Ronto

Ronto
Homeworld	Tatooine
Designation	Nonsentient
Height of average adult	4.25 meters

Rontos were large, four-legged creatures that were common beasts of burden by the Jawas of Tatooine. They are known for their loyalty and strength, being able to carry hundreds of kilograms of weight. They are large enough to frighten off Tusken Raiders, though they were easily spooked by machines such as speeder bikes.

Like the native dewback of Tatooine, the Ronto were easy to train and became quite fond of their masters. Rontos had superb hearing and smell, although they had poor vision, which is why they were startled by sudden movements. Rontos needed a lot of water, although their skins shed excess heat, allowing them to function well in desert surroundings. They were rarely exported, though, because offworlders thought their skittishness made them unreliable in urban areas. Another reason the Ronto was popular with the Jawas is that Jawas did not usually visit urban areas, so it was ideal for desert travel.

During mating season, female Rontos give off a powerful, musky scent much like the smell of a Rodian. During mating season, it was encouraged to Rodians of Tatooine to stay away from male Rontos, as the Rontos might think the Rodian was a female Ronto.