Alright, how about this as a source of the mermaid legend?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores potential origins of the mermaid legend, examining various hypotheses including biological and cultural influences. It includes references to specific cases and historical contexts, as well as speculative reasoning about the nature of mermaid myths.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the condition of sirenomelia could be a source of the mermaid legend, referencing a specific case of a girl named Milagros Cerron.
  • Another participant proposes that the dugong, a marine mammal, is the most accepted origin of mermaid myths due to its physical characteristics.
  • A question is raised about the size of the dugong's breasts, which leads to a discussion about the mother dugong's behavior while nursing her calf.
  • It is noted that the nurturing behavior of dugongs, where the mother holds the calf to breathe, may have contributed to the mermaid myth.
  • A later reply introduces the idea that sailors' isolation and alcohol consumption could also play a role in the development of mermaid legends.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views regarding the origins of the mermaid legend, with no consensus reached on a single explanation.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific interpretations of biological behavior and cultural contexts, which remain unresolved in the discussion.

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The most accepted origin of the mith of mermaids is the dugong. The female has two tits located in the same position of a woman breasts and sometimes takes the calf between the fore fins to feed it.
 
SGT said:
The female has two tits located in the same position of a woman breasts

Can they grow huge?
 
radou said:
Can they grow huge?

No
Because both mother and calf need to come up for air regularly, the mother occasionally rears out of the water, holding the still-suckling calf with her flipper so it can breathe. It is easy to imagine that such a tender scene may have contributed to the mermaid myth.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/august2004/default.htm
 
"may have contributed to the mermaid myth"
Throw in old time sailor's isolation from women and prodigious consumption of grog.
 

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