Mermaids

Mermaids are a humanoid species. They are native to Enchanted Forest and Neverland.

It featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time, and first appear in the "The Heart of the Truest Believer" of the Season 3.

Biology and Culture
Mermaids are aquatic creatures with the head and upper body of a human and the tail of a fish. They are able to breathe air while out of water. Mermaids are known for their hypnotic, powerful singing voice, which can lure ships to their death. Hook describes them as "The most dangerous creature in all the seas", and worse than a kraken. ("The Heart of the Truest Believer", "Poor Unfortunate Soul")

Every year when the high tide rises, the Sea Goddess Ursula grants merpeople the ability to walk on dry land with human legs, until the next tide occurs. Mermaids have the ability to cross worlds, and to open portals and bring objects from one world to another. In some occasions, they are able to take other people through their portals. They can be summoned by conch shells. ("Ariel", "Dark Hollow", "Poor Unfortunate Soul", "A Wondrous Place")

Ursula, who was a mermaid before being transformed into a Cecaelia, is the daughter of Poseidon, who is a Deity; indicating that merpeople can interbreed with Deities. ("Poor Unfortunate Soul")

Little is known about Mermaid culture. According to Hook, mermaids can't be trusted because they are liars. Mr. Gold has also stated that mermaids can't be trusted. They stay in touch with each other beneath the sea by using conch shells. ("The Heart of the Truest Believer", "Ariel", "Strange Case")

Known Mermaids

 * Ariel
 * An unknown mermaid
 * Snow White (briefly)
 * Ursula (formerly)

Trivia

 * Mermaids are based on the species of the same name from the Peter Pan novel and Disney film, but also from the "Little Mermaid" fairytale and Disney film.


 * There is a merman's trident on display in Rumplestiltskin's castle. ("Skin Deep")


 * According to the poster in his Oz workroom, one of the freak show acts in the Wizard's circus is the Feejee mermaid. The Feejee mermaid was an object comprising the torso and head of a juvenile monkey sewn to the back half of a fish. During the 1800s, it was a common feature of sideshows, where it was presented as a version of a mermaid. ("It's Not Easy Being Green")


 * On Lily's billboard, there is a photograph of a merman's trident. ("Lily")