gootin

Gootin is a fictional mammal species created for world-building, gaming, and narrative contexts. The term is used across multiple works to describe a small, nocturnal, arboreal herbivore native to the archipelago of Gootinia. In these works, gootin is placed within a conventional taxonomic framework: Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia, with a fictional order Gootiniformes and family Gootinidae; the type species is Gootinus minor.

Adults measure around 18–28 cm in body length, with a tail of 14–22 cm; fur is dense and variable in color from brown to gray with a pale underside. The snout is rounded, eyes large, and hind feet have grasping toes suitable for climbing. They are omnivorous, feeding on fruit, seeds, insects, and buds; foraging is mostly at night.

In fiction, gootins inhabit primary and secondary tropical forests on the Gootinian archipelago, often in mid-canopy to understory; some stories place them near mangrove fringes. They are adaptable to disturbed habitats in many narratives and can appear in a range of ecological contexts.

Gootins are primarily solitary or occur in small family groups; they communicate with soft chirps and scent markings; daytime roosting in hollow trees, nocturnal foraging, and a slow, deliberate movement through branches are commonly described traits.

Breeding is seasonally driven in most narratives, with gestation around 40–45 days, litters of 1–2; offspring are altricial and forage with parents after a few weeks. In culture, gootins appear in video games and tabletop RPGs; they are used to illustrate forest ecosystem dynamics and to explore conservation themes, with fictional threats including habitat loss, invasive species, and climate changes.