TheForce.Net - Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia

Sliideptra

Description

Additional Info

Related Entries

Sources

Images

Legend

native to the rainforests of Tel IV, the sliideptra was a species of annelid worms with three sets of eyes and an internal air sac used to collect and expel poison gas. Their yellow-white coloration has been described as "particularly distasteful" to humans. These creatures hang from tree branches by wrapping a series of tendrils around the branch, the hanging upside down. When it senses prey nearby, it expels the poisonous gas and waits for the prey to breathe it in and expire. The sliideptra shambles itself into position above the dead prey, then unwraps its tendrils until it can touch the prey. The sliideptra then extends its head and drools saliva over the prey, and then waits for preliminary digestion to begin. After an hour, the flesh of the prey become semi-liquid, and the sliideptra can then begin sucking it up. In this way, a sliideptra can feed on a carcass for several days, simply retracting its tendrils and resting in the tree in between feedings.