Lekku / Legends Lekku , singular lek and also known as tchun - tchin or ( by other species ) braintails or head - tails were the tentacles hanging from the heads of all Twi ' leks and Togruta . Twi ' lek . The prehensile lekku protruded down the back of the skull and contained part of a Twi ' lek ' s brain . A Twi ' lek ' s braintails served many purposes in their daily lives and culture , storing fat and other qualities . The Twi ' lek ' s native language of Twi ' leki was spoken using a combination of words and subtle movements of the lekku . 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 . Despite this , some Twi ' leks would cover their lekku with elaborate tattoos ; alternatively , they would be glitter - painted . Since the top portion of the lekku near the head housed parts of a Twi ' lek ' s brain , damage to this part of the brain tails also caused lasting brain damage , since the tissue within governed basic motor functions , as well as housing repressed subconscious memories . Rianna Saren had her right lek completely severed from her head below a certain point , but did not appear to suffer any permanent brain damage , and was able to function well with a prosthetic . They could be bent around the neck or shoulders in varying combinations for aesthetic purposes , more or less compared to how Humans cultivate and arrange the shape of their hair . Long or multiple lekku were considered great status symbols , and often went hand in hand with respect , influence and wealth . A Twi ' lek ' s braintails could be likened to phallic symbols , and for both sexes larger lekku brought with them some indistinct positive connotations . Most male Twi ' leks had longer lekku than the average females . Males also featured large bumps on their brows above each eye . The brow deposits on some truly corpulent males developed into a second set of anterior lekku . Such individuals were common in the aristocracy of Ryloth . On their homeworld , both the increased weight and the extra lekku were signs of wealth and status . Their braintails 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 left lek while tchin was the right . In casual conversation the Twi ' leks would usually refer to their lekku as " tchun " or " tchin " . The Twi ' lek Desvin Tor ' thal had his lekku modified by Thaum Rystra using Sith alchemy , to give them stingers that could fire poison . When a Twi ' lek drank too much alcohol , their lekku would become greenish in color . Togruta . Togrutas also sported head - tails . This species , however , had three ( rarely four ) head tails , the two at the side of the head and one from the lower - back of the skull . The stripes on their lekku would become more or less vibrant according to their emotions such as getting embarrassed . Togrutans ' native language of Togruti was similar to Twi ' leki in the fact that both languages involved the use of the head - tails . Combined with their head - tails , Togrutans also had two hollow montrals which could ultrasonically detect objects . These montrals , along with their three head - tails , did not grow fully until adolescence . A Togruta ' s head - tails were generally longer than a Twi ' lek ' s and were draped forward due to the third head - tail in the back .