🌊 Common Terminology 🌊

There's some terms and phrases that this website and its pages will use fairly often. This specific page will go over them.

• Mer: The singular noun for the aquatic creatures this website is about.
◦ The plural form can be "Mers" for a group or "Merfolk" to discuss as a species.
◦ The terms "Merman" and "Mermaid" may be used for Mers that identify as male and female. The original is gender-neutral.

• Pup: The common noun for young Mers, what we humans might consider a 'child' or 'juvenile'.
◦ Very young Mers may be called "fry".
◦ The point which a Mer transitions from a Pup to an Adult is a bit unclear. In addition, some communities will always consider certain members to be pups, especially within close-knit family groups.

• Social Sickness: A term used within Merfolk communities to describe the phenomenon that occurs when a Mer is separated from their social group. It is often fatal, not just due to the Social Sickness, but the body growing weak enough for other illnesses or injuries to cause death.
◦ This term is a bit of a misnomer, as it's not an illness in the traditional sense. Merfolk are easily stressed, especially when removed from their social groups. Social Sickness is, in reality, the Mer's body deteriorating due to extreme stress.

• Coldblooded: A vague term used to describe a Mer's physiology; namely, if their body plan more resembles boney fish, sharks and rays, isopods, or invertebrates. These Mer are more likely to lay eggs.
• Warmblooded: A vague term used to describe a Mer's physiology; namely, if their body plan more resembles marine mammals. These Mer are more likely to give live birth and produce milk for young.

• Coldwater Mer: A vague term used to describe a Mer's prerfered enviroment, namely, a preference for colder waters. It is theorized that Merfolk that reside in colder temperatures have the following characteristics; Coldwater Mers tend to be larger, with muted colors, and their songs tend to be low-pitched.
◦ Some scholars agrue this term should be dropped, as not every single Mer follows the aforementioned characteristics. For now, it is mostly used as a guide to discuss certain Mer groups/clans and where they reside.
• Warmwater Mer: A vague term used to describe a Mer's prerfered enviroment, namely, a preference for warmer waters. It is theorized that Merfolk that reside in warmer temperatures have the following characteristics; Warmwater Mers tend to be smaller, with bright colors, and their songs tend to be high-pitched.
◦ Some scholars agrue this term should be dropped, as not every single Mer follows the aforementioned characteristics. For now, it is mostly used as a guide to discuss certain Mer groups/clans and where they reside.