Clawdite

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Homeworld:
  Zolan

• 

From the Movies

Shapeshifters, or changelings, are generally regarded as a dangerous lot, and the Clawdite species even more so. Clawdites are humanoid, and while they can change their skin and, to some extent, their bodily configuration, they cannot alter their mass. Retaining an adopted shape requires concentration, and distracted or dead Clawdites revert to their original form.

From the Expanded Universe

Clawdites are a genetic offshoot of the humanoid natives of Zolan, a planet in the Mid Rim. Their development came about by accident, whenscientist sought to trigger long-dormant skin-changing genes among the Zolanders to protect them from solar radiation. This event, centuries ago, triggered the divergence of the Clawdite species from the Zolander evolutionary line.

Shape-shifting for Clawdites is an extremely uncomfortable process. Clawdites must endure great pain to shift and maintain a shape other than their natural form. Expert shifters employ special therapeutic oils and meditative techniques to aid their transformations.

When they are at "rest," a Clawdite is indistinguishable from a regular Zolander. Known Clawdites, however, have long been ostracized from Zolander society, deemed sinful and impure, and forced to live in secured ghettos.

By the time of the Separatist crisis, the Clawdites consolidated what little political power they had and approached Count Dooku for aid. The tumultuous events of the Clone Wars put these first steps at independence on hold, and when the Empire came to power, they blockaded Zolan to prevent Clawdites from leaving the world.

As the New Republic replaced the Empire, Zolan exploded into civil war, and the Clawdites were able to take control of three-quarters of their planet. These alarming developments were eventually eclipsed by the invasion of the Yuuzhan Vong. During this most current crisis, New Republic Intelligence has attempted recruiting Clawdite agents to infiltrate Yuuzhan Vong operations.

Behind the Scenes

That Zam Wesell was a changeling did not come into effect until well after principal photography had started on Episode II. By the time Leeanna Walsman returned to the character for some pick-up shooting and additional dialogue recording, she had no idea that Zam was made into a shape-shifter. Zam's transformations were done digitally, and her alien form was a computer-generated "mask" that covered her human face.