Kaukarikis are inquisitive pests named after the sound of their warning vocalizations in the presence of threats; most who interact with the creatures directly prefer to call them by the less endearing moniker of “stingbats.” Primarily frugivores, kaukarikis scamper about in woodland canopies and glide from tree to tree, each troop migrating widely over its claimed territory to exploit seasonal food sources. The creatures readily take advantage of other supplies of food as needed, including insects, young leaves, bark, and even meat on rare occasions. In fact, particularly large troops— especially those with a newly ascendant alpha female—sometimes organize a hunt to take down modest prey and share the kill to reinforce social bonds within the group.
The creature’s eponymous stinger serves both defensive and offensive purposes. Few predators in the kaukarikis’ range are willing to risk the painful venom, especially because the pests often rally to one another’s defense to mob assailants.
This fearsome reputation seems to embolden kaukarikis, which infamously incite each other to harass trespassers as a way of demonstrating bravery and establishing a pecking order within the troop.
Kaukariki mating habits often coincide with massive feasts of fruits, with the male that consumes the most food being seen as the most desirable mate. The alpha female chooses first from among the potential mates, followed by the other females that have the alpha’s permission. A female that attempts to take a mate without permission is often attacked and driven off by the rest of the troop. Such a kaukariki is then left to fend for herself, and sometimes she becomes the alpha of her own troop.