mutano

Mutano is a fictional genus of mammals created for use in speculative fiction, tabletop role-playing games, and world-building projects. It is not a real taxon, but has been described in multiple settings with varying details.

In most depictions, mutanos are medium-sized, agile omnivores with a compact frame, dense fur that can shift color, and a prehensile tail used for climbing. They have large eyes and sensitive ears suited for nocturnal activity.

They inhabit riverine forests and mangrove edges in tropical regions of imagined worlds. They live in social groups ranging from five to thirty individuals and communicate through a mixture of vocalizations, scent cues, and body signals. Their diet includes fruit, insects, and small vertebrates.

Reproduction varies: many settings describe seasonal breeding, gestation lasting roughly six to eight months, and typically one offspring per birth, though twins occur in some narratives. Juveniles may remain with the group for several years.

In culture, mutanos are often portrayed as adaptable and clever, sometimes regarded as guardians of waterways or symbols of resilience. They appear as companions or mascots in games and stories.

Taxonomy and name: In-world taxonomy places Mutano in the family Mutanidae within Mammalia; the precise order can be different across settings. The name Mutano is derived from mutability, reflecting the creature's flexible behavior and camouflage.