Silt Strider

Silt Striders are a race of giant arthropod, growing to approx. 60ft in height, native to the island of Vvardenfell and appearing in the Elder Scrolls series, starting with the third game, Morrowind. These creatures are used as a means of transport in Dunmer society, via the manipulation of exposed organs and tissue. These organs are exposed by carving out a chunk of the creature's chitinous shell, which is also used as a compartment for passengers or trade goods. The Ashlander tribes of Vvardenfell also used a similar creature, the Silt Hopper, for similar purposes, though it is unknown if these are juvenile Silt Striders or a separate species entirely. Additionally, the limbs of both creatures are used in Dunmer society as fishing implements, with longer limbs being attached to ships for deep-sea fishing and smaller limbs being used for fishing rods.

In the year 2E 882, Dagoth Ur would unleash the Ash Blight on Vvardenfell. Whilst many creatures went extinct on Vvardenfell, Silt Striders were one of those species that escaped the Blight with their numbers relatively unscathed. However, during the Red Year (4E 5), the eruption of Red Mountain would lead to the species being driven to the brink of extinction, with one case, named Dusty by her former caravaner, living on the isle of Solstheim as the only known survivor.