Found on the desert planet Tatooine, dewbacks are large lizards used by the locals as mounts and beasts of burden. These flat-toothed creatures can be found hauling goods for merchants or moisture farmers, pulling Podracer parts to starting grids, or serving stormtrooper patrols assigned to the planet's Imperial garrison. A dewback is able to withstand the heat and dust that often leads to mechanical breakdown in modern high-tech conveyances.

During the blistering Tatooine day, the well-suited dewback forages for shrubs and small desert animals, like young womp rats and scurriers. When the suns set and the temperatures plunge, dewbacks become lethargic and very rarely move about.

Dewbacks normally are solitary animals that gather once a year in the Jundland Wastes to mate. As mating season closes, females lay many eggs which hatch six months later. Baby dewbacks must fend for themselves and many do not survive. This ritual is so ingrained in their nature that even domesticated dewbacks cannot breed in captivity.

Most dewbacks have green scales, but there is variation in their colors. Some dewbacks are gray, brown, red and a few rare ones are even blue. Mottled areas and camouflage patterns are common.

Aside from natural predators such as full-grown womp rats and krayt dragons, the dewback must also fear the Tusken Raiders. Sand People use dewback hides for their boots, belts, pouches, tents and other survival gear.