Gand

For other uses, see Gand.

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"You cannot surprise a Gand. We see the moves before they happen."

―Zuckuss, to 4-LOM^[5]

Gand were an insectoid sentient species native to the planet Gand. One subspecies breathed ammonia, forcing them to wear respirators to survive in oxygen-rich atmospheres. A notable member of this species was Zuckuss, a bounty hunter who was one of the first traditional findsmen to leave his homeworld.

Biology and appearance[]

"And what's with the stink? The place smells like a bantha pen."
"The gasses remind Zuckuss of his homeworld."

―Han Solo and 4-LOM^[6]

Maskless Zuckuss — The Gand Zuckuss without his respirator

Gand were a stocky, three-fingered,^[1] two-toed,^[7] insectoid sentient species^[2] with brown skin whose heads featured a pair of large, silver^[1] compound eyes.^[2]

There existed two subspecies of Gand: one that breathed ammonia, a compound that made up most of the atmosphere of their homeworld of Gand, and another that did not breathe at all, drawing its sustenance by absorption from its food intake and approximating speech by modulating the sounds of its flatulence.^[3]

Ammonia-breathing Gand had to wear respirators over their mouths in order to breath in oxygen-rich environments.^[2] In terms of genetics, Gand were distantly related to the Kel Dor and Tognath species, who similarly wore masks when off their homeworlds.^[8]

Society and culture[]

"The Gand should not leave Gand. It is not the way."

―Churkk^[9]

Some Gand were findsmen, a mystic tradition that dated back centuries on their fog-shrouded homeworld who were known for their uncanny tracking skills.^[2] The species spoke a language of the same name.^[4] It was against Gand tradition for them to leave their homeworld. If they spoke their last name, it often meant they were remotely ashamed.^[9]

Gand in the galaxy[]

"Something isn't right. Zuckuss can sense it."
"How many times must I remind you, Zuckuss? I deal with facts, not superstitious flim-flam."

―Zuckuss and 4-LOM^[10]

Gand spies and engineers were some of the most renowned in the galaxy. Many Gand found themselves forced into the Empire's services.^[11] Originally from the planet of the same name^[2] located in the galaxy's Outer Rim Territories,^[12] Rinn was a Gand bounty hunter who took a job with Jango Fett sometime before the plot to assassinate Senator Amidala.^[13] Sometime between 5 BBY and 4 BBY,^[14] a Gand engineer was forced by the Empire to build the ship model, the Blackburn, but the engineer was later rescued by the Spectres.^[11] A Gand inhabited Nar Shaddaa, which was nicknamed the "Smuggler's Moon," during the Galactic Civil War,^[15] and another served aboard the starship Espirion Multi.^[16] A male Gand bounty hunter known as Zuckuss was one of the first findsmen to leave their homeworld when the tradition was dying out.^[2] Churkk was a Gand who left Gand at a young age before becoming stranded on Parnassos, where he lived the rest of his life.^[9]

Behind the scenes[]

ZuckussConceptArt — Concept art of Zuckuss by John Mollo

The Gand species first appeared in the 1980 film Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back as the then-unnamed species of the bounty hunter Zuckuss.^[1] Portrayed by actress Catherine Monroe, the character's features were designed by Ralph McQuarrie and John Mollo, and the mask was crafted by Stuart Freeborn. The compound eyes of the mask were constructed with bubble wrap packing material, while the costume itself consisted of the full-head mask and attached cylinders that were filled with colored water, and the actress was instructed to blow air into the cylinders in order to create bubbles.^[17]

Zuckuss's species was first identified as Gand in Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back, a 1989 Star Wars Legends supplement written by Michael Stern for Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game.^[1] This name became canon when it was utilized in Zuckuss's entry in Ultimate Star Wars, a reference book co-written by Patricia Barr, Adam Bray, Daniel Wallace, and Ryder Windham^[18] that was released on April 28, 2015.^[19]