Mermaids are typically described as aquatic creatures with a unique appearance combining human and fish features:
- The upper body looks like a human, often a female, with a human-like face, arms, and torso. They are usually depicted as surprisingly beautiful and alluring with an ethereal quality.
- Instead of legs, mermaids have the lower body of a fish, usually a single scaly, sleek tail with bright colors that allow them to swim gracefully.
- They may have additional fish-like characteristics such as gills on their neck or scales covering parts of their bodies.
- Mermaids often have long, flowing hair which contributes both to their aesthetic beauty and sometimes modesty in depictions.
- The overall look is one of captivating and irresistible beauty, often associated with legends where they charm sailors with their appearance and voices.
Some more realistic or biological interpretations suggest that mermaids might have features similar to aquatic mammals like seals or dolphins, with thick skin, less hair, and adaptations for cold water, and their tails resembling more mammalian flukes rather than fish tails. They might not be as traditionally beautiful and could appear more aloof or practical for aquatic living. However, the classic and most widespread depiction remains a beautiful human upper half merged with a colorful fish tail below the waist. This blend of human beauty and aquatic traits defines what mermaids look like in folklore and common imagination.
