The planet is ruled by a race of psionic matriarchal humanoids called lashunta. The females of the species resemble idealized human women with antennae, while the males are squat and ugly and known for their martial prowess. Riding enormous lizard steeds, the lashunta patrol the edges of their city-states, driving off the dangerous fauna of the fetid jungles. Another species which is known to live on Castrovel is that of the feline coeurl, although it is not known if they are native or were brought there from somewhere else.