Cannoks, small and aggressive predatory creatures, originated on the moon of Dxun. While generally not dangerous to Humans, they possessed a tendency to consume anything small enough to fit inside their mouths. Due to their rapid breeding and pronounced inquisitiveness, they were regarded as pests. To endure the harsh conditions of Dxun, cannoks were resilient and traveled in large groups. In the years after the Jedi Civil War, some cannoks were transported by the Ithorians from Citadel Station to Telos IV to contribute to the Telosian Restoration Project, which aimed to restore the planet's natural environment after the devastation caused by Darth Malak.
Cannoks were stocky, bloated beings typically covered in bumpy, wrinkled yellow-green skin. These creatures walked on four wide feet, each ending in three toes with sturdy, spatula-shaped claws. They featured short, thick tails and a pronounced bony ridge running along their backs, from which protruded thin, fleshy spines. Their heads had an upward-facing jaw, connected low on the skull. Thin, sharp, needle-like teeth jutted from the lower jaw, extending past the upper lip. Their [eyes](/article/eye-legends] sat on short stalks and could move independently of each other.
Cannoks were ill-tempered creatures that often formed packs to hunt; these packs typically consisted of three or more individuals, though solitary cannoks were also observed. These creatures were not easily intimidated and showed no fear of fire. While they avoided large groups or settlements, they frequently attacked smaller parties, and there were instances of healthy individuals being killed by them. When attacking, they typically bit their prey with their large, sharply toothed mouths or used head-butts.
When left alone, cannoks generally behaved predictably. While walking with a slightly elevated gait, they would often pause and look around by wiggling their eyestalks. The only sound cannoks made was a deep grunt.
Existing since before 4000 BBY, Cannoks were originally located on Dxun, the jungle moon of Onderon, where they occupied a high position in the food chain, below the maalraas, boma and zakkeg. While exceptionally strong cannoks could sometimes scare off maalraas, zakkegs readily preyed on the abundant cannoks.
They survived the Mandalorian Wars, and afterward, they became a nuisance for the Mandalorian outpost on the moon. The Mandalorians killed every cannok they encountered, yet the rapidly reproducing species never seemed to decrease in number. The group considered the creatures "vermin" and unworthy of being killed by skilled soldiers; being assigned to eliminate a herd of cannoks was seen as a form of punishment due to the task's relative ease.
The omnivorous creatures also caused problems by frequently consuming anything they could fit into their large mouths when unobserved. This behavior was the most frustrating aspect of their existence to most sentients. An example is when three cannoks ate components of a phase-pulse converter being built by Zuka, a tech specialist. When the Jedi Exile arrived on the jungle moon in 3951 BBY, she killed and dissected numerous cannoks near the encampment to recover the converter's parts for the Mandalorians, which helped them maintain their base of operations on Dxun, earning favor with their Mandalore, also known as Canderous Ordo.
During the restoration of Telos IV, some cannoks were introduced to the planet's surface to control the herbivore population, preventing them from destroying all remaining plant life. Cannoks were chosen because of their adaptability and their connection to Onderon, which was assisting in the restoration effort. However, the plan backfired, as the cannok population exploded. They quickly dominated the ecosystem, consuming the herbivores and driving many native species to extinction. This resulted in a food shortage, which was worsened by their still-growing population, leaving them both hungry and easily agitated.
The cannoks made their debut in the first issue of the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi comics, but had only a small role in the story. A decade later, the cannoks reappeared in the computer video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, appearing both on Telos and Dxun, where more details about them were revealed.