Andoan Mineral-fish
native to the planet Ando, this large shellfish could reach sizes of up to a meter in length. Classified by zoologists as a crustacean, the mineral-fish had outer shells which were formed from a variety of valuable minerals and ores, making them a cheap source of raw materials. They have advanced bio-chemical processing abilities, as evidenced by the rate at which they add to their shells. The average mineral-fish lives only five years, but in that time they grow quickly. The Empire was interested in the fish for two reasons: the ores in the shell were used to form war materiel, and scientists wanted to learn how they processed raw material. Unfortunately, no one has been able to duplicate the mineral-fish's abilities.