A sentient species, the Pykes were humanoid, although most were slimmer and taller than most humans. They had two long, lanky legs, and two arms that ended in three-fingered hands. Their heads were large and elongated, with a tapered skull and a proportionately undersized face, a feature which some other species found unsettling. Pykes had two narrow, almond-shaped eyes which could be blue, magenta, purple, or black in color. Their heads rested upon elongated, sinuous necks. The species had two sexes, male and female. Pykes had yellow or green blood. Some Pykes had smaller craniums than others of the species, as well as short bloated necks, and five fingers. Whereas others of the species had a range skin tones including grey and green, these individuals only possessed teal skin with pink accents. Beneath the masks frequently worn by the species, the short-necked Pykes’ faces resembled fish. The atmosphere of the planet Kessel could provoke lethal allergic reactions in Pykes if they were exposed to it for too long, necessitating the wearing of special protective gear if they remained there long-term.

Pykes hailed from Oba Diah, a terrestrial planet marked by obsidian cliffs. Visitors to Oba Diah viewed both the population and terrain as unwelcoming. The Pyke homeworld served as the headquarters of the Pyke Syndicate, a criminal organization which profited from distributing spice, an illicit substance harvested by slaves in the spice mines of the planet Kessel. The Pykes on Kessel had to wear special breath masks and lead-lined clothing to protect themselves from the planet’s harsh climate. To deliver spice to their customers, such as crime families on Coruscant, the Pyke Syndicate relied on smugglers and freighter captains to complete the dangerous Kessel Run.