A gundark is a fearsome anthropoid known as one of the most vicious, strong, and aggressive species in the Galaxy. These semi-intelligent creatures stands between 3 and 8 feet tall, with four powerful arms and large ears as wide as their head. Both their hands and feet end with opposable digits. Gundarks are covered in short brown or gray hair.

Gundarks can be found on many worlds throughout the Galaxy (such as Naboo and Alaris Prime) and tend to live in temperate climates, though reports of arctic and desert gundarks are not unheard of. The gundark homeworld is uncertain, but possibly Vanqor. Most gundark populations are the offspring of escaped slaves or groups moved to new planets by Galactic Republic agents attempting to protect them from slavery. Though it is illegal to capture or hunt gundarks on many planets the creatures are often captured and sold on the black market. Because of their reputation as fearless combatants, gundarks are often placed in gladiatorial arenas, and are considered the ultimate prey by many big game hunters.

Though not quite as intelligent as sentient creatures, gundarks are advanced enough to use simple tools such as rocks and clubs. (In spite of this, the expression "gundark brain" was used as an intelligence insult.) They live in organized family units inside hollowed-out trees or caves. Several gundark families often live together as a tribe, working for their common survival. Gundark society is matriarchal, with the oldest and most cunning female ruling the tribe. Males build the tribal homes and defend them ferociously from all intruders, attacking anything that enters the vicinity of the nest (and even some things that do not). Female gundarks are usually hunter-gatherers, acquiring the food needed by the tribe and training the young gundarks who aren't old enough to go out on their own.

Gundarks are birthed live with black coats of fur, and were able to fight almost as soon as they leave the womb. A gundark's hair lightens as it grows older and its ears began to enlarge. A gundark is born with only two of its four adult arms, with the second pair emerging during adolescence. Gundarks have intense sibling rivalries that sometimes ends in fatalities. Young gundarks usually set out on their own after five standard years with their clan, fighting their way into a new clan whom they would then call family. This practice helped the gundarks keep a great deal of genetic diversity.

Gundarks usually hunt in groups when out for food or protecting the home. Male gundarks are particularly fierce while on the hunt, and female gundarks consider most sentient species to be their food.

In gladiatorial arenas, a gundark was one of the most dangerous and feared opponents. The gundark's short temper and thirst for blood meant that it would attack without provocation. A battle-scarred gundark was frequently the favored creature in most arena matches, even against opponents such as rancors or trompa. Because of a gundark's especially keen senses they were sometimes put into contests blinded or blindfolded to make the event "more sporting". Spectators would wait to see how long a less formidable creature could stay away from the gundark's lethal embrace. The fearsome and unpredictable nature of the four-armed beast encouraged trainers to handle it with extreme caution. Trainers would often use a force pike to control their gundark, or else assign it a special guard detail. Gundarks were often kept sedated during transport. Due to the cost of gundark containment measures, trainers rarely had more than one in their pool of gladiators.

Gundarks normally fought with bare hands and relied on their enormous four-armed strength to overcome opponents, but were also capable of using simple bludgeoning weapons. In the wild, they often ambushed opponents, hiding until their prey was within close range and taking the victim by surprise. If unarmed, a gundark would often try to grapple its foe in an attempt to crush it to death.

Saying that someone "looked strong enough to pull the ears off a gundark" meant that they were healthy and strong.