T'vaoan, known as Skirmishers by Humans, are a subspecies of Kig-Yar, more commonly known to humans as Covenant Jackals. They are usually faster on their feet and use wrist-shields instead of large arm shields like their far-more common cousins.
The Covenant employed extensive numbers of T'vaoans during the Covenant invasion of Reach, during which they proven themselves a major threat against U.N.S.C infantry. However, T'vaoans became an endangered species after almost every Skirmisher serving under the Covenant were killed as a result of friendly fire when the Covenant "glassed" the planet.