Gnomus muscus (Moss gnome)
Common names: mossy sloth, moss bear, sock avenger, flower seeker and sleepy green.
Basic info
A Gnomus muscus in its natural habitat.
Size: 70-80 cm tall
Mass: 60kg (some reach 100kg, with much pride!)
Lifespan: 120-140 years
Description: Moss gnomes have thick rock-like skin in shades of grey, however, most of their bodies (all but their fingers and a small area beneath their eyes) is covered with moss. They have round features, that look even rounder with the coverage of moss, with a flat nose that is nearly invisible under the moss. Their eyes are large and round, usually yellow-green in color, and are topped with heavy brows. They have a wide mouth with flat teeth, with a single very large protruding tooth that grows out of the lower jaw and sticks out of their mouth. From their brows grow two groups of thin long whiskers, which are used to sense the changes in the weather and estimate the probability of a mushroom growing nearby.
Habitat: Forests and woods, usually deep inside where there is little sun and a lot of moss. They are particularly fond of large moss-covered trees, and love to nestle between their roots.
Diet: The Moss gnomes have a symbiotic relationship with several types of moss that grow over their body. They absorb nutrients from the moss, but they also love mushrooms, so much that they might move to another tree if their whiskers suggest it’s more probable to have lots of mushrooms.
Watch an introduction video about the Gnomus muscus
Habits & Culture
Gnomus muscus teaching its young all about the wonders of mushrooms.
Moss gnomes spend much of their time sleeping in near hibernation state, usually in a low hole in the ground near or between the roots of a tree. They don’t have much of a social life, since they favor sleep, and for the most part live alone. Once in about 15-20 years an adult Moss gnome will grow lonely and decide to procreate. They will then remove their single protruding tooth and plant it in the ground next to them. This tooth is actually an unfertilized embryo, but once placed in the earth it becomes fertilized and begins to develop.
A 4 year old Moss gnome is considered an adult, and is fully capable of taking care of itself, which is a good thing, because usually after 4-5 years of close company the Moss gnomes grow tired of each other and the young one leaves to find a nice quiet spot away from everyone else where they can finally have a good nap (their words). The tooth takes about 7 years to fully grow back, but it takes at least double that time for the Moss gnome to actually want company again.
Gnomus muscus returning a stolen sock.
Moss gnomes usually stick to their quite spot, but they have been known to approach humans. If a Moss gnome approaches you holding a sock, do not be alarmed. The Moss gnomes consider themselves sworn enemies of the Sock-nicking nixies, and when they meet one they do their best to return the stolen socks to their owners. They’d usually just leave it behind the drier or laundry basket, but sometimes they happen on the owner at home. If this happens, do offer them a mushroom, or better yet – a wheat germ smoothie (they love that stuff), it’s only polite.
Gnomus muscus with trampled flower.
RUN!
Now, if a Moss gnome approaches you holding a flower, and this cannot be stressed enough – run! Moss gnomes usually live deep in the forest, where there aren’t that many flowers on the ground, but they absolutely love them, and every once in a while, a ray of sunshine allows a flower to grow on their mossy body. If they approach a human with a flower it probably means that he/she accidentally trampled on the flower, or worse yet – picked it right from their head! They are quite small, but what they don’t have in size they make up for in weight, and they can be very fierce. Their large protruding tooth especially can cause some serious damage, if they bite your arm and it nestles in it might start to develop and… well, let’s just say gnomes and moss go together much better than humans and moss. Your best chance is to climb something high and sprinkle them with flower seeds, they’ll still be grumpy and chase you around for a few hours, just for good measure, but they will recognize the gesture and won’t cause too much damage. You might even find a little bunch of flowers on your doorstep a little while later, if the seeds grew nicely, and if they really liked the flowers the flower-bunch will be wrapped in your favorite sock you thought you lost.
Gnomus muscus napping peacefully, enjoying the flowers that bloomed after it was sprinkled with flower seeds.
What? Chasing careless humans is tiring!
