hikknit stinkfish

Hikknit are prevalent in freshwater streams, lakes, and wetlands around Janikk, although some minor subspecies have instead made their homes in the brackish water of tropical river mouths. As a species they prefer still or slow moving water, although they are equally capable of navigating stronger currents. The Janikk Wildlife Society hypothesizes this preference is likely a result of the additional complications added when hunting land-based prey from fast-moving water.

The aptly named stinkfish hunts prey by spitting at its target. The fish will position its lips just above the water surface, shrinking its mouth into a single narrow channel with the help of its tongue. By rapidly contracting its gills, the stinkfish forces a high speed stream of water from its mouth, with the water at the back of the stream traveling faster than that in the front. This causes the stream to form a blob prior to impact, adding force to the impact to help maximize the stun to its victim.  

Neurotoxin

This stream of water also contains a high concentration of paralytic neurotoxin, which when mixed with water is easily absorbed through the skin. This stinky but highly lethal biotoxin allows the hikknit to hunt larger prey, including mid-sized rodents. Most smaller creatures living along the water's edge in hikknit territory have developed their own defenses from the stinkfish neurotoxin, such as waterproofed fur or down, but this has only inspired the stinkfish to improve their aim.  

Hunting Preferences

Young hikknit will hunt in schools, increasing the chances of obtaining a meal as they learn to improve their aim. The young fish are also learning to calibrate their expectations for meal sizes, and are known to spit neurotoxin at any passersby, including people. Jannadael children - particularly katanoji, canids, and dracoling, due to their thick fur or skin - have been known to goad each other into dares during the early summer months, seeing who can walk close to their local streams the longest before losing feeling in their bare legs. Fae children are heavily cautioned to avoid these festivities.   Adult fish, on the other hand, are highly territorial and typically hunt and live alone or with a small, select group of potential mates. This is believed to be an intentional remnant of Zokinesis from the ancient original inhabitants of Janikk, as the toxins from a school of adult hikknit working in harmony could potentially overwhelm even the fearsome gromdornis, provided they were able to catch the large bird in its eyes or other, more vulnerable regions.

Alchemy

Hikknit neurotoxin has found use in a variety of alchemical mixtures, ranging from painkillers to muscle relaxants. This requires careful dilution with oils and dry reagents specially chosen to weaken its effects without denaturing the toxin, and allowing the resultant mixture to dry through evaporation. This is then ground into a powder for storage.   For treatments intended to target the whole body, the powder is coated in pill form and swallowed. This keeps the powder dry and guarantees it does not dissolve directly on the tongue. Topical treatments requires administration by a professional in full personal protective gear, especially gloves, who will carefully dilute the powder in water before crafting a short-term poultice. Effects typically last for one to several days, making hikknit a popular treatment despite its inherent dangers.   It is not recommended as a treatment for children, although some exceptions have been made for severe cases.  

Food

Hikknit is also a flavorful and healthy dish, although this requires care and precision due to their toxic nature. The gland which produces the neurotoxin must be removed prior to further preparation of the fish, without damage to the gland or the surrounding tissue. Fortunately failures in preparation are easy to detect, courtesy of the highly scented nature of the neurotoxin itself.   Regardless of experience, those who work with stinkfish in the kitchen should always wear gloves. Additionally, while one should not prepare food while unwell, this becomes especially important for hikknit chefs, even when suffering from non-contagious nasal irritations such as allergies.  

If flowery and sweet, it's good to eat.
If noseplugs you need, do not proceed!

— common saying when preparing stinkfish

Some stinkfish communities have recently begun to form symbiotic relationships with the amphibious gornit frogfish, with both species of fish working together to obtain their meals. In these cases, the stinkfish will shoot and paralyze its prey, while the frogfish will use its ability to navigate land to knock their victim back into the water so both fish can consume the catch. These relationships have been proven to build over time, allowing the frogfish to gradually build an immunity to its companion's neurotoxin.   This has launched an assortment of scientific papers among Jannadael biologists, including deep dives into zoological mithridatism and a wide assortment of sociological animal studies.