Everyone has heard of Walt Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and most everyone has seen a depiction of a mermaid at some point in time. But what is a mermaid and where did the tale originate? Being a fan of folklore and in particular monsters and unidentifiable creatures of the sea this question intrigued me. The tale of the mermaid has been around since mankind first started sailing the seven seas. Even today, in our popular culture, the lore is still strong. As far as I can deduce, sailors first told the stories of mermaids after their long voyages at sea. Mermaids were just one of the many sea monsters they encountered and stories they told.

         However, mermaids were particularly deadly to sailors, as their songs were irresistible and once heard the sailors were unable to resist their magic and would steer their ships towards them. As the ships approached the rocks that the mermaids were sitting on, they would crash. The mermaids would then proceed to eat or drown the men. I believe the mermaids were actually quite clever in the way they hunted mankind, for rocks they sat upon most likely showed only 10 % of the rock’s true size. The remaining 90 % of the rock’s bulk was below the surface of the water, very much like the icebergs in the arctic.

         Of course, this assumes that mermaids did exist and that they behaved in this manner towards mankind. In 1835, Hans Christian Anderson wrote the fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” and although the ending was not by modern day standards “happy” it certainly was a far cry from the cannibal mermaids of earlier tales. The story caused a worldwide fascination with the mermaid. So, what were these mermaids that the sailors saw? It seems logical that every “sea monster” would have its origins in a real species of fish or marine mammal.

         But what marine mammal is the mermaid? Over the centuries, there have been many captured and exhibited “mermaids”; although none of these creatures were actually the marine mammals that the sailors mistook for mermaids. One of the most famous mermaids ever “captured” and “displayed” was the Feejee mermaid owned by P.T. Barnum. This three-foot monstrosity was not a mermaid, but most likely a combination of different animals and fish skeletons put together to resemble someone’s idea of a “mermaid”. I doubt very much that a sailor would have seen this three-foot mermaid sitting on a rock across the sea, much less hear it singing over a distance. The most widely accepted theory is that this object of “nautical fantasy” originated from the Manatee.

         Upon seeing a manatee, you would wonder how anyone could mistake these creatures for the lovely mermaid with a half female and half fish body. In fact the Manatee (and in particular the first ones discovered) is sometimes referred to as a “Sea Cow”. This doesn’t exactly bring up the images of the beautiful mermaid we have come to know. So, why was this marine mammal mistaken for a mermaid? No one quite knows, but most likely, it is a combination of things. For example, the calf nurses underwater from a nipple located behind the mother’s flipper. The location of this nipple may have helped spark the mermaid myth since it is in the same general area of a woman’s breast. They also tend to stay within 20 miles of the shore so if a boat were being “lured” to them most likely it would run aground and crash.

          Manatees are very graceful swimmers underwater, using their two front flippers as rudders to guide them. With the distortion of looking at them through water, they may have appeared very fluid and, dare I say, seductive in their swimming patterns. Since their back end is smooth, they have no back flippers; this could explain the image of a fish tail below the woman’s torso. I am however hard pressed to explain the eating habits of the mermaids as the Manatees are strictly vegetarian, consuming about 100 lbs. of vegetation a day. One theory offered is that when the corpses of sailors were discovered drowned and partially eaten, most likely by crabs and other sea animals, the blame was assigned to the Manatees/Mermaids due to their reputation. To confuse a Manatee and a Mermaid I can only imagine those sailors had some pretty good rum on those ships!

         I have answered the question “what is a mermaid?” now I must answer the question “what is a Manatee and why do I love them?” A Manatee is of the scientific order Sirenia (which comes from the word “Siren”, a Greek term used for sea nymphs). There are five types in this order, the Amazonian Manatee, West African Manatee, West Indian Manatee, the Dugong and Steller’s Sea Cow. Like the whale, the manatee has a completely aquatic existence, living on or near the surface of the water, never venturing in waters deeper than 20 feet. They average around 10 feet in length and weigh between 800 and 1200 pounds. Even with their size, they actually have very little body fat for an aquatic mammal. This makes them susceptible to cold, which can lead to death by cold stress. To maintain their body temperatures they live in either fresh or salt water environments that maintain temperatures of 68 degrees or higher.

         So, what is it that attracts me to them? To me they represent an innocence, vulnerability and joy that can only be found in their gentleness and seeming excessive ugliness and size, and yes I like the damaged stuffed animals best. They are the equivalent of that extremely fat cat that you or someone you know owns or owned at one point or another. Like a cat, the Manatee eats up to 8 hours a day and rests up to 12 hours a day. Largely, because of their living habits, they are now classified as an endangered species, mainly due to their inability to escape their biggest predator, man.

         The other high cause of casualty is being hunted. Since they don’t stray far from shore, and travel about 3 – 5 miles per hour, they are easy targets. They can travel faster, upwards to 20 miles an hour, but only for short burst. The entire animal can be used, which makes for their appeal to hunters. In fact, the Stellar Sea Cow was hunted to extinction within 27 years of its discovery for those very reasons. It is estimated that there are only around 2000 West Indian Manatees left around Florida. Although they are a protected species, they are still being killed off by a variety of situations caused by mankind.

         The most potent man made danger is watercraft, i.e., powerboats, jet skiers, etc. Recreational boating and skiing usually takes place in the same bodies of water, in which the Manatee lives and feeds. They are vulnerable to boat hits, because they are slow moving, prefer shallow waters and need to surface frequently for air. The Manatee, depending upon it’s activity, needs to surface for air every 30 seconds to 20 minutes thus making it an easy target for surface vehicles.

         The crushing impact of the hull and/or slashing of the propeller causes many Manatees serious injuries and in certain cases leads to death. In the case of larger vessels they can become caught between the vessel and the water bottom or docking structure and crushed. This is the single largest category of Manatee mortality in the United States. They also are caught, crushed, or drowned in fold fates or canal locks. Littering of plastic bags, plastic six pack holders, monofilament fishing lines, etc., can cause the Manatee to become entangled in or ingest these items that can cause injury or death.

         There are organizations that have set up warm water sanctuaries in Florida for the Manatees to migrate to in the colder winter months and live in a relatively safe environment, sorry no mermaids allowed. This also allows the public to view and learn more about the Manatee. There are also ways for people to help. I currently am a foster parent to a Manatee named Deep Dent. Unfortunately, he received his name because of the massive scaring he has on his body due to the propellers of boats. I dedicate this article to him.





Go back to Cover page Go to printer friendly page Go to Image
© Melt Magazine 2001