Via Starwars.com:

FIND OUT HOW DINOSAURS BECAME GUNGANS, ENGORGED TICKS BECAME A GRASS-GRAZING CREATURE, AND MORE.
What sets Star Wars apart from most science fiction films — which are more inclined to choose style over substance — are the thoroughly-researched parallels it draws to our reality, from mythology and religion to science and world history. Anyone, for instance, can relate the autocratic conformity of World War II’s Axis powers to the Galactic Empire, or Luke Skywalker’s path to Jedi Knighthood epitomizing the ancient tale of the hero’s journey. These elements bring a fantastic richness that simultaneously manages to keep itself grounded in familiarity, but it does tend to overshadow a more living, breathing part of our world that, oftentimes, we take for granted: the animal kingdom.

It’s difficult focusing on the background beasties when the fate of a galaxy hangs in the balance, however that’s light years from saying Lucasfilm’s creative team didn’t devote as much time and effort into designing them. Variety in fantasy is more than just diverse landscapes and people. Animals, too, contribute to the tapestry. So when Star Wars artists sought to evoke recognizability in their alien fauna (and even sentient species), they looked to nature for a little inspiration.

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