As the name implies, members of the genus tikomimus often exhibit traits that make them nearly indistinguishable from tikos. With many species in this genus adopting and mimicking the long necks of tikos. But their diets, skulls, and sometimes their behaviour give away their true classification.
The tusked dolo is a misnomer. They don't really have tusks, but rather the two teeth on either side at the front of the mouth are much longer and stand out from others. Their purpose isn't entirely known and not much is entirely known about the tusked dolo, but they have been observed using their pseudo tusks for display and combat. They're often attributed and anthropomorphized as noble animals that strive for honour and respect. Although not entirely living up to the fantastical identity cultures have given it, it does seem to have some bold qualities about it. During mating season and after one male has beaten another in display, he will turn away and not harm the defeated male. The tusked dolo has face endangerment due to poachers and hemolers wanting them for their tusk-teeth, but the activity of hunting them has slowly diminished due to laws and common patrols of the bays that many tusked dolos regularly frequent.
The mossback dolo is best known for its moss-like covering along its back, made up of tiny pycnofibre-like material that is shaded a mossy green colour that helps the animal blend in with coastal kelp forests, making the moss-back one of the few, if not the only, to have some form of body integument. The pectoral muscles of the moss-back are also stronger than average, a likely adaptation for swimming against the strong currents of the coastal waters. They can sometimes be quite difficult to locate in kelp forests. This coupled with their inherent shy behaviour, mkes them a rare sight to behold when exploring dense kelp forests.
Despite looking very similar to a tiko, the false tiko, or also known as the shadow dolo, is in fact a dolo. These dolos are quite mischievous and manipulative. They are rambunctious by nature, and are often reported tricking people out of food or even stealing the kills of sharks and other marine animals. They often work together to get people to feed them, and also have been observed stealing eggs and hatchlings from seabird nests. They regularly are know to play and mess with humans out on the water. People who live in houseboats or on houses that are over the water, have to scare off mimic tikos who get too close or try to steal things from them.
