Merfolk

There are three main kinds of merfolk: Neritic, pelagic and Abyssal.

All merfolk have organs similar to those of other humanoids in their upper torso. They give birth to live young and feed them milk from breast that develop in puberty in females. They have gills. Their tails contain their adapted leg bones that give them anchor points for their powerful swimming muscles. Their genitalia are internal. The male’s penis emerges when aroused, similar to dolphins. All merfolk have a set of lungs that they can use to breathe at the surface and communicate with other species. It is believed that the Neritic merfolk are the assessors that the other two merfolk branches off from. Which is why they evolve lungs. In ancient time Neritic merfolk would use their voice to lure other humanoids into the water to either drown them for food or mate with them. Their Humanoid shape and the development of “lung language” as they call it, seem to be an adaptation to better lure humanoids from land. Merfolk have the ability to communicate using a language made by creating sounds by controlling the flow of water through the gills. They have increasable ability to heal, able to regrow up to a full tail or recover from attacks from dangerous sea creatures, in a matter of days.

Neritic merfolk have the ability to transform their tail into legs and come onto land. In this form, their gills close and are very hard to spot to the untrained eye. Neritic merfolk build structures on the sea floor, creating underwater cities on the sea shelf. Although the ability to talk to or control fish is a myth, they have domesticated some fish species.

Pelagic Merfolk can not transform, and therefore, they rarely venture onto land. They do not build structures as they live in the open ocean. They do build rafts that they use to sleep on and to protect vulnerable members of their community from predators. They live in small family group with teenagers constructing their own rafts and leaving home when they become adults. When they find another young adult, they combine rafts and form a new family group.

All Pelagic merfolk identify as pansexual. This is because they will bond and mate with whomever the first merfolk they meet, regardless of gender. Being in a pair or group greatly increases their chances of survival with a combined raft. Mating with this individual will create a strong bond and increase cooperation, leading to increased survival. Pelagic merfolk that venture onto land will leave their raft in a safe place for when they return to their group or solitary life. It is often only solitary pelagic Merfolk who venture on land if they find it before finding a mate or forming a family.

Pelagic Merfolk occasionally seek out and visit their family raft. Often, to check in with loved ones or to spread news between the many groups out in the vast oceans. They have created a huge network of groups that spread stories and cultural knowledge between far-flung rafts.

Plastic has become a problem for Pelagic Merfolk, as although it makes a sturdy raft material, it leaches chemicals into the water that can affect fertility. There is a split in generations as to which ones are likely to use plastic for their rafts. The oldest generations had built their rafts before it's prevelence in the ocean, and most will insist on only using traditional driftwood and shipwreck salvage to create their rafts. The youngest generations were warned about the dangers of using plastic when they were taught raft-building techniques. Most refuse to use it, but some still find it quick and easy. The generations in the middle incorporated plastic into their raft building before the dangers were discovered. The event had pre-made rafts and watercraft, such as paddle boards, sold to them by land-based corporations. The corporations saw it as an easy market and an easy way to get valuble salvages treasure from wrecked ships. Despite the dangers being discovered, most find it hard to transition away, as they lack the skills to build and maintain with less stable materials.

Abyssal Merfolk live in the deep ocean and build structures on the ocean floor. Their lungs are residual and collapsed. They have large eyes and Bioluminescence they use to lure in prey in the deep ocean. There have been a few recordings of abyssal merfolk coming to the surfers or even on land. These individuals are often exiled from their community and often join pelagic or Neritic civilizations. Little is known about their ways or their physiology except what is specified above. Their civilisatons is very hard to study. They are not only living in one of the harshest environments on the planet, but they are also hostile to outsiders.