whordets

Whordets are small semi-aquatic mammals native to the wetlands of the Melorian Lowlands. They have compact bodies about 22 to 26 cm long, weighing roughly 0.2 to 0.3 kg, with dense woolly fur, a broad paddle-like tail, and webbed hind feet. The elongated snout bears sensitive whiskers and a dentition suited to grazing aquatic vegetation and nibbling at emergent plants. The name "Whordet" is of uncertain origin; early marshland accounts suggest it derives from a call-like sound or from local terms for foraging.

Whordets inhabit reed beds, marsh edges, and shallow lagoons in the Melorian Lowlands, with smaller populations in adjacent estuarine zones. They are typically nocturnal and elusive, living in shallow burrows or leaf-lined nests during the day and foraging at night. Their diet consists mainly of aquatic plants, tubers, shoots, seeds, and small invertebrates. They are capable swimmers and use their tails for propulsion; social groups are usually family-based, with gentle territoriality.

Breeding occurs in spring, with litters of 2–4 offspring. Gestation lasts about 28–30 days, and altricial young are cared for by the mother in sheltered nests near water until weaning at around six to eight weeks. Whordets play a role in their ecosystems by aerating soil, aiding in seed dispersal, and forming prey for several predator species.

Conservation status is listed as Least Concern in recent assessments, reflecting widespread distribution and stable populations, though local habitat loss can affect certain subpopulations. Taxonomically, Whordets are placed in the family Whordetidae, order Rodentia, genus Whordetus.