They are based on manatees

@@mechwarrior13no they’re not. Mermaids show up in European art as early as Ancient Greek period. Europeans didn’t know about manatees until the 1500s. When they discovered manatees they confused them for mermaids at first, not the other way around.

@@Glassandcandy Not necessarily true; Manatees also live off Western Africa and a huge area stretching from East Africa at the Madagascar Straight, up the coast into the Red Sea all the way to Suez. They range in coastal waters of the Persian Gulf all the way around the Indian Subcontinent, through East Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Australia, Indochina, China and the Philippines. Marco Polo sailed home from China circa 1290 all throughout those regions of the Indian Ocean to Persia. If he didn't see one, he certainly heard of one. In those regions they are called Dugongs or Sea Cows. The Phoenicians circumnavigated Africa in 600 BC! They had colonies in Spain, France, Sicily, Italy, and North Africa. They traded with the Greeks, and all Mediterranean cultures and even as far as Galicia on the North West Iberian Coast. The Greeks are surely Europeans. It is unlikely Europeans never heard of Manatees before the 1500's.

Thank you for such a nice comment! Of course there is always hope. It all starts with little changes we do everyday, as Maria says in the video. We are glad you like the video, we upload many marine wildlife videos and also landscapes, culture and traditions. Tudo de bom!