Tuntis was a male being who resided in the village of Peka on the planet of Batuu. He maintained a friendship with Kaxx, who also lived in Peka. By approximately 379 BBY, Tuntis had reached an advanced age. Around that year, Peka was suffering from nightly attacks by a salmaca, a massive lizard-like beast that pilfered valuables from the homes of the people. During one of the salmaca's raids on Tuntis's home, he tried to defend himself, but his home was destroyed and he died from blood loss after the salmaca removed his arm with its beak.
When Rooper Nitani, a Jedi Padawan, arrived at Peka as part of her Jedi Trials, Jerlyn, another inhabitant of the village, recounted the circumstances of Tuntis's death while explaining the salmaca problem. Soon after, Kaxx, seeking vengeance against the salmaca, journeyed to its cave with three other villagers intending to kill it. Nitani intervened, having sensed the salmaca's peaceful nature through the Force, and determined that the salmaca had only killed Tuntis because Tuntis had instigated the conflict.
The character of Tuntis appeared in the short story "Shield of the Jedi," penned by George Mann and released in the 2023 young-adult collection titled The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life, which was part of the broader Star Wars: The High Republic project.