Writers of all genre. Please listen. About Gills.
When writing/drawing mermaids. Merdudes. Merfolk. Just. God, the gills.
I mean. I understand why people would put the gill on the neck, like, fish have gills behind their head, sharks have them a bit lower, but. The human body, or at least a anthropomorphic body, cannot have gills on the neck. Now I know it’s not supposed to be real, because it doesn’t exist, and you made it up, and that’s valid. Yeah. It is. But science. Logic. The necessary space for a body to function. Gills aren’t just holes in the skin where water magically change in oxygen, they’re organs. Like. Space-taking organs.
Like that. Yeah. And you notice here that the gills are quite big for the fish’s general size. So imagine for a human being. Anthropomorphic being. Whatever. We breathe a lot more than fish. Our lungs are big like, two or three of this one fish. And I’m talking about three fish each lung. Yeah.
Here’s the human respiratory system:
The diaphragm separates the lungs from the digestive system, but there’s a large space under the lungs, right? And it perfectly follows the curve of the ribcage, right? When the lungs expand, they press on the diaphragm, but the flat area stays, right?
Where’s the space? There’s the trachea, the oesophagus, the fRicKiNg spine???? Where are you putting the gills? Where do those blades-like organs go? How many are you supposed to put in there? How does you character eat? Drink? bReAthE AcTuaL aIR????? I’m having doubts here.
In conclusion: the underside of the lungs. One on each side. Smooth transition from air to water, the gills close when your character is out of water and open when their airways get immersed. When they come out, the water flow down out of the body by the gills (soaked clothes possibilties, hello???). The lungs expel the air by the classic breathing water and breathing out air method if the character doesn’t think about emptying their lungs before entering water (or falls in it, duh), plus it can create subplot for, I don’t know? Different properties of gills for saltwater-breathing merfolk, mildwater or freshwater-breathing merfolk? That could be nice?
Another potential place to put the gills, of course, could be an enhanced back of the jaw, under the ear, but it does look weird and might not follow the aesthetic you’re looking for. By making your character look funny. Yeah.
Of course, it’s your problem, your character, your battles and yadda yadda, I just. Have pet peeves. I’m sorry if this is upstetting in any way it’s just. It’s a detail, but bloody merlin, does it makes me wince. Anyway, the pictures aren’t mine, I just needed examples to make my point. Thank for coming to my ted talk, hope you’ve enjoyed it, stay safe, don’t drown! Bye!
