Yoda’s species is mysterious, but since the introduction of Baby Yoda, we’ve learned a lot more about the alien race than we’ve known before.
He’s cute and the most unexpected part of the first season of The Mandalorian. Known as ‘The Child’ or Baby Yoda on social media, the little creature who has wriggled his way into our hearts has helped us, the fans understand a little more about the species he and Master Yoda come from.
Force Sensitivity
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From what we’ve seen of Master Yoda’s Force abilities, we’ve never judged someone on their size. Yeah, we’re paraphrasing our favourite little green guy.
With the introduction of The Child, we’ve learned that most of the species is born Force Sensitive. We’ve never a creature of the same race that doesn’t use the Force in canon. While we got a brief glimpse of Master Yaddle, the only known female of the species, we’re aware she is Force sensitive as she would not have been on the Jedi Council otherwise.
It should be noted that even at a young age, Baby Yoda is strong in the Force as seen when he lifts a full-size Mudhorn. Luke was younger than him when Yoda had him attempt to lift his X-Wing on Dagobah. Also, a ship that size is much heaver than a Mudhorn. However, because of his small body, the Child fell into a deep sleep after he saved Mando.
Aging
We’ve also learned a far amount about the way the species ages. Unlike humans, Yoda’s species ages much slower. In The Mandalorian Chapter 1, we’re told The Child is 50 years old, which places his birth in about 41BBY, the same year as Anakin Skywalker and Rae Sloane.
Yoda even explains how old he himself is in Return of the Jedi. He tells Luke he’s 900 years old, which places his birth in 896BBY and his death in 4ABY, the same year as Anakin’s redemption and death on the second Death Star and Palpatine’s apparent demise.
Going back to Baby Yoda, he’s about 50years old; that would mean that he would have to wait until his about 300 years old to be at least a teenager or a young child where he can speak like Yoda.
Also, at his age, Baby Yoda is a toddler who is walking around and using the Force. If we jump back to 19BBY the year the Jedi collapsed, the infant would be crawling around and beginning to discover his Force abilities.
We also need to point out that Yaddle was born in 509BBY, 387 years after Yoda. Unlike her fellow Jedi Master, it’s unclear what happened to her after she vacated the council position. Though, she’s mentioned in the video game Jedi: Fallen Order indicating she might have died.
Diets
From what we know about Yoda’s species and their diet all we’ve seen in what Yoda offers Luke in The Empire Strikes Back. However, Baby Yoda introduces us to the idea that the aliens of the race are omnivores. We see the Child eating live frogs on a few occasions.
Yoda’s diet on Dagobah was Rootleaf stew, which contained Galia seeds, Sohli bark, Yarum seeds and Mushroom spores.
Hair
We’ve seen Yoda with a head of wiry white hair and Yaddle with a full head of brunette hair. Baby Yoda, much like his older counterpart has white hair. It’s unclear if white hair is exclusive to the males of the species or if if females have hair like this too and vice versa with the brunette hair.
Healing Abilities
The Force ability to heal has never been used before on screen until The Mandalorian and The Rise of Skywalker. Chronologically, the ability is discovered during the game Star Wars: Uprising, which takes place between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.
During the Mandalorian’s lifetime, the child used the ability to heal Greef Karga after he is poisoned. Baby Yoda is the first of his species to use this ability so it’s unknown if Yoda or Yaddle possessed this ability.
Okay, we’re still limited to the information we have on Yoda’s species, but his little counterpart is just the beginning of an even bigger time in the spotlight for the character and the species.