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Near-Human was the general term for any of the many species or subspecies in the galaxy which were very closely related biologically to baseline Humans. In contrast, other humanoid species only had general external similarities to Humans, and had no biological connection. However, the term "humanoid" was sometimes used loosely to describe Near-Human species.

Most Near-Humans shared close external similarities to Humans, usually with small differences in skin and eye color or bone structure. Biologically, many Near-Humans were capable of interbreeding with baseline Humans. Some were close enough to the Human baseline to be considered a race or ethnic group of Humans, rather than a separate species. Similarly, some groups, biologically classified as Humans, though differing from the Human mainstream almost entirely in their culture, were considered so distinct that they were sometimes referred to as Near-Human.

OriginsEdit

Near-Humans were believed^[source?] to have descended from Humans that evolved along distinct lines on distant planets, whether via natural selection or deliberate genetic engineering.

The appearance of Human and Near-Human communities in various planets predating the discovery of the hyperdrive can be explained by supposing that they had already settled colonies via a slower means of space transport. Another explanation is that Humans (or perhaps the Zhell, their possible ancestors) were taken from their original planet by an ancient race, like the Rakata or the Celestials, and spread through the galaxy for some reason.^[source?]

Many Near-Humans were thought, therefore, to have evolved in the most ancient and forgotten colonies, formed at some point before recorded history. Thus, the genetic and usually visible differences between Humans and the various Near-Human species can be explained by many thousands of years of separate evolution on separate environments than that on which Humans evolved, long before they left their home planet as a species.^[source?]

Near-Human typesEdit

ChissEdit

The Chiss, a race that dwelt in the Unknown Regions, were a Near-Human people^[1] that had pale blue skin, generally black hair, and red reflective or fluorescent eyes which gave them excellent low-light vision. Their growth cycle differed from Humans, with an early maturation, for example. They were differentiated enough from baseline Humans to be considered a new species. In other aspects they resembled normal Humans: they bled red blood, and the cloning tanks used to clone Human Stormtroopers also worked on Chiss physiology.

Grand Admiral Thrawn was the most well-known Chiss.

ZeltronsEdit

Zeltrons were Near-Humans^[1] with a completely Human appearance, save for their skin, which normally came in shades of pink or red. This pigmentation may or may not have been a result of their sun's highly radioactive rays. Generally speaking, they actually were a rather amorous race, famous (or infamous) for their many sculptures and paintings on the subject. Along with their above-average looks, Zeltrons could use telepathy and powerful pheromones to influence other beings with relative ease. They also made great strides in the field of holograms and were responsible for the ones used at Hologram Fun World. Zeltrons were differentiated enough from baseline Humans to actually be considered a new species.

OthersEdit

Many other Near-Human races existed, each with their own similarities to and differences from the Human baseline. The Pau'an and Utai species of the planet Utapau,^[2] and the Sullustans of Sullust^[3] were among the species which, despite outward appearances, were classified as Near-Humans. The Zelosian species, though classified as Near-Humans,^[4] were in fact sentient, mobile plants.^[5] By contrast, other Near-Humans were close enough to baseline Humans to be identified as sub-groups of the Human species by some sources. These included the Hapans and the Lorrdians^[5]

Non-Human parallelsEdit

Humans were not the only sentient species to develop into several distinct races. The Duros, for example, gave rise to several Near-Duros races, such as the Neimoidians. Other pairs of closely related species included: the Xexto and the Quermians; the Horansi subspecies; the many races of the Nikto species; the Ranats and the Tintinna; the Ssi-ruuk and P'w'eck; the Sith and the Massassi; the Zolanders and the Clawdites; the Ewoks and Duloks; the Troob and the Hobors, and the Trandoshans and the Saurin. The t'landa Til and the Hutts were also related to one another, though more distantly. Although unsubstantiated, some in the New Republic speculated about a possible connection between the Yevetha and the Twi'leks.^[6]

Behind the scenesEdit

The Near-Human status of many "alien races" is not always certain. For instance, aliens who appear very similar to Humans may often be assumed by fans to be Near-Human, though this may never be explicitly stated in the canon. The confusion is compounded by the absence of any canonical explanation of what precisely "Near-Human" means. The definition could be as broad as a humanoid creature about the same size and bone structure of a human, or could be more specific such as being able to biologically reproduce with a human.

The Utai look obviously non-Human, but are specifically described as Near-Humans in the Revenge of the Sith novelization. Some of this confusion comes from overlapping use of the terms "humanoid" and "Near-Human", both by in-universe sources and real-world writers.^[source?]

An additional source of ambiguity are groups such as the Lorrdians and Hapans, who are described in different sources as either Near-Humans or as a fully Human racial or ethnic group.

The Twi'leks are frequently assumed to be Near-Human by fans,^[source?] but no source has yet identified them as Near-Human. They are capable of producing hybrid offspring with humans, however, such as Jek Lawquane and Shaeeah Lawquane.

Of course the real world explanation is simply that many characters in the Star Wars universe are human actors wearing makeup, masks, or prosthetic appliances, making it difficult and expensive to create races that could not be a human in a costume.

AppearancesEdit

While people of near-human species appear in many Star Wars works, the following is only a list of media in which near-humans are specifically referred to: