dubblats

Dubblats are a small, burrowing herbivore described in speculative biology and featured in fictional ecological guides. They are native to the subtropical forests of the Dubblat Archipelago, where they live in networks of shallow underground tunnels.

Adults measure about 22 to 28 cm in length and weigh roughly 0.7 to 1.2 kg. They have compact bodies, short limbs, and powerful forepaws with claws adapted for digging. Their fur ranges from sandy brown to gray, providing camouflage among leaf litter.

Dubblats primarily feed on tubers, roots, and underground shoots. They are mostly crepuscular, foraging at dawn and dusk, and they store food in caches within their tunnel systems. Predators include larger ground-dwelling carnivores in their ecosystem.

Breeding occurs seasonally in some areas and irregularly in others. Gestation lasts about six to eight weeks, with litters of one to three altricial young. Lifespan is estimated at five to seven years in the wild.

Taxonomy in the fictional setting places dubblats in a family called Dubblatidae; genus and species names vary by locale. The name is linked to a distinctive double-note vocalization, often transcribed as "dub-dub," heard during social interactions.

Conservation status varies by island, with some populations stable and others threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators. They appear in local folklore as symbols of resilience and are used in ecological simulations and educational materials within the fictional world.