There have been various myths about mermaids over the centuries. Even in ancient Syria, people worshiped Atargatis, a goddess who was half human, half fish. But how realistic is this idea in general? Can mermaids really exist?

According to marine biologist Helen Scales, scientists know how to move like a mermaid. And the combination of two legs into one big tail allows you to develop good speed.

But the problem may be in the human body. It is not adapted to being under water for long periods of time.

Another important thing is to breathe. If a mermaid needs to come to the surface to breathe, she will need other respiratory organs besides the mouth and nose. For example, a crocodile’s nostrils are higher than a human’s, making it easier to breathe while on the water surface.

If mermaids lived only in water, they needed gills or, in the course of evolution, they developed another way to supply the body with oxygen.

When a human diver is immersed in water, his lungs shrink in half every 10 meters from the pressure. And sperm whales have a special breast cell that protects against this. They also have much more myoglobin in their blood and muscles. Mermaids would definitely have something similar.

Most likely, in the course of evolution, mermaid’s hands would have turned into fins from human hands. Unless, of course, there is an evolutionary reason why they need hands: for example, to gather food quickly.

In general, mermaids could take the worst of humans and sea creatures. Therefore, they can have human legs and a fish head. And even then, they would have to have a lot of fat to stay in the ocean through the winter.