Thrantas are a large, muscular reptavian species native to Alderaan. The most frequently witnessed is a sub-species referred to as the common thranta. In addition to their muscular frame, the common thranta have a wingspan of approximately six meters. This allows them to climb to great heights and, using their upper jaw, catch sky plankton, which is the main staple of their diet.

After being trained by a handler for several weeks, the creatures can be purchased as a domesticated ride. It is common for a small saddle and compartment to be sold with them and mounted on their backs. Purchasers are typically local transport and gaming businesses that are looking to get an edge in difficult areas.

As the interest in hunting them and using them as domesticated transport spread beyond Alderaan, there was an attempt to establish common thranta populations on more heavily populated worlds, such as Coruscant and Cathar. Due to the industrialized nature of these planets and those like them, the populations suffocated from the thick pollution and quickly died out. However, zoologists have been successful in placing populations on other moderately or sparsely industrialized planets, such as Kiffex and Togoria.