Craig chimes in:

Hey, isn't that a Bothan taxi driver in the extended Coruscant taxi sequence of Episode One's DVD release? If so, wouldn't that be the first visual representation in the films of the species that played such a key role in destroying the second Death Star?

You can see a visual reference of a Bothan from Sony's Star Wars Galaxies drawing here. There are similarities from the drawing but the Bothan from the SW Galaxies site has more hair.

Update: Some astute fans send in reports as to the identity of the taxi driver.

BriGuy chimes in:

The name of the alien taxi driver is Rayno Vaca, but I do not believe that his species has a proper identification. He is of the same species as Senator Mot-Not Rab, and in May 15 starwars.com interview with Jason Baird, Jason refers to the species simply as "Mot-Not Rabs" - the exact quote (and link) is as follows: "There's all sorts of returning alien characters," says Baird, "Rodians, Aqualish, Ishi Tibs, Weequays, Wookiees, 'Mot Not Rabs', Neimoidians and such."

Joe Corroney adds this:

It's actually 'Mot Not Rab'. An alien costume created by ILMer Jason Baird and his crew for an actor to wear in the Phantom Menace. Check it out here.

JF alerts us to a different photo you can see here.

And Stephen Bagnall finds additional confirmation:

On page 63 of SW: E1 The Visual Dictionary, there is the same species of alien, a senator named Mot Not Rab. Although it doesn't state what species it is, I really don't believe that it is a Bothan. Bothans are more goat-looking; these aliens look like more of a Predator-type alien.

Mystery solved. Thanks gents!

Update 2: Jovo adds this:

He is the same species as the Senator Mot Not Rab as seen on page 63 of the Visual Dictionary. This alien species is also seen in the Art of Star Wars Episode I on page 185...he is a conceptual design for senators. And lastly, in the incredible new book, The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide...page 167 has this alien marching along with other "ambassadorial class". I scanned & cropped the illustration from The Wildlife of Star Wars of the Mot Not Rab. You can see it here.

Bob Frapples finds an easter egg in the senator's name:

Saw the update on the species name and it struck me that it sounded like English spoken backwards. Mot Not Rab backwards might be Tom Barton. I found this article on the reversal of the name (Tom Barton) at this site:

August 11th 1997 A SWOKES BY ANY OTHER NAME... WORDPLAY WITH PREQUEL CHARACTERS SOURCE: www.starwars.com

While some folks are lucky enough to battle the characters, some get to name them. ... George, meanwhile, was also quite taken with the name Mot Notrab, Creature Workshop Supervisor Chris Barton's suggestion. Mot Notrab is backwards-speak for Tom Barton, Chris's six-year-old son. Chris intends this as a surprise, so with any luck, young Tom isn't particularly Web-savvy and hasn't just read this.

Great finds there!