wottos

Wottos are small arboreal mammals described in field guides of the fictional world of Aethiria. They measure about 16 to 22 centimeters in body length, with tails of 25 to 40 centimeters. They have dense, soft fur that ranges from gray-brown to reddish-brown, a rounded face, large eyes, and a short snout. A distinctive semi-prehensile tail aids balance and grasping of branches.

Taxonomy and naming places them in the family Wottidae, a small, often monogeneric group in field references. The genus is Wotto, and the commonly cited species is Wotto griseus in many guides. The name is thought to derive from a local onomatopoeic call.

Wottos inhabit tropical evergreen forests and cloud-forest edges across the archipelago of Valis in Aethiria, preferring mid- to upper-canopy layers and rarely descending to the forest floor. They are adapted to living among vines and epiphytes and are seldom found far from trees.

They are diurnal omnivores, feeding on fruit, seeds, nectar, and insects. Wottos live in small family groups and communicate with soft chirps, tail signals, and scent marking. They are agile climbers and capable leapers, often moving quickly between branches.

Reproduction occurs with a steady year-round cycle in stable climates, producing litters of 1–2 young after a gestation of roughly six weeks. Young reach independence within two to three months.

In conservation and cultural contexts, wottos are generally described as having few serious threats, though habitat loss in some regions is noted in fiction. They appear in regional field guides and folklore as playful, curious forest dwellers.