Despite its name, the creature was not related to the true gundark. A young scientist named Kin Kimdyara gave the species its nickname due to its vicious temperament, rather than its physiology. However, he died before he could properly name this creature, so the name "long-necked gundark" stuck.
These creatures were called simply "gundarks" when they appeared in Star Wars (1977) 51, and were apparently intended to be the gundarks mentioned in The Empire Strikes Back. However, other gundarks were later introduced into Star Wars Legends, and these creatures were retconned into "long-necked gundarks."
These creatures were called simply "gundarks" when they appeared in Star Wars (1977) 51, and were apparently intended to be the gundarks mentioned in The Empire Strikes Back. However, other gundarks were later introduced into Star Wars Legends, and these creatures were retconned into "long-necked gundarks."