Warning: This infobox is missing the following parameters: races, language, diet, subspecies, habitat, lifespan
- "There's something alive in here."
- ―Luke Skywalker
Dianoga were large cephalopods, capable of growing up to ten meters in length, though most specimens grew to approximately five or six meters. They had a single eyestalk protruding from their mollusk-like bodies, and seven suckered tentacles surrounding a fanged maw containing a sharp serrated probe.
History
Dianoga originated on the planet Vodran—discovered by the Hutts prior to the formation of the Galactic Republic—where the creatures evolved a form of natural camouflage to avoid the planet's large predators. Their bodies would become transparent when unfed, and, conversely, were known to change to reflect the color of the food they had eaten. This was achieved by diverting small portions of digested food into a series of ducts underneath the creature's skin, which would appear to affect the color of the dianoga's flesh.
Over many millennia, dianoga migrated from Vodran by stowing away aboard garbage ships in their microscopic larval forms, and could be commonly found in trash compactors, garbage pits and sewers across the galaxy, living off any present organic matter. They were primarily scavengers, and only posed a threat to living creatures when starving or threatened. Because of their penchant for living in and feeding on organic waste, dianoga were sometimes referred to as garbage squids, sewage squids, or trash monsters.
Dianoga would often prove a nuisance by nesting in bodies of water, sewage systems, and whatever other large concentrations of dirty, appalling liquid that they could locate. Smaller dianoga were even known to crawl out of toilets. Despite this, they could prove useful, since they served to rid waste of biological material, leaving behind salvageable minerals and metals. Only when a dianoga grew too large was it usually considered a threat, especially in urban areas such as Galactic City on Coruscant. Indeed, in 22 BBY, Coruscant's Desrini District experienced a dianoga infestation, following an incident with a misfiring garbage launcher. Up to twenty-five residents were reported to have been attacked by the scavengers, and it was believed the creatures would quickly spread to neighboring districts. The presence of a single dianoga was often cause for alarm, since the creatures were self-fertilizing hermaphrodites, and could quickly multiply to pose a larger problem.
One dianoga was known to have boarded the first Death Star, and made its home in one of the space station's garbage compactors. When Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca were forced into the trash compactor during the rescue of Leia Organa, the dianoga attacked Skywalker. It pulled the young farmboy under the murky, polluted water, but was scared away when the compactor walls activated. The dianoga itself had managed to burrow into the wall, and so was relatively safe inside the compactor; that is, until the Death Star was destroyed.
Another infestation of dianoga was experienced by Dash Rendar in the sewers beneath Prince Xizor's palace. Upon exiting the sewers, Dash was forced to fight a full grown dianoga, which was at least 10 meters long.
Dianoga were also found on Anoat, where several attacked Rebel mercenary Kyle Katarn as he worked through the sewers in an effort to locate Moff Rebus, in his campaign against the Imperial Dark Trooper Project.[3]
Dianoga could be found in the sewers of Coruscant and many other locations across the galaxy. Their flesh was used in the making of dianoga pie, and their spleens could be processed to make Dianogan tea, a beverage notably favored by Admiral Pors Tonith.
Behind the scenes
The Revised Fourth Draft of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope mentions this creature as Dia Nogu.
The original Kenner toy for the Death Star playset included a Dianoga in its trash compactor. The soft rubber form resembled a green, mutant shark with an eye stalk protruding from its nose and its fins ending with tentacles.
In the final film, director George Lucas was reportedly less than impressed with the delivered dianoga effect, having envisioned something bigger and more ominous.
Appearances
Non-canonical appearances
- LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (Heard only)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Heard only)
- "The Emperor's Court" — Star Wars Tales 14
- Choose Your Own Star Wars Adventure: A New Hope
- Family Guy: Blue Harvest
- Clone Wars Adventures
- Star Wars: Tiny Death Star
Sources
- Star Wars toy line
- Star Wars Official Poster Monthly 16
- A Guide to the Star Wars Universe (First Edition)
- Galaxy Guide 1: A New Hope, First Edition
- The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook
- Death Star Technical Companion
- 1996 Topps Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Card: Same Beast, Different Sewer) (backup link (http://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC0057.jpg) not verified!)
- Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Limited Collector's Edition
- Star Wars: The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt
- Star Wars: Behind the Magic
- Rebellion Era Sourcebook
- The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide
- The Essential Guide to Alien Species
- The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
- Hideouts & Strongholds
- Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 57 (Death Star - Trash Compactor)
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 98 (DIA1-2, Dianoga)
- Star Wars Customizable Card Game — [[Unknown set: No set defined!]]
- Star Wars Customizable Card Game — [[Unknown set: No set defined!]]
- Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption: Prima Official Game Guide
- "Imperial Officers Field Guide" — Star Wars Insider 96
- Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 5
- "The Toughest Ever Creatures" — Star Wars Insider 102
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — [[{{{set}}}]] (Card: Dianoga Dumpster) (backup link)
- Galaxy of Intrigue
- Death Star Battles
- Star Wars: Head-to-Head Tag Teams
- Dianoga in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- "We Need to Talk About Jar Jar" — Star Wars Insider 131
- Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide: Updated and Expanded
- Star Wars: The Card Game — FFGTCG
- "Creature Creator" — Star Wars Insider 147
Notes and references
External links
- Sneak Attack on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- "StarWars.com 10: Best Monsters StarWars.com Team" — {{{4}}} — [[{{{5}}}|{{{5}}}'s]] StarWars.com Blog (StarWars.com 10: Best Monsters backup link (2013/10/22/the-starwars-com-10-best-monsters//The StarWars.com 10: Best Monsters) not verified!)