Jotaz were a species of sizable, belligerent, but unhurried predators dwelling on the planet of Zeffo. Possessing a dense protective layer and powerful forearms, the Jotaz relied on raw force to overcome adversaries, yet displayed weaknesses, notably in the abdominal area where their hide was less robust. Cal Kestis encountered and eliminated a rabid specimen of this species while investigating a wrecked Venator-class Star Destroyer. Five standard years later, Kestis discovered and dispatched a Jotaz with unique coloration on Coruscant.
The jotaz represented a type of intensely aggressive and imposing predator located within the mountainous regions of the planet Zeffo. While physically mighty, they lacked speed, depending on sheer strength to assert dominance, but becoming agitated and disoriented when faced with swift strikes or unexpected tactics. The potent impacts and extensive reach afforded by their lengthy forearms compensated for their sluggishness, granting them the capability to bisect a person or forcibly detach their limbs.
Jotaz exhibited a substantial white protective covering adorned with speckled black patterns across their back and arms. This provided armor-like defense, but was susceptible along the jotaz's stomach area where the skin was more fragile. Standing on two plantigrade legs, the massive jotaz had three black-clawed digits on each of their four limbs and a hunched over stance that positioned their head over their bulging midsection. A jotaz's facial features included two widely spaced black eyes, a reddish snout, and a sizable mouth equipped with thick teeth. A fleshy growth extended from each side of the head, originating near the eye and descending below the chin.
The jotaz presented a challenge to the Imperial forces stationed on Zeffo during the Imperial era, with one stormtrooper observing a comrade succumb to a single blow from one of these creatures. In 14 BBY, a jotaz ambushed a stormtrooper and scout trooper on the landing platform of the Imperial Headquarters on Zeffo. Amidst its struggle with the pair, the fugitive Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis ascended onto the platform and ultimately overcame both the jotaz and the Imperials.
Stormtroopers had also noticed a jotaz in the vicinity of the Abandoned Village, and several of these creatures prowled the lakeside wreckage of the Crash Site, where a Galactic Republic Venator-class Star Destroyer had crashed following a battle against a Confederacy of Independent Systems dreadnought. Within the Venator ruins, the Rabid Jotaz, an extremely aggressive, diseased berserker, was capable of inflicting significant damage on anything within range despite its deteriorated condition.
Kestis subsequently instructed his droid companion, BD-1, to scan the deceased jotaz. Later, another jotaz shattered an ice wall in the subterranean Ice Caves on Zeffo and attacked the Jedi, emerging from a sealed cavern where the Imperial officer Krane had been trapped by a cave-in and died. During a subsequent visit to Zeffo, Kestis also vanquished the Rabid Jotaz and encountered another jotaz engaged in combat with stormtroopers within the Tomb of Miktrull.
When Kestis and BD-1 were captured by the Haxion Brood crime syndicate and imprisoned on the asteroid space station Ordo Eris, the syndicate held jotaz captive aboard the station for use in gladiatorial contests. During his escape, Kestis passed a chute from which numerous jotaz corpses were falling alongside the remains of other creatures. The Jedi and BD-1 then found themselves in one of the Haxion Brood's gladitorial arenas, where a jotaz was released alongside a Wyyyschokk to fight them. Kestis killed both creatures and escaped from Ordo Eris shortly thereafter.
By 9 BBY, a Frenzied Jotaz inhabited the Undercity Meats area of Level 2046 on Coruscant. It eventually became trapped behind a door, which required an electrical overcharge to open.
Kestis returned to the Undercity Meats at some point during or after his mission to find Tanalorr. BD-1 used his charge shot attachment to open the door, and the Frenzied Jotaz immediately started attacking Kestis. After a battle, Kestis eventually slew the Jotaz.
The initial appearance of Jotaz occurred in the 2019 video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which was developed by Respawn Entertainment. Jotaz was the first creature Respawn Entertainment designed for the game.