Abyssin

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Homeworld:
  Byss

• Size:
  1.7 - 2.1 meters

• 

From the Movies

A swarthy-faced humanoid with a single slit-pupilled eye, a thirsty representative of this particular cyclopean species was present in the Mos Eisley Cantina that fateful day Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi secured passage off Tatooine.

From the Expanded Universe

Abyssins are a species of intelligent bipeds native to the planet Byss, in the binary Byss and Abyss system. Their homeworld is a harsh desert planet, and Abyssins have evolved to survive in the extremes. To preserve precious water and energy, the Abyssin body is extremely efficient, with a noticeable lack of organ redundancy. For example, an Abyssin has one eye, one lung, one kidney and so on. Furthermore, Abyssins have developed the ability to regenerate, healing wounds very quickly, and being able to grow new limbs. Abyssin are constantly creating new cells and consuming old ones. Every cell in the Abyssin body is replaced within 80 standard hours.

Their strong, resilient nature and their regenerative abilities have allowed an alarming amount of violence to be tolerated in Abyssin culture. Abyssins organize themselves into nomadic tribes that roam the desert plains searching for the rare oases of water that occur on Byss. Depending on the amount of water present, meetings between different Abyssin tribes end in one of two results. If water is scarce, the Abyssin chief -- usually a fierce warrior -- declares a Blooding, in which the Abyssins fight for ownership of the oasis. Surviving Abyssins defeated in the skirmish are usually assimilated into the victorious tribe. If water and food are plenty, the Abyssins declare a trade, in which food, weapons, females, and children are traded. When space travelers first discovered and encountered the Abyssins, the newcomers were viewed as rival tribes, and Bloodings ensued. They also commit personal Bloodings when personally insulted, and the surest way do this is to call an Abyssin a "monoc," a derogatory term derived from the term monocular.

It wasn't until an Arcona, who knew the basics of desert survival, staged a first meeting with the Abyssins around a large oasis that peaceful relations between the nomads and offworlders began. Abyssins very rarely leave their homeworld and are not very common in the galaxy.

The only facet of Abyssin life not ruled by violence is their courting and mating rituals. In the Ja'Fai, as it is called, Abyssin males chase the females in a long-distance sprint. The females are faster runners than the males, and their attitudes toward the next closest trailing male determine how fast they run.

Abyssins grow to 300 standard years of age. In their later years, they lose their ability to regenerate. The Abyssin "ancient one" is ritually stoned until he leaves. If he regenerates, he is allowed to stay with the tribe. If not, he is stoned until death, or until he leaves the tribe to perish in the desert.

Behind the Scenes

The Abyssin seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina in A New Hope was realized as a slip-on mask designed by Laine Liska. The mask had very limited articulation, including an opening and closing eye. Later sources identified this Abyssin as Myo. The same mask was used in "The Star Wars Holiday Special," for a cantina patron that is forcefully ejected from the premises for sleeping at his table.