Mermaid biology

Occasionally in literature the difficulty of having [...] intercourse with a mermaid is discussed. Although mermaids are commonly depicted as beautiful, variably [...], and enticing, a man attempting to have [...] with one would be thwarted by the typical portrayal of the creature: a fish from the waist down, with no vagina.

If the mermaid were biologically a fish below the waist, theoretically they would reproduce as most fish do, by external fertilization, requiring a human male to deposit his seed underwater onto her eggs. (The confusion is further compounded by the fact that mermaids are usually depicted with a navel and breasts, which would suggest placental vivipary rather than ovipary.) In the past it was not uncommon for a mermaid (actually a medieval siren or melusine) to be portrayed as having a split tail, with a vagina located (or merely implied to be) between The Two parts. H. P. Lovecraft's short story "Dagon" is an example of this.

Challenges with depicting Mermaid morphology have also been an issue in relation to moviemaking efforts.

See also

• Cecaelia
• Lamia

References

it:Problema della Sirena