Wheezeworm

Common throughout Jhembaz, wheezeworms are legless creatures that gnaw tunnels in the great trees that cover the world. Despite the name, they are not invertebrates like most creatures called worms; they are actually highly derived viverrines—mammals related to civets and binturongs—that have lost their legs and their hair in pursuit of their burrowing lifestyle. Their mammal nature is reflected in their name; "wheezeworm" originated as a shortening of "weaselworm" which then altered its spelling through a process of folk etymology. ("Weaselworm" was a bit of a misnomer in any case; viverrines and mustelids are not closely related.)

There are many species of wheezeworm, varying in their features and in their size—from the finger-sized fairy wheezeworm to the royal wheezeworm that can be as big as a horse. Some, but not all, species of wheezeworm have lost their sight, or even lost their eyes entirely. A few species instead have developed the ability to provide their own light to see by, giving off a soft glow that illuminates their surroundings. Some species have developed tendrils on their snouts with which they can feel in front of them, similar to those of some moles.

Wheezeworms have large, sharp teeth, the better to chew through the wood that they live within. While they can deliver very nasty bites, however, they are usually unaggressive, though they may be dangerous if cornered or if they otherwise feel threatened. They cannot digest the cellulose of the woody tissue, but get their nutrients primarily from the tree sap; many species of wheezeworm are not above supplementing this diet with meat if the opportunity presents itself. The undigested plant matter is excreted at the end of the wheezeworm's tunnel, where it reaches the edge of the tree.

Wheezeworms form an important part of the ecology of Jhembaz. The trees of Jhembaz are so huge that the tunnels the wheezeworms make in them do the trees negligible damage, but they provide habitats for many other animals; there are many species of arthropod, annelid, reptile, and small mammal that live exclusively in wheezeworm tunnels. (The largest wheezeworms create tunnels broad enough for humans to walk through, and some people have taken advantage of that to set up homes or hideouts in wheezeworm tunnels as well.) The wheezeworm's droppings also help the ecosystem; the piles of undigested fibrous matter accumulating under the entrance to the wheezeworm's tunnels provide a fertile substrate for the growth of fungi and a food source for some insects.