Brath

Picture a hippopotamus. You now know what a Brath looks like.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A Brath is simply a descendant of a hippopotamus who found itself in a swamp and adapted to its environment, growing smaller over time. They are dark grey in color, darker when wet, though their main adaptation lays in their backs. The skin there is very rough and pockmarked, which they use to their advantage. They frequently submerge their entire bodies, and then rise beneath patches of floating moss or weeds, which get caught in their hides. They then spend most of their time treading water in an attempt to gather smaller animals onto them, which aids in their camouflage from predators. By collecting as many small plants and animals on their backs as possible, and then submerging slightly so that only their backs are visible, they can disguise themselves as small islands. Despite still having the powerful jaw and girth of a hippopotamus, their diminished size means that alligators and crocodiles can prove a large threat to them, which is why they hide.

Ecology and Habitats

Though their body type would allow them to survive in almost any body of freshwater, their hides are specifically designed for the dense water foliage of swamps.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Brath are herbivores who will eat any edible plant life they are presented with, though they prefer to eat grass found on small swamp islands.