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- "I'll be taking a diving trip to the resort world of Kaal soon, and a friend offered to loan me an organic gill. Catch is, I gotta pick it up. If you help me out, I'll pay you."
- ―An unidentified citizen, to a spacer
The organic gill, sometimes known as an oxygen symbiote was a breath mask that allowed most humanoid species to breathe underwater for an indefinite period of time.
Characteristics[]
The gill was manufactured by the Mon Calamari using an engineered biotechnological symbiont that extracted breathable gaseous oxygen by filtering it from ocean water. Taking the form of a small, transparent, gelatinous blob, the organic gill fit over a wearer's nose and mouth. Using the gills meant that there was no need for conventional air tanks or cumbersome breathing apparatus.[1]
The gill was capable of having several physical implants placed into it to increase its utility, such as chin protectors, goggle clamps, comlink transceivers, microphones and earphones. These components were slid into the gill, which conformed around them and held them in place. Each organic gill cost two hundred credits,[1] and weighed one-tenth of a kilogram.[3]
Organic gill wearers could travel underwater for an indefinite period of time, and did not have to worry about drowning. Putting on the gill was uncomfortable for most beings at first, although they were quick to adapt to it without much difficulty. This made the gill popular with tourists and explorers alike. Designed for the Mon Calamari and the Quarren, most other species were capable of using them; Sullustans however could not use organic gills because they were allergic to them.[1]
The symbiont lived for several weeks.[1] It could be used for about one month, then the gill died and became useless.[3]
History[]
Mon Calamari Organic gill
Though they were amphibious and could stay underwater indefinitely, the Mon Calamari generally found breathing water somewhat uncomfortable and preferred to make use of organic gills whenever possible.[5] The organic gills were also used to ease the discomfort that Mon Calamari felt when they started to breathe in water for long underwater journies.[1]
Minister of State Leia Organa Solo utilized an organic gill when she visited Mon Calamari to find Admiral Ackbar after the disaster on Vortex. She and her guide, Cilghal used the gills to travel for hours under the water to the Knowledge Bank, which gave the location of the Admiral's whereabouts.
Behind the scenes[]
Legacy 32 stated that Mon Calamari can breathe underwater, however other sources indicated that they have to use an organic gill to stay underwater for an extended period of time. The official StarWars.com Databank made the compromise that they find it uncomfortable and prefer to use an organic gill.
Appearances[]
- Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided (Mentioned only)
- Dark Apprentice (First appearance)
Sources[]
- The Jedi Academy Sourcebook
- Wretched Hives of Scum & Villainy
- Gundark's Fantastic Technology: Personal Gear
- The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
- Arms & Equipment Guide
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook
- Strongholds of Resistance
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Strongholds of Resistance
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Arms & Equipment Guide
- ↑
Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided — Explorer Terminal Mission: "Go Get a Gill"
- ↑
Mon Calamari in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
