Pleeeeeeease do a mermaid.
Atargatidae, known to laypersons as mermaids, first appeared around 243 Ma in modern day South America, where they hunted throughout the coastal waters of modern day Chilé for fish and invertebrates. They quickly diversified and spread out throughout the entire Panthalassic coast.
This family of stereospondyls displays the most complex external gills ever seen by scientists, stemming from all over the upper cranial area and continuing down their back in most species. These breathing apparatuses also function as environmental camouflage, blending in with underwater flora to aid in ambush hunting and avoiding predation.
The hunting habits of these creatures differ wildly, and range from actively following boats and ships in search of food, to active hunting to a patient ambush style of hunting. The intelligence of mermaids is similar to that of dolphins, though whether the mermaids will congregate in pods like dolphins is dependant on several factors such as habitat and species.
Most species reproduce via oviparity and lay their eggs in nests, whos materials are dependant on habitat, though usually local flora is a guaranteed. These nests are often victims of predation by other carnivores such as octopuses and if they’re close to the surface, some sea birds are courageous enough to take on the challenge.
The modern range of Atargatidae is almost worldwide, from the frigid waters of the arctic circle, to the warm waters of the Caribbean and Mediterranean, to the unpredictable waters of South Africa. Some species even have evolved to live in the mesopelagic zones of some areas, which has led to interesting displays of bioluminescence in some of said species.
Atargatidae has become somewhat famous for their beautiful “singing”, which in reality are calls used to communicate with other Atargatids in the area.
Their habitual range has led to a prominent incorporation into human cultures worldwide, but the reality is far separated from beautiful maidens with the infrasacral body of a fish. Notable stories of mermaids include the Japanese Ningyo, which was described as a fish with a human face and a monkey’s mouth, with fangs and horns, which can be seen in some Asian species, along with the Sirens of the Mediterranean, which would attract ships with their loud and beautiful singing and lead them to crashing on the jagged rocks and coral often leading to the deaths of the seamen on board. Whether this was a learned behavior in order to acquire food or coincidence is unknown.
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