The breather Gands represented an uncommon subspecies of the Gand race. Researchers debated whether this group represented an earlier stage of evolution, facing potential extinction or further development, or simply a separate, contemporary race. These breather Gands had lungs, in addition to the standard internal organ systems found in most humanoid species.
These Gands were specifically adapted to respire exclusively ammonia; in contrast to the lungless variants, they required respiratory gear to survive outside their native environment. Exposure to oxygen could cause severe internal damage to their lungs, akin to acid burns, necessitating organ replacement. Breather Gands exposed to oxygen exhibited a range of respiratory distress signs, including chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, and bloody coughing. The scarcity of treatments to effectively repair such damage resulted in a higher death rate for breather Gands affected by oxygen inhalation outside their home planet. Zuckuss, a Gand bounty hunter, belonged to this subspecies, as did his relative Lu'daal-ud, his second cousin.