Could Mermaids have existed?

Question

I believe that It was once true If not still, That there have been creatures that resembled humans and could live under water.
There could be a different form of evolution, right?
Instead of Apes.
Considering Life began in the oceans...
I believe I was once A mermaid, I have weird dreams about it. And I feel this weird connection to them.
Its strange I know. LOL. Im just curious.
Do You know any information on this? Its been on my mind since I was very little.
Thank you

Yea I was talking about Mermaid syndrome yesterday, and thats when this topic came up with my Tia And I.

Some people think that it is silly, But In all honestly, Us Humans are strange creatures also.. lol
You never know what else is out there.

Answer 1

Well, I have read pretty much every book that I could find on the subject of mermaids and I think mermaids may have existed at one time but they are probably now extinct.

Of course, most reports of mermaids were made by people who were either lying or mistaken but there are some reports that are different. A few sightings were made by honest, reliable people who claimed to have seen mermaids - sometimes there were even multiple witnesses who were able to verify what the person claims to have seen.

There is a book, "Sea Enchantress" by Gwen Benwell and Arthur Waugh that has almost everything there is to know about mermaids.

Here is one account that I found particularly convincing from Benbecula, in the Hebrides:

'Sometime around 1830 local inhabitants were astonished by the sight of a creature 'in the form of a woman in miniature', swimming some distance from them in the sea.

The little sea-maiden, unperturbed by her audience, played happily, turning somersaults and otherwise disporting herself. A few men waded out into the water and tried to capture her, but she swam easily beyond their grasp. Then a wretched little boy threw stones, at her, one of which struck her in the back. She sank beneath the waves.

She was next heard of a few days later, but, alas, then she was dead; her body was washed ashore, about two miles from where she was first seen. A detailed examination followed:

'the upper part of the creature was about the size of a well-fed child of three or four years of age, with abnormally developed breasts. The hair was long, dark and glossy, while the skin was white and soft. The lower part of the body was smooth like a salmon, but without scales.'

But the story does not end here. Mr. Duncan Shaw, land agent for Clanranald, Baron-Bailie and sheriff of the district, after seeing the corpse, gave orders that a coffin and shroud be made for the mermaid, and in the presence of many people she was buried a little distance above the shore where she was found. This action is more eloquent than any signed testimony. A man who held his office was unlikely to be credulous, which suggests that he believed her to be at least partly human.

I once read a theory about humans going through a semi-aquatic stage at some point in our evolution. It is at least possible that humans may have branched out into two separate species at that time (land mammal and marine mammal). There are lots of great books and web-sites about merfolk - Enjoy!

Answer 2

Perhaps there were or still are, just not in the way that most people think. Mermaids would not have been the nice, sweet, girl next door types. If you lived in the ocean, you would eat raw fish, and be almost more like an animal. You would not like humans, and you would have to fight to live. You would be attacked by sharks, and have gills. You would not be the beautiful maiden of the sea. You wouldn't speak or if you did, it would probably resemble the sounds made by dolphins. If you lived in the very very deep depths of the ocean, you would probably not have eyes, as they would be useless at those depths. There are certain fish, that live in caves or very dark, deep depths, that have no eyes due to evaluation.
Also, perhaps mermaid is a name that was once given to an animal that we now call by a different name. A rose is still a rose even if called by a different name. Just as squid and octopus were once sea monsters. (Think about it the same way as the movie "The Descent".

Answer 3

Anything is possible, many cultures around the world believed that man originated from the sea. This theory could also probably explain Sirenomelia, also called "mermaid syndrome", which is a rare congenital disorder in which a child is born with his or her legs fused together and the genitalia are reduced. This condition is about as rare as conjoined twins and is usually fatal within a day or two of birth because of kidney and bladder complications. Three survivors are known to be alive today, with one of them, a 19 year old girl, having undergone a successful operation to separate her legs.

Answer 4

There is plenty of proof, That mermaids exist... But 90% of this worlds population is just to lazy to research that subject..... For I know that they are real and I will never doubt their existences again... No matter what anyone states.............

Answer 5

Yes,
Deep under the depths of the water

Answer 6

The answer is no. Mermaids, along with many other myths of the sea, were never real - just some horny sailor's dream - nothing more.

Answer 7

i think they probably did and still do exist, yes, there was a good picture and some good info somewhere on the net...though i forget where...google that s!@#

Answer 8

No, I think this is a myth, folklore, fairytale.
I hope you aren't taking that seriously.=======

Answer 9

Maybe they did at one point. Today, if they were around the answers is no.

Answer 10

or u might have been a dolphin