A chkariya (or ch'kariya) was a small burrowing animal lifeform, a mammal native to the planet Vulcan. It resembled a Terran weasel, with pale skin, sparse hair, and two large forepaws with six razor-sharp claws which it used to climb and dig. These burrowing animals were active during the day, often foraging for food to maintain high metabolic rate. Chkariya relied largely on plant roots for nourishment, but also ate fruit, carrion, and the occasional small animal. (ENT novel: Surak's Soul)

The chkariya were a favorite animal to interact with at nature preserves, as they were friendly enough to take pieces of fruit from a person's hands. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans)

In 2093, a ch'kariya killed a kal'ta plant belonging to T'Pol's family. The five-year-old T'Pol trapped it, intending to release it the next day, but did not give it enough food and it died that night. The incident served as a reminder to T'Pol to avoid causing harm to other living things. (ENT novel: Surak's Soul)

Later, in 2270, Amanda Grayson suspected the creatures being responsible for damaging her garden and had tried to lay a trap to catch the suspected culprits. (TOS novel: Demons)