Aqualish were a sentient humanoid species hailing from the planet Ando. Their defining traits included round, dark eyes and fur. While some Aqualish possessed two pairs of eyes, others had only one.
Generally, Aqualish individuals had hairless heads, but displayed fur around their cheeks, along with prominent chelicerae. Skin coloration varied among them. Furthermore, the number of eyes (either two or four) and the structure of their hands differed. For example, the criminal Ponda Baba had five-fingered, hairy hands, whereas some Aqualish serving in the Galactic Republic Senate had three-fingered, hairless hands. The species communicated using the Aqualish language. Their blood was red-colored.
Water played a central role in the Aqualish way of life, yet they were adaptable and capable of thriving in environments far removed from it. Some Aqualish, such as the arms dealer Amda Wabo, originated from the planet Ando. By the time of the Galactic Republic, they had integrated into the broader galactic society, with several holding positions in the Republic Senate.
However, not all Aqualish agreed with the Republic's direction. At least two Aqualish politicians sided with the Sith Lord Count Dooku. Numerous other Aqualish joined Dooku's anti-Republic organization, the Confederacy of Independent Systems. During the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Confederacy and the Republic, an Aqualish named Pune Zignat collaborated with the Neimoidian General Lok Durd. Republic forces captured both on the planet Maridun. Following the Clone Wars, the Republic was replaced by the Galactic Empire. Darth Vader, a Sith Lord, murdered two Aqualish who had been aligned with the Confederacy on the planet Mustafar.
During the Galactic Civil War, some Aqualish became pirates or bounty hunters, while others joined the Rebellion with the goal of restoring the Republic and reclaiming their seat in the Senate.
Besides serving as senators in the Galactic Republic and officers in the Confederacy, some Aqualish pursued careers in crime and arms dealing. Utonk Hid, an Aqualish gunman, was present at Tiggs Leo's tavern on Coruscant. Ponda Baba, an Aqualish criminal, and his associate, Doctor Cornelius Evazan, were wanted for capital crimes across twelve star systems. In a cantina brawl, Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi severed Baba's arm.
Amda Wabo, an Aqualish arms dealer, operated from the planet Garel. During the Galactic Empire's rule, Wabo attempted to sell T-7 ion disruptor rifles to the Empire through Minister Maketh Tua. Rebels from Lothal thwarted their plans, and some of the weapons fell into the hands of crime boss Cikatro Vizago. At least one Aqualish was a member of the court of Jabba the Hutt, a crime lord on Tatooine.
On Tatooine, a group of Aqualish were part of the crime families controlling the workers' district, with whom Boba Fett formed an alliance, only to be betrayed. Fennec Shand assassinated their leader during the Pyke Syndicate coup in 9 ABY.
Around 9 ABY, a group of Aqualish utilized the former Mandalorian covert of the Tribe on Nevarro, specifically the Armorer's workshop, as a refuge. Carasynthia Dune, the Marshal of Nevarro, intercepted and killed them prior to the second skirmish on Nevarro.
The Aqualish species made its debut with the character Ponda Baba in the first Star Wars film, Episode IV A New Hope, released in 1977. An Aqualish appeared in Jabba the Hutt - Galactic Gangster, an episode of Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures. These shorts are not considered literal canon events. In this short, Boba Fett, a bounty hunter, brings an Aqualish captive before Jabba the Hutt, who then throws the captive into his rancor pit, where [Pateesa](/article/pateesa] devours the Aqualish.