Ishi Tib / Legends Ishi Tib were a sentient species from the planet of Tibrin . Biology and appearance . The Ishi Tib were amphibious beings with large eyes on stalks and beak - like mouths . Their heads were often described as star - shaped , with their eyestalks , beaks , and cheek pouches forming a five - pointed star . Their lungs doubled as internal gills , and they had an acute sense of smell on land or in the water . Their green skins retained humidity , but an Ishi Tib had to bathe in salt water every thirty hours or so , or their skin would crack open , resulting in internal and external bleeding and death . Their language was Tibranese . Society . Ishi Tib evolved from fish who escaped predators by jumping out of the oceans and on to the above - water portions of Tibrin ' s coral reefs . As they evolved intelligence , their cities were built on these same coral reefs , with underwater farms which grew fish , seaweed , and crustaceans for food . Their society was centered on small communities ( called " schools " ) of up to 10 , 000 Ishi Tib . Schools were governed by representatives who were elected to one - year terms . The most important laws of the Ishi Tib were concerned with ecological preservation . Ishi Tib reproduction was governed by the needs of the school , with fertilized eggs laid in hatcheries near the reefs , and children raised communally . Marriage was unknown among the Ishi Tib , and no Ishi Tib knew who his or her parents or children were . Ishi Tib were considered meticulous strategists and managers . The minority of Ishi Tib who left Tibrin often found work offworld as executives , accountants , and project managers . Their organizational skills and drive to complete their projects placed them in high demand , making many offworld Ishi Tib quite wealthy . Ishi Tib were also known for their environmental consciousness , often choosing to work in positions where reverence for nature was as or more important than profit . There was also a primal undercurrent to their personalities , however — they were ferocious in combat , often tearing opponents apart with their beaks . Ishi Tib enjoyed listening to music that had loud sirens , along with clanging , whoops , flashing lights , and ringing bells . History . During the Clone Wars , the Ishi Tib were divided in their loyalties — Tibrin was brought into the Confederacy of Independent Systems by Count Dooku , though it was still represented in the Galactic Senate by Gume Saam . However , the majority of Ishi Tib on Tibrin itself overwhelmingly supported Dooku , at least initially , as he had liberated their planet from the tyrannical rule of Suribran Tu . In 19 BBY , shortly after the end of the Clone Wars , a less - than - reputable Ishi Tib named Haka Hai made his base on the swampy world of Mimban . Hai commanded a number of thugs and involved himself in illegal deals . He was responsible for the imprisonment , torture , enslavement , and in some cases death of crew - members off of the freighter Uhumele . Shortly before the Battle of Yavin an Ishi Tib Rebel leader was captured by Imperial agents while returning from a secret meeting , and he was forced to kill himself to escape the interrogator droids . In 4 ABY , there was an Ishi Tib in Jabba Desilijic Tiure ' s palace , as well as four Ishi Tib at the Rebel briefing before the attack on the second Death Star . During the time of the Dark Nest Crisis there were two female Ishi Tib in a Killik cantina in the Lizil nest . Behind the scenes . The Ishi Tib were designed for " Return of the Jedi " by concept sculptor Chris Walas . Nicknamed " Starfish , " the early maquettes had pink instead of green skin . The Ishi Tib lurking in Jabba ' s palace was called " Birdlizard " during shooting . " Ishi Tib " may have been originally designated as a character name , rather than a species . James Kahn ' s refers to " Ishi Tib , the Birdlizard " as one of Jabba ' s courtiers .