Krayt dragons are among the most deadly species inStar Wars, and a new source reveals more information about these deadly predators. Krayt dragons technically first appeared inA New Hope, where skeletons could be seen in the Tatooine desert andObi-Wan Kenobi used the Force to imitate a krayt dragon roar to scare away the Sand People. They continued to be referenced and occasionally appear inStar Warsmovies, TV shows, and other media, making their full live-action debut inThe Mandalorianseason 2, episode 1 “Chapter 9: The Marshal.”
After seeing Din Djarin, the people of Mos Pelgo, andthe Tusken Raidersteam up to take down a krayt dragon, fans may be curious to learn more about these incredible monsters. Thankfully,Star Wars Bestiary, Vol. 1: Creatures of the Galaxyby S.T. Bende and Iris Compiet efficiently summarizes known facts about krayt Dragonsand even reveals some new details. This brings all the appearances of krayt dragons together in one source and explains more about how they operate in Tatooine’s ecosystem.
Krayt Dragons Are Officially Tatooine’s Apex Predators - Even Consuming Sarlaccs
No other creature on Tatooine is a match
While there are many dangerous animals on Tatooine,Star Wars Bestiaryconfirms that none of them stand a chance against a krayt dragon. The book details how"Tatooine’s apex predators are positively gargantuan - and exactly how large they can grow remains to be determined!“Although krayt dragons primarily hunt"unsuspecting prey such as Jawas, Tuskens, and banthas,“they are more than capable of killing a full-grown sarlacc. This is an impressive feat considering howReturn of the Jedihyped up sarlaccs as terrifying predators who digested their prey over 1,000 years.
Krayt Dragons Use Sarlacc Pits To Hunt From
Perhaps they should be called “krayt pits”
Once a krayt dragon has killed a sarlacc, they often take overa sarlacc pitand use it to hunt other prey. The pit offers plenty of protection while being close enough to the surface for a krayt dragon to sense movement in the sand and pounce quickly to attack a creature. This meansJabba the Hutt was lucky a krayt dragon never took over the Great Pit of Carkoonand attacked his sail barge while he was sending captives to their deaths.
There Are Several Different Species Of Krayt Dragon
This explains the different depictions throughout Star Wars
Star Wars Bestiaryalso clarifies that several different species of krayt dragons exist on Tatooine. This would help explain how differentStar Warsstories have visually depicted krayt dragons, from the krayt dragon walking above ground in the now Legends video gameStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicto the krayt dragon staying beneath the sand inThe Mandalorianseason 2. Krayt dragon species include"the sixteen-limbed, venom-spitting leviathan krayt dragon; the large greater krayt; and the smaller canyon krayt.”
A fitting feature for something called a dragon
One of the most surprising facts inStar Wars Bestiaryis the legend passed down by the people of Tatooine. Natives of the planet believe that anextinct krayt dragon species had wings and could fly, similar to the traditional real-world legend of dragons. However, there are no recordings or physical evidence to back up this idea, so it’s ultimately up to readers to decide whether they believe this is true within theStar Warsuniverse.
The Krayt Dragon’s Venom Explained
Krayt dragon venom was one of the most horrifying surprises inThe Mandalorianseason 2, andStar Wars Bestiaryreveals more about it. The poison is primarily meant to"ward off assailants"from a distance, though its acidic properties mean it can melt through most creatures. When the venom remains inside a kyrat dragon, it serves to help digest its food.
Krayt Dragons Are Hunted For Their Pearls
The Sand People treasure them
Finally, while krayt dragons are Tatooine’s apex predator,Star Wars Bestiaryclarifies that they are hunted for their pearls. While it appeared that finding a krayt dragon pearl was simply a bonus after killing it inThe Mandalorianseason 2, it turns out that it’s an actively sought-after treasure.The Tuskens even believed that krayt dragon bones contained magicand would collect them during their travels across the desert. This is one of the book’s more fascinating reveals, adding more clarity to the nature of krayt dragons inStar Wars.
