Merfolk (Mur-Fole-Kh)

Merfolk are a mysterious race of beings to most land dwellers of Drimore, and they are often greatly misunderstood. Living mostly underwater, Merfolk are generally split up into three races amongst themselves depending on how deep they live in the ocean and coastal waters, though there is a fourth race of Merfolk that live in freshwater biomes. The Merfolk society is highly specialized and rigid, rarely changing. Each Merfolk tends to have a deep fascination with one or two things at a time, and their focus is almost religious to those one or two things; because of this Merfolk are very, very good at doing certain things, and much more poor at doing others. This works out well because Merfolk are not overly sexual beings that reproduce as often as others, causing them to instead produce as many offspring all at once, and that family, once fully grown, tends to stick together with siblings often helping out in areas their parents are not as skilled at to ensure survival in the very vibrant, and frequently dangerous waters of Drimore. After a long while, some of the offspring that are more capable of multitasking will break off from the family to go find spouses from other families, tribes, or kingdoms.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Merfolk are humanoid-shaped beings, all having a similar head shape, body plan, and general capabilities to humans. However, unlike humans, several features make Merfolk stand out from humans.
For starters, most Merfolk have antennae on their head. The length and luminosity of their antennae are completely dependent on how deep they are in the waters, and the color their antennae glow tends to vary the more shallow the waters a Merfolk is born within. The only exception to this rule are Freshwater Merfolk. These Merfolk have no antennae whatsoever as there is almost no need for it.
The next very noticeable difference between humans and Merfolk is that Merfolk all have tails to assist with their locomotion in the water. The way their tails look depends on whether they are from the ocean or a lake. Merfolk from the ocean tend to have flatter, fanned-out tails at the end, and Merfolk who live in lakes tend to have more narrow tails with small, hard, skin-covered spikes down their tails. Most notable is that all Merfolk have fins, either on their arms or both their arms and legs, aiding them as they swim underwater.
Finally, all Merfolk tend to have colder body temperatures to adapt to the generally colder waters of the sea and lakes. As such, their skin when underwater, always tends to be bluer or greener, depending on if they hail from the seas or lakes. However, when a Merfolk stays above the water long enough, their internal body temperature rises and their skin becomes different shades of pinks, yellows, and browns.

Genetics and Reproduction

First and foremost, Merfolk only have two sexes to their race: male and female.
Merfolk are not ones to have frequent, casual sex, for they are often consumed in their current interests and places of work. For the Merfolk, reproduction is more of a necessity. This does not mean that they are aromantic, as they do court one another, and once in union they do spend a lot of time together. What it does mean, however, is that sex for them is a lower priority that's under basic survival and the focus on things they are devoted to.
When Merfolk have sex, the women do not hold their fertilized eggs for long, as often several of her eggs will get fertilized by the male. After only a month of carrying the eggs within her, she births anywhere from 10 - 20 eggs and sticks them to the roof of the ceiling of a specialized room each couple builds as a part of the place they are cohabitating, designed for nesting their young. This room, regardless of whether the Merfolk is from the sea or from a lake, is regularly maintained to have a low salinity. Eggs subjected to an environment with too high salt content, cause the growing babies to die.
After 7 months, the Merfolk babies are hatched and fully developed enough to swim and live in saltier waters with excellent eyesight. Babies must be watched over, as they have no innate communication skills, are very small, and cannot defend themselves. They can, however, feed themselves and know how to grasp things with their hands and feet.

Growth Rate & Stages

It takes around 7 months for a Merfolk to go from a fertilized egg to a hatched, fully functional baby that can swim in water, grasp things with their fingers, and eat independently on their own. From there, Merfolk are one of the most rapidly maturing races on Drimore.
From hatching to their first birthday, Merfolk start to immediately learn the trinity of underwater communication: vibrational sounds, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Given the importance of these life lessons, most Merfolk are very consumed and fascinated by the ways of communication, and they can master that sort of communication all within their first year of life. At the end of their first birthday, Merfolk have grown to roughly half the size of their adult height.
Beginning with their first year, every Merfolk enters what they call the "Still Waters" phase. This phase tends to last from year 1 to 5 years of age. during this time, the rapid development of a Merfolk slows significantly, and during these 4 years, a Merfolk starts to actively explore new locations within the seas or lakes with their family, while also discovering their interests which will stick with them for the rest of their life.
Upon reaching their 5th year, every Merfolk enters another phase the Merfolk call the "Troubled Waters" phase. This phase only lasts a year, and it is during this time that each Merfolk reaches their full height coming either to learn how to multitask in life, or choose to fully devote themselves to care for their clan and family in ways they are most interested in. Very few Merfolk learn to multitask and think beyond their families, but during this year, each Merfolk is the most emotionally aware and volatile, equally capable of going, either way depending on circumstance.
From age 6 forward, Merfolk are now fully grown. At this age, Merfolk will now settle in with their family and clan, focusing on helping them with their highly specific skills and interests, or break away and start a family of their own. For the Merfolk who have learned to multitask and be more aware of others than just their family and self-interests, the first year of their adulthood is one of sadness for both them and their family, as both sides rarely understand each other. Yet sure enough, both types of Merfolk tend to settle into their new roles in life and adapt accordingly.
If a Merfolk is lucky and able to live long without dying to the harshness of the sea, (something which is much more common for Merfolk living in freshwater) and somewhere around their 65th year, that particular Merfolk enters their elderly years. On average, if not killed young, a Merfolk can live up to 80 years. To contrast a Merfolk with a human, it is noted that Merfolk do not get wrinkly skin when they age, but rather tighter skin and tighter muscles. These changes in the body cause a Merfolk to have to slow down, needing to stretch more to remain limber. Other than this, Merfolk's hair does naturally turn grayer with age, and their body markings seem to fade, making an elderly Merfolk easy to spot.

Ecology and Habitats

There are five main areas you can find a Merfolk living in.

1. The ocean floor
2. Ocean shelves away from deep trenches and crushing depths of the sea
3. Shallow ocean floors, typically around coral reefs
4. Freshwater lakes
5. The shores of the sea and lakes

Dietary Needs and Habits

Merfolk are mostly piscivores, though they can eat plant matter as well, they just tend not to and opt for making fish ranches or hunting fish instead.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

All Merfolk are sentient.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

All Merfolk have exceptional underwater vision and above-average vision when on land. While underwater, the pupils of the Merfolk change shape to allow them to see well in the sea; however, when the Merfolk surfaces and remains above water long enough, their pupils become circular enabling them to see better on land.
Merfolk additionally have great hearing, needing to listen for clicks and other strange sounds that are muffled underwater. This does mean that when a Merfolk surfaces onto land they will find the land to be very loud and overwhelming, requiring them to find ways to help them cope with how sound travels in the open air.

Origin/Ancestry

The oceans and waters of Drimore

Lifespan

1 - 80 years

Average Height

Ocean Floor Merfolk: 3 ft Ocean Shelf Merfolk: 4 ft Ocean Shore Merfolk: 5 ft Freshwater Merfolk: 5.5 ft

Average Weight

225 - 300 ibs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Ocean Floor Merfolk: These Merfolk tend to be very pale to almost white. Most Merfolk of this type has splotches of black around their face and body.

Ocean Shelf Merfolk: These Merfolk tend to be a faint shade of blue. Most Merfolk of this type have spots and splotches of black around their face and body, with occasional other colors.

Ocean Shore Merfolk: These Merfolk tend to be a vibrant shade of blue and sometimes red. Most Merfolk of this type have spots and/or splotches of black, red, blue, and many other colors on their face and body.

Freshwater Merfolk: These Merfolk tend to be some shade of green or brown. Most Merfolk of this type have spots and/or splotches of black, brown, and sometimes pale blue on their face and body.