Nielemän

Nielemän is a fictional species described in speculative biology and fantasy literature. In worldbuilding contexts, it is depicted as a small to medium-sized, semiaquatic mammal endemic to temperate wetlands. The name Nielemän is constructed from phonemes reminiscent of Finnic languages, though it has no direct linguistic counterpart in the real world.

Physically, nielemän are about 40–60 cm in body length with an additional 15–25 cm tail and a weight of roughly 2–6 kg. Their fur shows variation from gray-blue to reddish-brown, adapted to season and habitat. They possess an elongated, flexible snout, webbed hind feet and partially webbed forelimbs, and relatively large eyes suited to low-light conditions.

Nielemän inhabit reed marshes and shallow freshwater wetlands in the Valen Marsh region of the northern Valen Archipelago. They prefer dense vegetation along water margins where they can forage with cover, often moving between connected ponds and streams.

Behaviorally, nielemän are primarily nocturnal and commonly solitary, though pairs may form during the breeding season. They are omnivorous, feeding on aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and seasonal plant matter. Communication includes soft vocalizations and tail and body movements, with scent marking to delineate territories.

Reproduction occurs in spring. Females produce litters of one to three young after a gestation period of several weeks (variously described as around six weeks in in-world lore). The altricial offspring rely on parental care for several weeks after birth.

As a fictional species, nielemän do not have a real-world conservation status. In in-world accounts, populations are generally described as stable within suitable wetlands, though habitat loss in the imagined setting is a recurring concern.