HAWK-BAT

This page was last updated Thursday, February 16, 2006 02:28 PM.

Designation: Nonsentient

Planet of Origin: Coruscant

Height of Average Adult:1 meter

   Many scientist believe the hawk-bats of Coruscant have evolved due the their artificial environment as to the designs of nature. Hawk-bats are a reptavian species, part reptile and part bird.. They have ruby eyes and a leathery set of wings that span 1.5 meters.  Their talons are strong so that they can grip their prey and a very sharp beak so they can rip the flesh off their prey. Hawk-bats as you may assume have sharp eyesight and a sonar cry that can locate their prey even in pitch-black conditions. Scientists believe the reason for the hawk-bats large wings and sharp eyesight is that in Coruscant's artificial environment required the hawk-bat to locate their prey from great distances and near-absolute darkness of the planets lower levels then be able to fly at great speeds to catch their prey. This has been supported by finds of hawk-bat fossils dating ten millennia ago in the lower levels that show a very different type of bird with smaller wings and normal avian eyes.

   Hawk-bats are extremely territorial they nest on ledges and tucked away in crevices within the artificial  canyons of Coruscant. Their eggs are considered a delicacy and because they are so rare only the finer restaurants serve them. Emperor Palpatine kept a flock of Hawk-bats on the palace grounds just so e could enjoy their eggs when ever he felt like it. The hawk-bats were nearly hunted to extinction by people who wanted to try this delicacy themselves.

    The New Republic banned the hunting of hawk-bats or their eggs and after twenty years the population grew back to its original size. The New Republic then allowed the sale of hawk-bat eggs but only from hawk-bats that were kept in captivity. Wild hawk-bats were allowed to remain untouched in their natural habitat.