A dinko was a diminutive, reptilian scavenger known for its extreme viciousness and persistence. It was also infamous for its revolting odor and a mildly poisonous bite. This bite could induce paralyzing nausea in creatures the size of a Human.
Originating from the world of Proxima Dibal I, dinkos possessed slender bodies approximately ten centimeters in length. They were equipped with strong hind legs, two forelegs each ending in a single claw, and a pair of smaller grasping appendages, also with single claws, located on their chests. The dinko's stench was not a defensive mechanism, but a means of establishing dominance during mating rituals. Their vision was based on detecting movement, causing them to instinctively attack any moving object.
Darth Sidious incorporated dinkos into a particularly harrowing training exercise for Darth Maul. During a walk through a field, the young Maul spotted a dinko and recoiled in fear just before the venomous creature latched onto his foot and bit him. Enraged, Maul crushed the dinko underfoot. However, Sidious had already observed his apprentice's fearful reaction, which had precipitated the bite. As punishment, Sidious confined Maul to his quarters, which he had filled with the clawing, biting creatures. This was intended to train Maul to suppress fear and never flinch again. Han Solo once acquired a dinko, using it as a diversion against Ploovo Two-For-One on Etti IV, an incident he documented in a personal log.
Guri, the second-in-command of Black Sun, once employed a dinko to distract the bounty hunter Boushh, thereby enabling her to assassinate him and seize his prisoner. While generally discouraged as pets, some exotic pet stores still offered dinkos for sale. Dinkos were also used in the brutal sport of dinko fighting. Nuri the Clawdite initially transformed into an Arrak snake, and subsequently into a dinko, to incapacitate Boba with its noxious spray. Nuri then briefly assaulted Boba with the dinko's claws, before fleeing as a Fefze beetle.