Kyutescoot

It shares the same linage as the Bijadadu, in the period where the low-lying Coolsteph Island shrank into multiple, smaller islands. They developed on a set of small islands where they adapted to a decreased food supply by becoming smaller. Aided by their smaller sizes, some eventually travelled to Ramul on rafts of Darwinian Diaminet, Colonial Bobiiros, Pioneer Raftballs, and occasionally larger fauna, like Pygmy Hullbacks. Their talon-like feet help them grip rafts or large fauna in storms, as well as Darwin Thornshells and other large, low-lying flora. They are more aquatic than their relative, the Minizap, helping it partition beach and near-shore habitats. It is faster, too, than the Bijadadu: it can walk in a duck-like manner or make weak hops. In contrast to the Bijadadu, which grew dimwitted and aggressive due to genetic disorders caused by inbreeding, the Kyutescoot became friendlier. Like a dodo, it has relatively little fear of large, potentially predatory fauna. Unlike a dodo, the Kyutescoot retains decent defenses. Its long, hard spines make it difficult and painful for predators to swallow whole. A predator touching two spines completes a circuit, causing a zap, but the Kyutescoot can create zaps of electricity at will. It happens that their response to being afraid or startled is an especially strong zap, allowing it to discourage predators even with their low levels of fear and aggression. Some of the more skittish predators are scared off by the sheer, sudden novelty of electrical sparks, in the sight, unpredictable movement, and popping sounds. The electric shocks work even better when the predator is wet: a common occurrence in its beach habitats. Its only predator at time of evolution is the Lari Phlyer, and only when it ventures out into Soma Temperate Coast on floating rafts. As such, it almost never outright panics unless attacked from above. Building off their tendency to raft on large flora and fauna and follow them, it is occasionally a passenger on Seashrog rafts. Seashrogs are variously fascinated by or frightened by their sparks, but it is much less aggressive than the Kakonat. They closely follow large fauna, especially the Magnificent Slaesosaurus, and wait for them to excrete. Although they prefer fresh dung, they will eat less-fresh dung as well, incidentally consuming dung-feeding, insect-like species. Unlike its ancestor, the Kyutescooter will also eat the owl pellet-like dung of various plents, though it is less favored. Like their ancestor, Kyutescoots are intelligent, and learn to predict behavioral trends by species or for individuals, especially if they receive most of their food from only a handful of individuals. Older individuals may figure out how to ride on the tails of familiar large, easily rideable fauna as they haul themselves around on land, sparing them the effort of walking. It is this habit that has led them to rarely eat blood-sucking Aphluks on plent hosts, when they happen to smell like dung. Due to their limited diet, low tolerance of tropical temperatures, and tendency to get eaten by Kakonats when they get desperate on long voyages, they haven't been able to spread far on Seashrog rafts. It has developed eyelids, which helps it with glare while rafting.