Reek / Legends The reek was a large thick - skinned , horned , rhino - esque quadruped , native to Ylesia . Subspecies could be found on Iridonia , Kashyyyk and Ithor . They could also be found in ranches on the Codian Moon , Tatooine , and Saleucami . Biology and appearance . Reeks were even - toed ungulates , herbivores by nature , but they were often fed meat for exhibition sport and executions . This turned their leathery skin a dark red and made the reeks much more aggressive . Reeks could not thrive on meat , so they were given just enough plant matter to keep them healthy . This method was used by the Geonosians for their Execution Arena reeks . One in particular was about to execute Jedi Anakin Skywalker , but was briefly tamed by the Jedi with the help of the Force and was later shot in the head and killed by Jango Fett . Yet another reek was tamed for General Grievous to ride on after his ship was shot down and crashed on the planet Saleucami . All reeks , including subspecies , were normally brown in color and only changed depending on their diet . Reeks were usually found in herds and resided in the mossy grasslands of Ylesia . They were very protective of their herds , fighting violently with intruders using their horns . Subspecies . Reek were commonly exported to other worlds , causing them to adapt and become subspecies . Iridonian reek . Another subspecies was the Iridonian reek . Reeks attracted the attention of the Zabrak when they developed interstellar travel . They saw reeks as excellent candidates for war mounts . Soon after , they were exported to Iridonia to be bred . Instead of giving them a meat diet , the Iridonian reeks were given a natural diet consisting of plant matter to keep them fierce and strong with natural vigor , and also turned a reek ' s skin gray . Adapted to Iridonia , their skin could resist sharp and blunt weapon attacks during battle . The Iridonian reek ' s horns were much sharper and longer than other reeks and were also decorated with tattoos similar to the tattoos a Zabrak was adorned with . Iridonian reeks were encouraged to fight for mates , making them less likely to buck or bolt in battle . As the Zabrak advanced , the use of reeks in war declined . However , riding war mounts was still taught in most Iridonian military schools . Ithorian reek . One subspecies , the Ithorian reek , was exported to Ithor . Their yellow skin color was attributed to their diet consisting of yellow flora and bafforr tree s . They were used as plow animals by the Ithorians and were larger and stronger than those found on Ylesia . Their horns were also smaller because of the lack of hostility between reeks . Males and females were separated to reduce competition and to isolate mating periods . The Ithorian reeks were wiped out during the Yuuzhan Vong War . Kashyyykian reek . A highly uncommon subspecies was the Kashyyykian reek , also known as a ryyk to the Wookiees . The reeks on Kashyyyk died off as a majority due to the climate change and the predators , however , a select few did survive and then learned to thrive . The adaptations required to do so made the Kashyyykian reeks a much larger size than their cousins . Their horns became narrower , but longer and stronger , and there were one or two examples of the development of poisons beginning to be secreted at the tips . Behind the scenes . The initial designs of the reek were inspired by , a stout , four - legged tusked species from the Triassic era . As the designs evolved , it began to take on more rhino - like characteristics . Concept sculptor Michael Patrick Murnane was most responsible for developing the reek ' s final look in a very detailed concept maquette . They are very similar to real - life ' s rhinoceros and they share many of their biology : they are herbivores but still aggressive if provocated , they are massive animals with heavy skin and horns used as weapons , their main tactic is charge the enemies and they live in herds . They are also aproximatly the same size of white rhinoceros although rhinos are much heavier . The creature ' s tall central horn came out of specific performance requirements George Lucas needed — Anakin Skywalker was to wrap his chains around the reek ' s horn when trying to control it .