Near - Human Near - Human was the general term for any of the many species or subspecies in the galaxy which were very closely related biologically to baseline Humans . In contrast , other humanoid species only had general external similarities to Humans , and had no biological connection . However , the term " humanoid " was sometimes used loosely to describe Near - Human species . Most Near - Humans shared close external similarities to Humans , usually with small differences in skin and eye color or bone structure . Biologically , many Near - Humans were capable of interbreeding with baseline Humans . Some were close enough to the Human baseline to be considered a race or ethnic group of Humans , rather than a separate species . Similarly , some groups , biologically classified as Humans , though differing from the Human mainstream almost entirely in their culture , were considered so distinct that they were sometimes referred to as Near - Human . History . The term " Near - Human " was used for species and races which had evolved significant physiological differences from baseline Humanity . It was also used for unrelated species , such as the plant - descended Zelosian s , with substantial external similarities to Humans . Though Near - Humans were not Human in the strictest sense , their " almost human " status led to exceptions in the xenophobic and Humanocentric policies of the Galactic Empire . Not all Imperials accepted Near - Humans as equals , however : Grand Admiral Rufaan Tigellinus despised high - ranking Near - Human colleagues such as the part - Sephi Grand Moff Bertroff Hissa and the Chiss Grand Admiral Thrawn . Another Imperial Near - Human , Grand Admiral Danetta Pitta , kept his Borneck and Etti ancestry secret while ardently supporting Humanocentrism and Human High Culture . Calian shockboxer Lobar Aybock recalled an Imperial saying in — " near Human , not near enough . " Near - Human types . Chiss . The Chiss , a race that dwelt in the Unknown Regions , were a Near - Human people that had pale blue skin , generally black hair , and red reflective or fluorescent eyes which gave them excellent low - light vision . Their growth cycle differed from Humans , with an early maturation , for example . They were differentiated enough from baseline Humans to be considered a new species . In other aspects they resembled normal Humans : they bled red blood , and the cloning tanks used to clone Human stormtroopers also worked on Chiss physiology . Zeltrons . Zeltrons were Near - Humans with a completely Human appearance , save for their skin , which normally came in shades of pink or red . This pigmentation may or may not have been a result of their sun ' s highly radioactive rays . Generally speaking , they actually were a rather amorous race , famous ( or infamous ) for their many sculptures and paintings on the subject . Along with their above - average looks , Zeltrons could use telepathy and powerful pheromones to influence other beings with relative ease . They also made great strides in the field of holograms and were responsible for the ones used at Hologram Fun World . Zeltrons were differentiated enough from baseline Humans to actually be considered a new species . Others . existed , each with their own similarities to and differences from the Human baseline . The Pau ' an and Utai species of the planet Utapau , and the Sullustans of Sullust were among the species which , despite outward appearances , were classified as Near - Humans . The Zelosian species , though classified as Near - Humans , were in fact sentient , mobile plants . By contrast , other Near - Humans were close enough to baseline Humans to be identified as by some sources . These included the Hapan s and the Lorrdians . Non - Human parallels . Humans were not the only sentient species to develop into several distinct races . The Duros , for example , gave rise to several Near - Duros races , such as the Neimoidians . Other pairs of closely related species included : the Xexto and the Quermians ; the Horansi subspecies ; the many races of the Nikto species ; the Ranats and the Tintinna ; the Ssi - ruu k and P ' w ' eck ; the Sith and the Massassi ; the Zolander s and the Clawdites ; the Ewoks and Duloks ; the Troob and the Hobor s , and the Trandoshans and the Saurin . The t ' landa Til and the Hutts were also related to one another , though more distantly . Although unsubstantiated , some in the New Republic speculated about a possible connection between the Yevetha and the Twi ' leks . Behind the scenes . The Near - Human status of many " alien races " is not always certain . For instance , aliens who appear very similar to Humans may often be assumed by fans to be Near - Human , though this may never be explicitly stated in the canon . The confusion is compounded by the absence of any canonical explanation of what precisely " Near - Human " means . The definition could be as broad as a humanoid creature about the same size and bone structure of a Human , or could be more specific such as being able to biologically reproduce with a Human . The Utai look obviously non - Human , but are specifically described as Near - Humans in . Some of this confusion comes from overlapping use of the terms " humanoid " and " Near - Human " , both by in - universe sources and real - world writers . An additional source of ambiguity are groups such as the Lorrdians and Hapans , who are described in different sources as either Near - Humans or as a fully Human racial or ethnic group . The Twi ' leks are frequently assumed to be Near - Human by fans , but no source has yet identified them as Near - Human . They are capable of producing hybrid offspring with Humans , however , such as Jek Lawquane and Shaeeah Lawquane . From a production perspective , many characters in the " Star Wars " universe are human actors wearing makeup , masks , or prosthetic appliances , making it difficult and expensive to create races that could not be a Human in a costume . Appearances . While people of near - Human species appear in many " Star Wars " works , the following is only a list of media in which near - Humans are specifically referred to :