Golgelen Otter
Golgelen Otters are a species of apex predators found within the Golgelen Woods. They are primarily located within The Pinching Gulf, where they spend a majority of their day swimming.
Basic Information
Anatomy
They're enormous for otters; with proportionally long bodies that are covered in a thick, waterproof fur that serves as a protective coating when in the water. Though they spend most of their time in the water, their fur is notably capable of preventing them from staying wet for too long.
They have notably long body lengths; this makes them a bit sluggish on land, but their smooth bodies are capable of swiftly darting throughout the ocean to catch prey. Most notably, sea urchins. They also have aerodynamic tails that start off flat at the base, and thin off to a taper at the tip.
Golgelen Otters have somewhat longer snouts filled with trapjaw teeth, designed to clamp and catch whatever their mouths snap up.
Growth Rate & Stages
Young Golgelen Otters are called pups, and spend most of their life nearby the coastline within dense bamboo that's been twisted and hewn up in small hovels that serve as shelters. During this time, the vulnerable pups are closely guarded by their mother, who serves as a guardian to their hovel.
These otters are paired for life; and the father acts as a hunter that brings food to the hovel.
Ecology and Habitats
Practically an amphibious species, the Golgelen Otter relies solely on the water to spend most of their life in; but still sleeps and rests on land. This leads to them being mostly a coastal beast. They also prefer wooded areas, particularly bamboo forests, which they use to construct their small coastside hovels.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Red Urchins are their primary meal due to how easy they are to procure. A Golgelen Otter can eat nearly a quarter of their body weight in these urchins, spending most of their time diving into the ocean to snatch one of them from the waters before they return back to their venture. As an apex predator, however, it isn't uncommon for the otter to snatch and eat just about anything they get their hands on. They're particularly fond of shellfish or other hard-shelled creatures, which they bash open with rocks to reach the tender meat.
Fish makes up a steady portion of their diet otherwise, and their surprisingly swift speed in the water permits them to easily outswim the denizens of the deep.
Bullfish are known to occasionally pose threats and hunt the otters, but their tendency to rely on safety in numbers leaves them too dangerous a force to reckon with from time to time. Still, this behavior leads to the otters frequently hunting and killing Bullfish on sight.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Alchemists often use their fur or fat in order waterproof regents or provide a light, bouyant effect to an object. Aside from this, they're often hunted for their pelts all the same due to its insulating effects.
Though a bit fatty and oily, the meat of a Golgelen otter is often described as somewhat 'sweet and savory'.
Average Intelligence
Notably smarter than most animals within the wild, Golgelen Otters are very crafty. They understand how to use basic objects as tools, such as rocks to bash open hard shells or bludgeon objects.
Average Height
Roughly 9~10 Feet when standing.
Average Weight
200~220 Pounds
Geographic Distribution
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