Merman

The Merman is the male counterpart to the mermaid, appearing in legends from Norse fjords to South Pacific islands. Often depicted with the torso of a rugged man and the lower body of a great fish, mermen are typically portrayed as more fearsome than their female equivalents—blowing conch shells to summon storms or dragging ships under with powerful currents. In Celtic stories, they’re known as selkies or sea-warlocks who sometimes shed their skins to walk on land, while in Japanese folklore, similar beings called ningyo bring misfortune if caught. Modern accounts usually tie to fleeting glimpses of seals or dolphins surfacing in odd light. Yet across all cultures, the merman symbolizes the ocean’s masculine force—wild, unpredictable, and forever alien to those who merely float upon its surface.