A being with an upper body that resembles a human and a fish-like lower body. Several species have been identified (see below). The fish-like "tail" most commonly begins at the waist but can begin at the neck, just under the arms, at mid thigh, or just below the knees.

Tail color can be uniform or speckled and occurs in shades of red, orange, yellow, blue, green, or brown, and flesh tones. It can be scaly like a fish or smooth like a dolphin, it can end in a fin or be pointed like a snake. There is usually just one tail but some types are double tailed or multi tailed like an octopus.

They live primarily underwater and are found in the open ocean, at the sea shore, in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, springs, marshes, fountains, wells and other bodies of water. Some types are able to survive on dry land for a period of time.

The abilities and behaviors of mermaids differ considerably among the different species and among the individuals within a species. They can be heart breakingly beautiful to hideously ugly, their musical talents range from none to a musical mastery that borders on the supernatural. Still others are shapeshifters, master sorceresses, even gods and goddesses.

When it comes to their interactions with humans they both drown and rescue from drowning, they steal the souls and eat the flesh of humans, yet they also fall in love with humans, give up their lives under the sea for humans, and die for humans. They are worshipped, trusted, feared, and hated.

The mermaid is sometimes used as a symbol for womankind, representing all things feminine, including but not limited to: creativity (the power to create life), the feminine mystic, the subconscious, sexuality, and the power of seduction and beauty.

The term mermaid is used to refer to both males and females, males can also be called mermen. Both males and females are also correctly known as merfolk, merpeople, or merwives.

See Also: Creatures by Type: Fairies, Mermaids, Sea Monsters