Orchis Weasel
Basic Information
Anatomy
Orchis weasels have long, slender bodies and short legs. They are only 8 to 10 in long (203.2 to 254 mm) with tails 1.6 to 2.3 in long (40.64 to 58.42 mm). Their pelts generally come in shades of brown with white or cream underbellies. In winter, their coats turn white to blend in with their surroundings though they prefer to hibernate alongside the bark striders. Their diet of primarily orchis berries causes them to have purple saliva and excrement.
Ecology and Habitats
While orchis weasels can be found in just about any forest, they are the predominantly found in The Seloswyld living alongside Bark Striders, or rather in the bark striders' foliage. They run up and down the sides of bark striders with ease, scavenging for branches and leaves on the forest floor. These small creatures must take caution though, as there are many predators that would go after it. While in the trees and on bark striders, they must be on the lookout for snakes and birds of prey that would seek to make a meal of them. On the ground, the dense leaf cover offers some protection from raptors but foxes and the occasional wolf have been known to prey on the orchis weasels.
These creatures appear to be under threat by the many predators that live in the forest, but they are not without defenses. Orchis weasels have a surprisingly powerful bite for their size, capable of delivering a deadly bite to its prey and at the very least sending a would be predator on its way with a few pieces missing. Additionally, their sharp claws adapted to climbing trees and high agility make them evasive and a pain to have an extended fight with. As such most predators make one attempt, then move on their way to easier prey.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The orchis weasel is omnivorous and their diet includes small mammals, lizards, fruit, insects, and the occasional fish if they can get it. They are scavenging opportunistic hunters who will take down their own prey or steal it from others if it means less work. The prevalence of food means that they don't typically need to hoard their food, but in the final months before winter they'll eat as much as they can to get through the winter. Living primarily in the leaves of bark striders, orchis weasels have a preference for the orchis fruit that grows on them and the insects that could potentially harm them.
Additional Information
Domestication
Local elves in the Seloswyld have been known to domesticate orchis weasels and use them to help gather fruit and nuts that are too high to be easily reached otherwise. Domesticated orchis weasels are nearly identical to their wild cousins, but depending on their domestic lifestyle they may keep their summer coat year round or lose their purple saliva and excrement. As of present these changes are relatively minor, but some orchis weasel enthusiasts question if there are long-term effects to keeping them.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Orchis weasels have a mutualistic relationship with the bark striders they live on. The orchis weasels benefit from the orchis berries that grow on the bark striders, and the bark striders have another layer of defense against parasitic insects.
Scientific Name
Mustela martes silva
Average Length
8 to 10 in
203.2 to 254 mm
203.2 to 254 mm
Geographic Distribution
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