What creature attacks Luke in the Wampa cave?

The story behind the answer

The white-furred ice predator native to Hoth drags Luke into its cave at the start of The Empire Strikes Back. By contrast, a Tauntaun is the shaggy snow mount Luke rides; the Rancor is the pit beast under Jabba’s palace in Return of the Jedi; and Wookiees are a sentient species like Chewbacca, not cave-dwelling predators.

Behind the scenes, the creature was brought to life with a man-in-suit and stop-motion, with clearer shots added in the Special Edition. The sequence also showcases Luke’s first on-screen use of telekinesis to summon his lightsaber—and adds to the saga’s recurring motif of dramatic limb loss.