The shlecho newt, a diminutive amphibian with brown-orange coloration, was a bioengineered organism originating from the Yuuzhan Vong. These newts had a particular fondness for consuming Coomb spores, granting them the ability to sense the presence of these spores on other individuals. When experiencing heightened excitement, the newt exhibited rapid tongue movements and a noticeable reddening of its head. This characteristic was exploited to identify the presence of coomb spores within Mara Jade.