The Bravaisians were a race of sentient beings with short statures and elongated snouts, originating from the planet Bravais. These creatures native to this world possessed a remarkably versatile tongue, frequently employing it in lieu of their fingers. Due to the extreme heat prevalent on their planet, they were primarily nocturnal, avoiding the harsh daylight to shield their delicate eyes. When venturing off-world, most Bravaisians donned protective goggles to safeguard their vision. They also evolved from an earlier species. Two Bravaisians, Munduri and Sonsigo, were commonly seen at Maz Kanata's castle.
Bravaisians were a sentient species of humanoid form, characterized by their small size, leathery, blue skin, and four-fingered arms. Their snouts, which transitioned to a pink hue at the tip, housed a prehensile tongue as adept as their digits. Bravaisians would switch between using their tongues and fingers. Some Bravaisians, like Sonsigo, grew hair on the back of their heads.
The nocturnal habits of the Bravaisians stemmed from the intense heat and scarce life forms on Bravais during the day. Consequently, their eyes were small and easily overwhelmed by bright light. Therefore, it was rare to see a Bravaisian off-world without goggles for protection. Some even opted for surgical removal of their eyes to mitigate this issue.
The Bravaisians developed from pack hunters that utilized their resilient, pliable snouts to excavate the earth in search of nourishment, specifically tubers and insect nests. They would then ingest their findings with their long and strong tongues.
During the High Republic Era, a Force-sensitive Bravaisian named Bibs served as a Padawan within the Jedi Order. Prior to the Battle of Takodana, a Bravaisian was engaged in an argument with Gwellis Bagnoro inside Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana.
Sonsigo and Munduri, two Bravaisian companions, were frequent patrons of Kanata's castle. They were known to acquire sparkling gems and valuable metals, offering generous prices in return. The pair meticulously assessed their merchandise, sometimes utilizing their tongues, fingers, and an electro refractometer in the process. Both were present at Kanata's Castle when the astromech droid BB-8, carrying a fragment of a map leading to Luke Skywalker, arrived alongside Han Solo, the smuggler, Finn, the former stormtrooper, and Rey, the scavenger.
The Bravaisians were conceived for the Takodana segment of the film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, but their initial mention occurred in "The Face of Evil," a short story penned by Landry Q. Walker, which was published on December 1, 2015.
For The Force Awakens, Sonsigo and Munduri were operated as hand puppets by performers positioned beneath the bench where the characters were seated. Olly Taylor controlled Sonsigo, while Damian Farrell was responsible for Munduri. Both individuals were creature and droid performers. During the film's production, Munduri and Sonsigo were referred to as "snooty pirates".