allowed the Mustafarians to survive even the harshest conditions on their homeworld and increased their living conditions . In return , the Mustafarians helped build and manage operations on Mustafar to extract minerals for the Techno Union . Because of this , they obtained membership in the Confederacy of Independent Systems , and the movement used their planet as one of its main headquarters . During the Clone Wars , the Separatist Council enlisted the Mustafarians to build a climate - controlled fortress which was to be used as a protective retreat in the event that the Republic prevailed . After Darth Vader ' s massacre of the Separatist Council and Techno Union leaders in 19 BBY , the Mustafarians were happy to have gained control of the fortress and were left to manage their own affairs . However , it is believed that the fortress was decimated by orbital bombardment by the Galactic Empire when the renegade Geonosian Separatist Gizor Dellso retreated there , refusing to surrender to the Empire . During the Galactic Civil War , certain Mustafarians , though they kept to themselves , supported the Empire . Mustafarians in the galaxy . Notable Mustafarians included Chief Armstrong , Foreman Chivos , Urup Fal ' co , and Chief Ulon Glost . At least one Mustafarian became a bounty hunter ; Jabba employed this hunter in an attempt to kill Tyber Zann , but the hunter failed and was killed by Urai Fen . Behind the scenes . Some of the original designs for the Mustafarians were much more humanoid . These designs were later used for the Pau ' ans . The Mustafarians look very similar to the Kubaz , leading some to believe that they were one and the same species . Though this is not the case , " " depicts a Mustafarian wearing a Kubazian skirt , which may point to a relationship between the species ( similar to that of the Duros and Neimoidians ) .