Star Wars creator answers fan theory: Was Yoda based on a tarsier, an Asian primate?

Myron Shekelle, a researcher at Western Washington University, in an interview, noted how the long ears and bulging eyes of Yoda’s species are very similar to that of those in the tarsier family that dwell in the tropical rainforest in the Southeast Asian islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Shekelle believes that even if Lucas denies the rumours, there is the possibility that he was “subconsciously influenced somehow” or simply wants to maintain some sense of suspense around the character.