Bothans, known for their espionage prowess, maintained a sophisticated spy network. Their primary mode of communication involved a series of guttural vocalizations resembling growls.
Despite incurring significant casualties, Bothan spies are credited with obtaining vital intelligence regarding the location of the DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station. This information was instrumental in allowing the Rebel Alliance to formulate a strategy for attacking the incomplete space station. Furthermore, the Bothans furnished the Rebel Alliance with additional critical data, including the access code for the shield generator bunker situated on the forest moon of Endor. They also created fabricated chain codes, which were then implanted into Aqualish individuals by Nautolan medical professionals.
The initial mention of Bothans occurred in the 1983 motion picture, Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. Their first canonically visual representation was in the 2016 novel, Bloodline. Creatures visually similar to the Star Wars Legends version of Bothans have been seen in various official visual media, including Star Wars Resistance, Legends of the Alliance in the form of Mak Eshkra'rey, Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters, Sabine My Rebel Sketchbook, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook. However, it remains unconfirmed if these beings are indeed Bothans.
The reference work titled Star Wars: How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks and Other Galactic Survival Skills also features an image of Bothans. Nevertheless, considering the Lucasfilm Story Group's hesitation to depict Bothans, it is speculated within this article that this inclusion might have been an oversight.