Twi ' lek / Legends Twi ' leks ( or / ' twaɪlɛk / ) , sometimes referred to disparagingly as " Tail - heads " , were an omnivorous humanoid species originating from the planet Ryloth . They tended to eat cultivated molds , fungi , and rycrit meat . Their distinctive features included colorful skin , which varied in pigment from individual to individual , and a pair of shapely prehensile tentacles that grew from the base of their skulls . The tentacles , called " brain - tails " , " lekku " , " tchun - tchin " , or " head - tails " were advanced organs used for communication and cognitive functions . Twi ' leks possessed a fairly standard humanoid vocal structure and were capable of learning most alien languages ; however , they usually preferred their native language of Ryl , which incorporated subtle movement of the lekku . When they wished , they could even communicate in complete secrecy using their versatile brain - tails . Twi ' lek females were often used as slaves or dancers because of their beauty . Biology and appearance . The Twi ' leks were a sentient species of mostly hairless mammals . They were humanoid in form , with two legs and two arms . Males had humanoid ears , and among females there was equal biological evidence for humanoid ears and ear " cones " . While some headdresses were cultural decoration to denote status , quite a few were originally introduced as " muzzles " to prevent the slaves from having access to a language that non - Twi ' lek handlers could not understand . Both males and females have little to no body hair , with the only notable exception being eyelashes to aid in keeping out the sand and heat of Ryloth . Females typically had painted eyebrows or had their eyebrows tattooed on , in order to appear more palatable and less alien to more base - line humanoid offworlders . Boc Aseca had body hair under the armpits and on his chest , though it is unknown whether this was the result of some genetic mutation , a rare subspecies , or something else . Female Twi ' leks have been considered especially attractive and slender , which made them favorite subjects for slavery and entertainment . The beauty of female Twi ' leks was well known throughout the galaxy , and as a result many young Twi ' leks were sold into slavery , becoming dancers or status symbols , most notably by Jabba Desilijic Tiure . The Twi ' leks were omnivores . This diet was essential given that food was scarce on their homeworld , Ryloth . Twi ' leks possessed multiple stomachs , an unusual trait that enabled them to eat almost any food . When traveling off their homeworld , Twi ' leks rarely refused food , which frequently led to obesity among starfarers . Twi ' lek society also associated obesity as a sign of affluence and success . In the case of obese Twi ' leks , ear flaps enlarged to store fat . Although unsubstantiated , some in the New Republic speculated about a possible relation between the Yevetha and Twi ' leks . Lekku . The two most striking features of a Twi ' lek were their broad range of skin coloration within the species , and pair of brain - tails . The brain tails , also called " tchun - tchin " or " lekku " , protruded down the back of the skull and contained part of a Twi ' lek ' s brain . The very word " Twi ' lek " was believed to be derived from semi - Basic " twin lekku " . A Twi ' lek ' s brain - tails served many purposes in their daily lives and culture , storing fat and being used as erogenous zones . The Twi ' lek ' s native language of Ryl was spoken using a combination of words and subtle movements of the lekku . Newborn Twi ' leks had no lekku , as they presumably grew out during childhood . A Twi ' lek ' s brain - tails were highly sensitive , and grabbing them forcefully was so painful that it could easily incapacitate almost any Twi ' lek . Sometimes , damage to the brain - tails caused lasting damage to the Twi ' lek ' s brain . They could be replaced by cybernetics , however , as in the case of Rianna Saren . Long or shapely lekku were considered great status symbols , and often went hand - in - hand with respect , influence , and wealth . A Twi ' lek ' s brain - tails could be likened to phallic symbols , and for both sexes , larger lekku brought with them some indistinct positive connotations . Their brain - tails were a source of great pride to Twi ' leks , especially when confronted by other species . The name " tchun - tchin " actually referred to each lekku — ' " tchun " being the left lekku and " tchin " the right . In casual conversation the Twi ' leks would usually refer to their lekku as " tchun " or " tchin . " Subraces . The Twi ' lek species developed and mutated in such a way as to provoke changes in their skin pigmentation , which resulted in many races and subraces . These races were all physically identical , except for their skin color . The wide and vivid variety of skin coloration included many variations of blue , red , yellow , orange , deep green , white , pale brown , pink , and lavender . Some Twi ' leks even exhibited varied phenotypes , including stripes , orange with red mottling , red with pink palms , and blue with pink lips . There was not an even distribution of skin colors across the Twi ' lek population . The Lethan Twi ' leks , red in coloration , were a rare subgroup , perhaps even the most rare . In contrast , the Rutian Twi ' leks , which exhibited a blue phenotype , were more common among the population . Society and culture . The natural grace and exotic beauty of the female Twi ' leks made them a popular target among slave traders . Slavery was the main currency of Ryloth , which was tolerated by the Galactic Republic . Some saw it as a chance to make money by kidnapping or selling orphaned children , while others saw slavery as a way of saving children from growing up in Ryloth ' s harsh environment . A number of Twi ' leks believed that slavery was an efficient way to proliferate their species and preserve their culture , as the Twi ' leks lacked their own means of inter - planetary travel . Regardless of how it came about , many Twi ' leks lived as slaves or entertainers and were considered status symbols , especially the females of rarer skin hues : the Rutian and Lethan Twi ' leks . Twi ' leks that managed to escape from captivity usually turned to a life of thievery or prostitution , with both genders making use of their powers of seduction . Twi ' leks preferred to " ride the storm " rather than " defeat it , " as a proverb goes , and avoided taking a stand on most issues . This was exemplified when , during the Clone Wars , their politicians were loyal to the Republic but other individuals kept negotiations open with the Separatists . While many Twi ' leks lived their lives as merchants or even criminals , the species also had a proud and honorable warrior tradition . A Twi ' lek Mandalorian fought at the Battle of Vanquo during the Mandalorian Wars in 3964 BBY . It was Twi ' lek warriors who invented the Chir ' daki , or " Deathseed " , starfighters that married the TIE Fighter cockpit to the S - foils of the X - wing starfighter as well as using a rotation system similar to what allowed the B - wing starfighter . During the Bacta War , Twi ' lek warriors assisted Wedge Antilles in the fight against Ysanne Isard . The clothing of Twi ' leks depended on their gender . While most male Twi ' leks wore long , loose robes , female Twi ' leks typically wore tighter , more revealing clothing to maintain their elegant figures and enhance their value to males . Twi ' lek dance costumes were typically made up of silky veils that clung to their bodies , although other kinds were used , such as a revealing net costume Oola once wore . When meeting a stranger or guest for the first time , Twi ' leks would usually exchange gifts or something else as a welcome . When welcoming a large number of beings they would usually throw a party and use their traditional dances as entertainment . As Cham Syndulla once said , " it is customary to share what we do have . " Twi ' leks , when on Ryloth , lived in simple mud brick dwellings that protected them against the scorching heat of their homeworld . They often decorated them with native textiles and simple things . When in a city , Twi ' leks used more standard dwellings with technology though they were still modified to survive Ryloth ' s environment . Some Twi ' leks were known to worship an unnamed goddess . Government . Twi ' lek society was divided into clans , with each clan having its own city . Each city had its own government , which was led by a five - member head - clan . These five Twi ' leks would lead the society in all matters until one member of the head - clan died . At that point , the remaining members of the head - clan would be cast out into the barren landscape on the day - side of the planet , presumably to die , thus allowing the next generation to take over . If the next generation was not yet ready to claim their inherited positions , then a set of regents would be selected to rule until the proper time . Twi ' lek names . Rather than having separate personal and clan names , a Twi ' lek would have a single name that combined these two elements . The personal portion of the name would be selected with the clan name in mind , often involving an intentional alteration of the words or a shift in the letters to change the meaning of the name as a whole . This change was meant to symbolize a way of unity . A Twi ' lek ' s name would also be split into multiple parts if they were exiled as a criminal , as this was considered very dishonoring . In some cases , Twi ' leks would combine the multiple - part name of a non - Twi ' lek into a single name , often changing the pronunciation in the same way that they would alter their own given names and clan names . For example , Twi ' leks often pronounced Wedge Antilles ' s name as Wedgan ' tilles so that his name meant " Slayer of Stars " — if a Twi ' lek were to use the Galactic Basic Standard pronunciation , it would mean , in a generous translation , " one so foul he could induce vomiting in a Rancor . " An example of a true Twi ' lek name would be " Nawar ' aven " . This name would be split into two parts when used outside of the local culture , becoming " Nawara Ven " ( the clan name in this case being " Ven " , but the name " Nawara " was selected with the intention of moving the last " a " into the second half of the name , thus changing the meaning ) . It is worth noting that this naming convention did not appear to be in use during the waning days of the Galactic Republic , when even prominent Twi ' lek leaders such as Ro Fenn and Pol Secura preferred using their core names even in private conversation with each other on Ryloth . Language . The Twi ' Lek ' s primary language is Twi ' leki , which is also known as Rylothean or Ryl . Although it primarily utilized subtle body - language and thus was difficult to understand , they also utilized enunciable words in the language and was as widespread as Galactic Basic . The Lekku language , on the other hand , was exclusively used by Twi ' leks , since it entailed body language . Those that spoke Galactic Basic Standard , at least during the Clone Wars , sometimes possessed an accent that placed particular emphasis on certain vowels , such as dropping the " s " if it is at the end of a word , or saying a high - accent vowel in a way that indicated a low - accent vowel , and vice versa . History . Early history . According to Ashaa , the Mother Machine , the Twi ' leks originated as a synthetic lifeform she created under orders from the Rakata , as part of experimentation they hoped would give them insight into the loss of their connection to the Force . This would place the origins of the species c . 25 , 200 BBY . However , despite the fact that it is known that the Mother Machine ' s creation of her " children " on the planet Belsavis postdates the fall of the Infinite Empire , an advanced Twi ' lek civilization was already present on Ryloth in the year 36 , 453 BBY , when a visiting Tho Yor starship took a group of Force - studying mystics to Tython . Around 10 , 000 BBY , the Twi ' lek homeworld of Ryloth was discovered by the Galactic Republic . Although their society was still in a primitive state , the Twi ' leks had spent the past several centuries in relative harmony with one another , and they joined the Republic soon after being discovered . Twi ' lek society was comprised of a series of clans of various sizes . When the galaxy took a sudden interest in Ryloth ' s wealth of ryll spice , the Twi ' lek clan leaders increased production of the drug and prepared to ship it offworld . Unfortunately , the clans were inexperienced in the galactic economy , and Hutt cartels soon took control of the planet ' s mining operations . The Twi ’ leks were enslaved and labored in their own mines for the profit of the Hutts , or were sold outright on the open market . After generations of slavery , the Twi ' lek species became far more numerous across the galaxy than on Ryloth , and most felt little connection to their own homeworld . Homeworld reclaimed . Sometime after 3641 BBY , the Twi ' lek clans regained control of their planet from the Hutts , but the prosperity of their ryll mines still made them targets of pirates and mercenaries . To ensure their continued wealth , most of the Twi ' lek clan leaders chose to deter such threats by selling their own people — in particular , their women — into slavery . The sale of Twi ' lek dancing girls was continually tolerated by the Republic , and slavery remained Ryloth ' s primary currency as it had for past millennia , while the ryll trade fueled the planet ' s black market economy . Behind the scenes . The name Twi ' lek was not coined until the 1987 West End Games publication " The Star Wars Sourcebook " . The name was not spoken in any of the " Star Wars " films . George Lucas himself has used the Expanded Universe name Twi ' lek , as evidenced by a remark of his during the production of that is documented in an Episode III Set Diary entry . The Twi ' leks featured in " " all speak with French accents . According to Dave Filoni , Lucas specifically requested this . This is also done by a few audiobook readers . The books " " and " " state that Twi ' leks and Humans are not breed - compatible , whereas " The Clone Wars " television series has portrayed Twi ' lek / Human hybrid children , as clarified by " " . It has not yet been clarified if this is possible naturally , or if Twi ' lek / Human pregnancies require some level of genetic engineering before being viable . The game " " has a training mission to be played around the planet " Twi ' lek . " " Twi ' lek " is another name for Ryloth . In the game " " , Chop ' aa Notimo ' s generic blaster - wielding thugs are Twi ' leks . Twi ' leks are featured as a playable species for players who choose the Smuggler , Jedi Knight , Sith Inquisitor or the Jedi Consular class in " " . However , since patch 1 . 2 , they can be unlocked for any class . If they choose to take dark - side options , their basic skin color fades toward white .