Kaadu
Kaadu were sizable, non-flying reptavians found throughout the swamps of Naboo, Obredaan, and the Rori moon, all of which are planets. The Gungans commonly utilized them as riding animals.
Attributes
The kaadu, a bipedal reptavian, was equally comfortable on land and in the water. They were both swift runners and powerful swimmers, possessing a lung capacity that allowed them to submerge for up to two hours. Kaadu exhibited a range of yellow and vibrant orange hues. The region surrounding their eyes displayed a periwinkle coloration.
Kaadu possessed acute hearing and a strong olfactory sense. Notably, they lacked upper incisors, precluding them from chewing food. Their diet mainly consisted of snails, tlickweed, and typical aquatic vegetation. Their sturdy, hoof-like claws provided stability on various terrains. The short tail served as a counterbalance to the head.
These creatures congregated in vast, gender-separated groups, typically ranging from 20 to 100 individuals, with a recorded maximum of 3.4 million. Male and female groups would converge during mating seasons, at which point the males would exhibit more vivid coloration, displaying yellows and purples. They often maintained strong familial bonds. Kaadu females deposited their eggs on land, frequently in open fields but also along riverbanks, constructing elevated mud nests lined with plant material. Due to predation by creatures like the peko-peko, the average clutch size was typically 10 to 12 eggs, with approximately six to eight surviving to hatch. The offspring were fully independent upon hatching.
Adult kaadu faced predation from creatures such as narglatches and zalaacas.
Kaadu flesh was edible, and the cookbook Essential Cooking Skills provided guidance on its preparation.
Background
The Gungans had domesticated kaadu for a considerable period. Renowned for their fearlessness, kaadu were often tamed by Gungan warriors as mounts during conflicts or as patrol animals to maintain order in Gungan cities. Kaadu were exceptionally loyal to their handlers, with a Gungan and their kaadu often considered an inseparable pair. Warriors frequently adorned their mounts with large titavian feathers. Officers serving in the Gungan Grand Army rode their kaadu mounts into the battle against the Trade Federation.
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, both Jedi, also encountered them during their task to locate missing Jedi Masters Plo Koon and Eeth Koth within the swamps of Obredaan.
Behind the scenes
The kaadu's initial design was as a pack animal on Tatooine for The Phantom Menace. The creature's characteristics were subsequently modified to be more aquatic, and it was relocated to Naboo. The kaadu depicted in Episode I were computer-generated. Their movement involved a hopping trot, enabling them to traverse the battlefield swiftly.
Episode I Adventures 15: The Final Battle inaccurately portrays the kaadu as having four legs.
The kaadu's sound effects were generated by slowing down pig noises and incorporating the sound of a whale's blowhole.