The marshlands in the northern part of Shangrila house many smaller creatures, which provide the basis for the entire, greater food web. In this entry, we can see some of those little critters, though by no means is this the entirety of the aquatic fauna inhabiting this ecosystem.

The Shanbufo, Darting Frog, and Crested Shangri-Newt are representatives of the amphibian clade. All three species share the same habitat and make use of the plentiful resources of the marshlands. Darting Frogs typically go after small flying insects that live just above the surface of the water. Shanbufo hunt land-dwelling invertebrates, including Mucraw larvae. Crested Shangri-Newts feed on worms and larvae that dwell in the sediment under the water's surface. By exploiting different food sources, these amphibians can coexist without major conflicts arising.

The Shan-Barbel and Apalappi are both bottom-dwelling fish that feed on tiny algae and decaying matter at the bottom. Shan-Barbels are solitary fish that eek out a living on their own, while Apalappi are much more gregarious. The latter travels in small schools, always on the lookout for predators.

The Smoochila and Prancing Unico are herbivorous fish that feed on algae that grow on other aquatic plants. Both species are important as they play a crucial role in maintaining water quality. Larger plants benefit from this, especially as the fish lessen the strain caused by the algae.

The Shan-Gobbler is a small predatory fish that serves as the "apex predator" of shallow waters. All of the currently discussed species are far too small for most large predators to bother with (and thus to have their populations kept in check), and this is where the Shan-Gobbler comes in. As an active predator, it can chase down and eat all the smaller fish, preventing their numbers from growing out of control.

Finally, we have the true clean-up crew:

The Common Shangri-Shrimp, Dart-Craw, and Emerald Crab are crustaceans that feed on all manner of dead matter that falls to the bottom of the marsh. Be it large land-dwellers who fell to predation, disease, or old age and chose to die in the water, or the leftovers left by other small creatures, these crustaceans are quick to take notice of them. They are reliable scavengers that ensure the cleanliness and health of their ecosystem.

All of these small creatures play a vital role in the maintenance of the marshlands, be it as caretakers or as food for other creatures (which include beasts such as the Tweezerbill; a creature featured not so long ago).