The Cartusion whale represented a particular species of whale, and its bones found a unique purpose in the crafting of lightsaber hilts as inlay material. In the era of the Clone Wars, a period defined by extensive battles between the Galactic Republic and the dissenting Confederacy of Independent Systems, the architect droid Huyang, while aboard the vessel Crucible, informed a gathering of Jedi younglings that using Cartusion whalebone to enhance their hilts was a viable selection as they started constructing their lightsabers.
The initial reference to the Cartusion whale occurred in "A Test of Strength," the seventh episode from fifth season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the canon animated series; its original broadcast date was November 10, 2012.