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fantasyMore about non-human characters in fantasy, because it's my current fixation.
I've been thinking a lot about mammalian mermaids, especially since finding these two pieces of art of manatee mermaids. You cannot google for this sort of thing easily, because it turns up results about the theory that manatees breastfeeding their young were the source for the myth of the mermaid, and every single one has the same joke about how the sailors must have been mighty drunk.
Given this line of thought, I've been wondering, with which marine mammal is it best to cross a human to get an interesting mermaid? Seals? Spotted-skin, predatory mermaids with puppy-dog eyes. Dolphin? Curved-spine, greyish mermaids who frolick in the seas, do tricks for fun, and apparently bludgeon other animals to death for fun (disclaimer: Cracked.com hates dolphins with fervor).
Whale mermaid? I'm having difficulty picturing this one, actually. Manatee mermaid? As seen above, an herbivorous mermaid who flourishes in fresh water, has a healthy layer of blubber, and whose hands might be hidden beneath paddling flippers. Not exactly the Little Mermaid. Walrus mermaid? That might be pretty awesome. Otter mermaid? Hey, it's still technically a marine mammal, but then, so is a polar bear.
In non-mammal mermaids, this artist has a whole gallery full of mermaids based on the fish in her fish tank. Very detailed and intriguing, and highly recommended. I've also seen octopus mermaids, which are sometimes called sea-witches, or cecaelia.
I've been thinking a lot about mammalian mermaids, especially since finding these two pieces of art of manatee mermaids. You cannot google for this sort of thing easily, because it turns up results about the theory that manatees breastfeeding their young were the source for the myth of the mermaid, and every single one has the same joke about how the sailors must have been mighty drunk.
Given this line of thought, I've been wondering, with which marine mammal is it best to cross a human to get an interesting mermaid? Seals? Spotted-skin, predatory mermaids with puppy-dog eyes. Dolphin? Curved-spine, greyish mermaids who frolick in the seas, do tricks for fun, and apparently bludgeon other animals to death for fun (disclaimer: Cracked.com hates dolphins with fervor).
Whale mermaid? I'm having difficulty picturing this one, actually. Manatee mermaid? As seen above, an herbivorous mermaid who flourishes in fresh water, has a healthy layer of blubber, and whose hands might be hidden beneath paddling flippers. Not exactly the Little Mermaid. Walrus mermaid? That might be pretty awesome. Otter mermaid? Hey, it's still technically a marine mammal, but then, so is a polar bear.
In non-mammal mermaids, this artist has a whole gallery full of mermaids based on the fish in her fish tank. Very detailed and intriguing, and highly recommended. I've also seen octopus mermaids, which are sometimes called sea-witches, or cecaelia.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-30 08:48 pm (UTC)I love the idea of seal mermaids (as a different beastie than selkies). I also had a bunch of ideas for whale mermaids, which usually end up with cetacean features but on a much smaller scale. Orca mermaids would be marvelously sleek with those striking black and white markings, playful and vicious. I've envisioned mers based on humpbacked whales singing as they cast bubble nets (handheld rather than created through flutterings of the blowhole) around their prey. My favorite whale-maid is bsed on the narwhal, already a visual combination of whale and unicorn. I'm also very partial to mermaid morphologies based on sharks and rays.
Good luck, and maybe we'll get to see what you come up with!
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Date: 2009-10-30 10:03 pm (UTC)I thought the narwhal tusk was a tooth, not a horn? Although I suppose that would be pretty awkward with a human-shaped head.
I am leaning towards dugong-style mermaids who live in estuaries, create floating houses anchored to rock outcroppings, feed off kelp and sea grass and have long, flat, floppy feet.
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Date: 2009-10-30 10:29 pm (UTC)I love your dugong-style mermaids!
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Date: 2011-05-25 01:59 am (UTC)Cute!
For years I've wanted to see someone do a mermaid species (art or fiction) based on that pink freshwater dolphin species from the Amazon. :D Because the whole "dolphins are jerks!" thing is only true of one known species, and it's not fair to tar the rest of the clade with the babykiller label. Just avoid the bottlenoses!