The Fantasy Field Guide: Mermaid

Field Guide:
Merfolk

An extremely rarely encountered creature that lives in the open seas and oceans. Merfolk have the upper bodies of humans but starting at the pelvis, a tail and dorsal fin resembling those of cetaceans. Merfolk have webbed hands and sheaths of skin along their arms which aid in swimming. Although obviously a mammal, merfolk also have gill-like respiratory organs. These "gills" are attached directly to the lungs to supplement the creature's inadequate nasal passages.

In this illustration:
After my frustration at losing my chance to study the mermaid [link] found on the Kasdian coast, I was determined to learn more about merfolk. I found an old man who described the mermaid that he claimed saved his life once when he was a young merchant seamen. He said the maiden had markings on it's tail similar to those of the dolphins that often led his ship. Dark on her dorsal half and light on its ventral. Her skin was pale and hair was a deep shimmering blue. But when he described her face the old man seemed to fall under some enchantment. As though just remembering her beauty freed the old man of the burden of the present. He said she was beautiful, "sea angel" as he described her. Her features were soft and light like those of the farm girls you meet traveling in the countryside. Her eyes were a solid dark blue and as mesmerizing as two sapphires. The old man exclaimed that despite his age and as short as their shared encounter was, he would never forget the "sea angel" that saved his life.

The Field Guide series includes these illustrations:


Strathmore 11 x 17 300 Series Bristol Smooth
0.5 Pentel Side FX Mechanical Pencil