Krayt dragon / Legends The krayt dragon was a large carnivorous reptile native to Tatooine . Characteristics and species . Krayt dragons grew continuously throughout their lives to an average length of 45 meters and weight of 20 , 000 kilograms . They could live for 100 years and did not weaken appreciably with age . An ancient krayt dragon was the oldest and biggest of all krayt dragons . They could be found on the highest mountains of Tatooine . A fierce hunter , the krayt dragon became an important part of indigenous cultures on Tatooine . The krayt dragon was thought by some xenobiologists to have descended from the Duinuogwuin ( also known as Star Dragons ) . Although no substantial evidence was offered in support of a connection to the Duinuogwuin , the krayt dragon was a proven relative of the smaller kell dragon . In honor of the beast ' s sheer power and ferocity , the Jedi Order named the Shien and Djem So form of lightsaber combat " The Way of the Krayt Dragon . " The only semi - sentient species known to hunt the krayt dragon was the fabled sand demon . When summer mating season began , the howls of krayt dragons filled the canyons of Tatooine . The collection of frenzied , mating beasts scared even the mightiest Sand People away . Obi - Wan Kenobi mimicked a krayt dragon hunting cry when he scared the raiders away from Luke Skywalker in 0 BBY . Young Sand People would hunt krayt dragons in an initiation rite to prove themselves as warriors . The krayt dragon had a set of sharp teeth used for capturing prey , but relied on ingesting stones to grind the food through a series of gizzards into a digestible state . Food would be crushed by the stones tumbled in the gizzards by stomach muscles , grinding food into pulp and turning boulders into smooth stones . The resulting stones , known as dragon pearls , were a valuable commodity among jewelers . The pearls could also be shaped and tuned by Jedi to be used as focusing crystals in their lightsabers . Krayt dragons instinctively went to the Krayt Graveyard when they were about to die . Krayt dragons were heavily attracted to areas that were strong in the Force , especially the dark side . Some Sith artifacts , like the Tatooine Star Map , were guarded by krayt dragons . In spite of their awesome power , krayt dragons did have weak and exploitable biological characteristics . Firstly , krayt dragons had trouble resisting the allure of the prey of the Dune Sea , specifically the bantha . Secondly , they had difficulty discerning two - dimensional images , often attacking shadows . Thirdly , a well - placed blaster shot could bore right through the weak sinus cavity of a krayt dragon , hitting its brain and killing it instantly . The krayt could also secrete a lethal venom , either through its teeth or its spines . Although its nature is unclear , numerous underworld characters such as Bib Fortuna have admitted to using the substance to kill enemies . Although some holofilms , such as the holothriller " Luke Skywalker and the Dragons of Tatooine " , depicted krayt dragons breathing fire , they were in reality incapable of this . Species . At least two species and several subspecies of krayt dragons existed . Canyon krayt dragon . The " canyon krayt " was a common species of krayt dragon that lived in the rocky caves and canyons of Tatooine ' s desert ranges . More often than not , the term " krayt dragon " referred to this lifeform . Patterns of horns and spikes appears to have varied from individual to individual . At least one canyon krayt was noted to have a two - pronged tail . Greater krayt dragon . The " greater krayt " was a rarer , larger species of krayt dragon , known for its tremendous size and continual growth over time . Creatures of near legendary status , greater krayt dragons had ten legs , measured at least 100 meters from snout to tail tip and had the ability to move through or on Tatooine ' s desert sand . Greater krayt dragons attacked with their massive jaws or whip - like spike - tail , using their claws only to move through the sand . Krayts in Tatooine culture . The Sand People of Tatooine revered the krayt dragon as a powerful hunter and centered their primary maturity ritual on it . Adolescent males were abandoned in the Tatooine dune and only accepted back into their tribes as adults when they had slain a krayt dragon . Both the Sand People and Jawas placed the krayt dragon in the position of a powerful spirit , and believed that their bones possessed magic . Jawas brave enough to risk the acquisition of krayt dragon bones were held in high regard among their people . A krayt dragon skeleton was exhibited at the Corellian Science Museum during the Cold War , and a painting of a krayt dragon skeleton was on display in Bestine ' s Museum of Tatooine . Revan , who was an amnesiac and searching for the Star Forge to stop Darth Malak , killed a krayt dragon with the help of Komad Fortuna in order to find an ancient Star Map . He collected the krayt dragon ' s pearl , but what he did with it is unknown . He either gave it to the Sand People so he could be permitted to learn their history , or he may have kept it to make his lightsaber stronger . The Sand People often made fearsome - looking backpacks from the skulls of krayt dragons . In 32 BBY , bounty hunter Jango Fett was captured by crime lord Gardulla and was forced to battle her krayt dragon , ultimately slaying the beast . According to Han Solo and Gavin Darklighter , Krayt Dragons were an integral part of a traditional Tatooine pre - wedding party for the groom - to - be , which is why it was perhaps fortunate that Luke Skywalker ' s was held on Coruscant , in the Corellian tradition instead . A ' Sharad Hett , a Human Jedi who lived among the Sand People with his father , took the name Darth Krayt after the dragons upon becoming a Sith Lord . Behind the scenes . The artificial skeleton used for " " was left in the Tunisian desert after filming and still lies there . During filming of " " , the site was visited by the crew and the skeleton was still found there . Krayt dragons were intended to appear first in " " but they were renamed kell dragons and became a different ( but related ) species altogether . A backpack made from a krayt dragon skull was one of the many items available to players in " Star Wars Galaxies " .