Kapuskarja (kaˈpuskarja)

"How did they get in here? Did they pick the lock?!" - an exasperated sailor surveying the chaos after a Kapuskarja raid.

The Kapuskarja is an animal native to several island groups in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions. It has been described as a cross between a monkey and a lizard, although it is more closely related to the Kikipua than either of these. They have a reputation for being extremely clever and mischievious, and being able to break into any locked or sealed container they like, usually when looking for food. The common name for them is from Jezik, but their largest populations are in the Rasrathnii Islands.

Physical Description

Kapuskarja are arboreal animals, with four limbs and a prehensile tail. Their skin is covered in scales, usually green or blue, but the exact shades will vary from one community to another. They commonly have a line of small feathers along their spine that extends over their head - these feathers are sometimes mistaken for small spikes. They have dextrous hands with clawed fingertips, and very large eyes. They weigh on average around six pounds, and stand about 18 inches high. Their tails are very long and thin, and can easily be as long as the rest of their body.

Behavior

The Kapuskarja is a social animal, and one known for being clever and curious. They live in troops of up to thirty-five individuals, and adapt easily to new environments, including urban ones. They are omnivores, and are innovative in their foraging strategies, often improvising tools in order to access food. For example, those that live near water will often use stones to crack open the shells of molluscs and crustaceans. While they are primarily arboreal, the Kapuskarja is also a good swimmer, and is adept at capturing frogs and small fish.

Kapuskarja troops are hierarchical, with the oldest and strongest members at the top. They are also territorial, with each troop maintaining their own boundaries and driving away members of competing groups. They will often extend this to other creatures, and it is not unheard of for a lone person entering Kapuskarja territory being pelted with rocks, nuts, and other objects flung by the Kapuskarja. Young Kapuskarja will often leave their home territory and join a neighboring troop, but only before they are full-grown - adult Kapuskarja are rarely if ever welcomed into a troop.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Kapuskarja are oviparous, and build large communal nests in the branches of the trees in their territory. Female Kapuskarja will lay a clutch of eggs annually, depositing them in the nest to be cared for by the troop. The eggs hatch after 125-150 days, and the young Kapuskarja emerge. They are almost helpless for the first few weeks after hatching, and the troop will bring them food until they are ready to emerge from the nest. A typical clutch is 4-5 eggs. Hatchling Kapuskarja have a large number of predators, and despite the efforts of the troop, only about half of a clutch will usually make it to adulthood.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

While they are native to the islands near the border of the Northeastern and Southeastern regions, they are now found in many places around the Great Ring. They only islands where they do not thrive in the wild are in the Northern Region, and even there they may be found as pets, usually on ships passing through the area.

Alternative Names

Gauzo Tree Lizard
Kapiskarro (Hizkuntza)
Karaklis (Kaphtorikós)

Lifespan

25-35 years

Average Height

12-22 inches

Average Weight

3-9 pounds

Geographic Distribution

• Biluzik Archipelago
• Korabovi Islands
• Rasrathnii Islands

Kapuskarja as Pets

Among Sailors, the Kapuskarja are a favored pet. They are considered to be good luck, despite the trouble they can cause on ships. They can be trained easily, and many Kapuskarja on ships have a position somewhere between cabin-boy and mascot. They can fetch small objects, undo knots, and will raise the alarm in cases of fire or impending storms. They are particularly common on the pirate ships associated with Tortuka, and there is a wild community of Kapuskarja that live on the back of the gargantuan turtle, in the town of Chelone.

One caveat as a pet is that they do not get along with the Tree Octopus, another common pet found on ships. These animals are native to the Floating Forests, and are most common on the lumberjack ships from the Biluzik Archipelago. Kapuskarja and Tree Octopuses are notoriously antagonistic towards one another, and attempting to keep both on one ship is considered a recipe for disaster. You can read more about the Tree Octopus here.