Over the weekend Iranian snipers marched in the annual Army Day parade in Tehran in full camouflage, looking less like crack combatants and more like Wookiee extras from a forgotten Star Wars spin-off. So how do you tell the difference?

Iranian army sniper

When and where: now, Iran.

Planet of origin: Earth.

Language: Persian, officially.

Average height: approximately 5ft 8in, without haystack suit.

Weapon of choice: the sniper rifle, presumably, although pictured holding the rather less precise AK-47 assault rifle for some reason.

Strategic advantages: concealment. Would be virtually invisible, for example, at a Star Wars convention, or in a vat of angel hair pasta.

Also sometimes confused with: Cruella De Vil after dry cleaning mishap; a compost heap.

Wookiee

When and where: a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Planet of origin: Kashyyyk.

Language: Shyriiwook, a system of barks, groans and gargling.

Average height: 6ft 11in (the actor who played Chewbacca, Peter Mayhew, stood at 7ft 3in).

Weapon of choice: the bowcaster, a crossbow firing magnetically accelerated projectiles, according to online resource Wookieepedia.

Strategic advantages: strong, readily lends itself to merchandising.

Also sometimes confused with: the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz; Brian Blessed.