I don't know if this ever gonna turn into something. I just like to draw and write up species sketches.
Notes
- Pretty small creatures; roughly the size of a guinea pig, not including the tail which is approximately 3/4 the length of the body.
- They're semi-aquatic but largely prefer staying in or around water, only coming ashore to rest or nest.
- They are capable of living in both saltwater and freshwater environments.
- They are egg-laying mammals, laying clutches of 1 - 3 eggs several times a year in a small mud or sand burrow on shore.
- They're strict carnivores, feeding only on fish, crusteceans and molluscs.
- Possess gills to allow them to spend greater portions of time foraging underwater. When out of the water, they are able to breath through a mucus layer in their mouths, although this requires the creature to stay relatively wet meaning that their range is limited to where there is water.
- When underwater they're able to close their nostrils and fold back their ears, preventing water from getting in.
- They have no fur whatsoever. Instead, their body is covered in small, hard scales and they're kept warm with a thick layer of extra fat.
- The three scale-less 'tufts' on each cheek are actually more like whiskers, which can detect movement in the water allowing the creature to sense prey animals and predators.
- Both sexes have the distinctive crest that runs along their backs, however in males the crest is usually larger and more brightly coloured. This is thought to help attract mates. Despite this, females can also have brightly coloured crests.
- Only males have the long whisker-like barbels on each cheek, though not all males have them, and some have only one. Barbels grow in at adolescence.
- Very social creatures. They typically live in family groups of 2 - 10 individuals. In turn, multiple families will band together to form a large community. Although the hierarchy in a community is loose, it may be communally led by the dominant animals of each family.
