Merpeople/Pirates of the Caribbean

"*Aye. Mermaids. Sea ghouls, devil fish, dreadful in hunger for flesh of man. Mermaid waters, that be our path. Cling to your soul, Gibbs, as mermaids be given to take the rest, to the bone.*"
―Hector Barbossa to his crew[src]
“*Don't be a fool! Mermaids are all female, son, and lovely as a dream of heaven. But when it comes time to churn butter, so to speak, they snatch a sailor out of a boat or off the deck of a ship, have their way, and then the sailors are pulled to bottom and drowned and eaten.*”
―Ezekiel[src]
**Mermaids** are legendary aquatic creatures with the upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish that appear in the film *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at the Magic Kingdom, among other appearances.

In *On Stranger Tides*, the mermaids of Whitecap Bay defend themselves against Blackbeard's crew as they attempt to capture a live mermaid at to harvest the mermaid's tear demanded by ritual for the Fountain of Youth. Following the battle at Whitecap Bay, the mermaid Syrena is captured. In a sense, these mermaids provide both a compliment and a contrast to those in the original *Little Mermaid* by Hans Christian Andersen. His merfolk could not shed tears because they lacked an immortal soul; the mermaids of *On Stranger Tides* instead have tears that can potentially grant immortality.

Beautiful, conniving, and dangerous.

On Whitecap Bay, the visual guide also talks about how Blackbeard has hatched a plan to catch a mermaid, but he will not be doing the fishing himself, having handpicked members of his crew for the dangerous job: the ones he can do without. The cove's rocks offer no refuge from mermaids, as they can survive long enough on land to drag a human back into the sea where they can entangle their foe in a powerful grip. Legend has it that man-made light and song attract the sirens of the sea, so the boat is lit by the beam of the lighthouse and Scrum sings a swaying sea shanty *My Jolly Sailor Bold*. Soon, the longboat full of members of Blackbeard's crew is surrounded by more mermaids and a fierce battle between the mermaids and pirates produces a live mermaid, but at the cost of many of the crewmembers' lives.

A mermaid's radiant appearances is her greatest weapon. The light of the moon illuminates her skin, her long locks tumble seductively and her deep-as-the-ocean eyes possess the power to entrap any adventurer.

On the mermaids, the visual guide also talks about how when under the waves, the mermaids transform into very different creatures. They may look lovely, but they can shred a human limb from limb in seconds. Scrum is almost powerless to resist a kiss from a beautiful mermaid, but succumbing to her otherworldly charms will lead to certain death. Most of the information pertaining to Syrena is that she is not cruel like many of her kind, and her humanity calls out to Philip Swift, a fellow spirit—one who could become her saviour. The pirates fashion a water tank to carry Syrena in. After all, mermaid tears don't keep; they must be harvested fresh. On land, Syrena loses her scaly aquatic form and assumes a gentle human shape. Unused to walking on two feet, and wounded, she is a stumbling vulnerable figure—truly a fish out of water. On the Jungle Pools, the waters have been used to trap mermaids in their marine form, while their captors endeavor to harvest their precious tears. Tying mermaids within reach of water, yet leaving their bodies to slowly dry out, is a cruel torture often seen at the pools. When the creatures die, they leave behind the remains of their marine form. Under Blackbeard's orders, the crew takes Syrena to the dreaded Jungle Pools to harvest her tears. Philip and Syrena's relationship seems destined to a grim end. Syrena, however, understands tragedy. The mermaid people believe that "the One pours death into life, and life into death, without a drop split".

### Powers and Abilities

* **Mermaid Swimming:** A mermaid's tail enables them to swim more swiftly than an equivalent human being and also to more-effectively perform underwater feats of agility.
* **Powerful Grip:** Mermaids exhibit physical strength which is higher than that of a normal human woman. They use this superhuman strength and speed for actions as complex as using lariat cords to ensnare the throats of their victims or as simple as grabbing these victims and pulling them underwater.
* **Fangs:** Though their torso, arms, and head appear to be those of beautiful young women, the Mermaids of Whitecap Bay have sharp canine teeth, which can extend into fangs at will. It is unknown whether these fangs are venomous or even perhaps blood-draining like those of a vampire, but they are useful when slaying prey.
* **Entrancing Song:** The Mermaids of Whitecap Bay can communicate in the English language, and they use this language to connect more intimately with those who may be affected by their mystical melodies. These melodies often mimic songs known to the mermaids' intended prey so as to calm them with feelings of familiarity. Such standard techniques of lulling combine with the mermaids' siren song to render their targets quite unprepared for their close-range attack.
* **Mermaid's Tears:** The tears of the Mermaids of Whitecap Bay are a vital component of the ritual used to gain access to the Fountain of Youth. The mermaids are very hesitant to part with them, however, and they are known to be "tough" in refusing to cry under most circumstances. As most of the Mermaids of Whitecap Bay are governed by primeval or negative emotions, their tears tend to be those of pain, anger or sorrow, however their rare tears of joy are said to be even more powerful.
* **Protective Kiss:** A kiss from a mermaid is known to protect a sailor from drowning.

## Appearances

### Films

#### *The Curse of the Black Pearl*

In the film, when Elizabeth Swann was trying to warn of the cursed pirates, Lieutenant Gillette says, "Don't worry, miss, he's already informed of that. A *little mermaid* flopped up on deck and told him the whole story" before shutting the doors on her. His phrasing of, "Little Mermaid" here was done as an allusion to the classic fairy-tale and 1989 released Disney film of the same name.

#### *On Stranger Tides*

During the quest for the Fountain of Youth, a longboat full of members of Blackbeard's crew were used as bait on a mission to lure a mermaid for her tears. Legend has it that man-made light and song attract mermaids, so the boat is lit by the beam of the lighthouse, and Scrum was forced to sing a song. Scrum sang "My Jolly Sailor Bold" and successfully attracted a mermaid named Tamara, who continued singing Scrum's song as other mermaids surrounded the longboat.

After Tamara revealed her true form, the mermaids began a lethal attack on Blackbeard's crew. Seeing the mermaid slaughtering pirates, Jack Sparrow set an explosion on the Bay's lighthouse to scare the mermaids away. In the aftermath of the battle, Philip Swift captured a mermaid he would later name Syrena, and several of the pirates that the mermaid attacked (including Scrum) were brought to safety. The other Mermaids would later attack and bring down Barbossa's ship and all who had still been on the ship at the time.

### Video games

#### *Disney Universe*

An unnamed mermaid was seen in the final level of the *Pirates of the Caribbean* world in the final level of the Fountain of Youth location (as the closest character to the world's boss) where the player must collect her tears by using cannons and then carry them to the fountain to complete the objective.

### Disney Parks

#### World of Color

In an extended sequence to promote *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides*, mermaids are seen swimming underwater as Jack Sparrow says "The Fountain of Youth. What does it require?", and in which Angelica says "A mermaid, Jack." Tamara can then be heard singing "My Jolly Sailor Bold", while mermaids continue swimming, shortly before the mermaid attack battle scene follows.

#### Pirates of the Caribbean

In October of 2012, mermaids were added to the ride Pirates of the Caribbean to coincide with a promotional *Stranger Tides* themed refurbishment (including the ghost of Blackbeard and Barbossa dressing in his privateer garb). It should be noted that motifs of mermaids were present in the original ride, a plaque being found over a fountain outside of Disneyland's version of the ride which showed two mermaids alongside the talking skull.

The mermaids made their appearance in Dead Man's Cove, swimming in the water nearby the boats of guests as, "My Jolly Sailor Bold" playing in the background. On the sandbar area by the pillager skeleton, the skeleton of a mermaid was seen in a beached dinghy with the glass coffin from the film being seen in the background. The mermaid's appearances in the water were achieved by a digital projection of the mermaids swimming being played on the water's surface, made to be subtle and just show the gleam of their tales and general figures.

Ultimately this element of the ride was removed, the exact year of removal being unknown but it officially having been done in 2018, coinciding with many larger refurbishments of the attraction. The coincide with this, the mermaid skeleton and glass coffin were also removed from the attraction. The predominate motive for the removal was that the digital projection effect on the water did not work as intended, only projecting the mermaids infrequently and being barely identifiable when it did work; one rumor goes that the projector would sometimes show a loading screen or blue error screen on the surface of the water instead of the mermaids. It can also be assumed that it was in-part due to the lack up popularity of the fourth pirate's films with Blackbeard and Barbossa's privateer outfit having been removed as-well. It is also possible that the redactions of film elements were done due to the critical panning of the fifth film as the removals were made in the fallout of the film's release (the film also being the only *PotC* movie to not receive incorporation into the original ride).

#### Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure

Mermaids appear in this attraction in a cameo appearance. After guests go to the bottom of the ocean in search of Davy Jones' treasure, the mermaids are seen swimming nearby the Flying Dutchman as they sing a siren song.

## Notable Mermaids

### Syrena

*Main article: Syrena*
Syrena is a beautiful, enigmatic mermaid portrayed by Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey. Mystery surrounds the mermaid Syrena, even down to her true name, for “Syrena” is only what she’s called by missionary Philip Swift during her captivity by Blackbeard. After her fellow mermaids attack Blackbeard’s crew at Whitecap Bay, Syrena and Philip begin to recognize a quality in each other that draws them together, allowing them to become allies against a common enemy in Blackbeard. Each discover more of their true beings, but risk their lives when they listen to the sounds of their hearts and saved each other.

### Tamara

*Main article: Tamara (Pirates of the Caribbean)*
Tamara is a mermaid played by Gemma Ward. She took part in the battle at Whitecap Bay, fought between mermaids and Blackbeard's crew. When Scrum sings "My Jolly Sailor Bold", Tamara first appears before him and seduces him. Entrancing the pirates, Tamara sings Scrum's song as the other mermaids surround the longboat full of Blackbeard's crewmen. Scrum is almost powerless to resist a kiss from the beautiful mermaid, but before succumbing, the mermaid reveals her true form. She tries to attack but is hit with an oar. The mermaids then afterwards attack the crew.

### Marina

*Main article: Marina (On Stranger Tides)*
Marina is a mermaid played by Jorgelina Airaldi. She took part in the battle at Whitecap Bay, fought between mermaids and Blackbeard's crew. In a scene cut from *On Stranger Tides*, Jack and Marina encountered each other, in which Marina slapped Jack in the face before swimming away. Though it was never directly stated, it is implied that she may have had a relationship with Jack Sparrow, which ended badly.

**Mermaids** were mythical aquatic creatures known through all manner of legends and lore. Half woman, half fish, these lethally-minded sisters of the sea rise up from the waves to lure men into their arms. Beautiful, conniving and dangerous, mermaids would do anything to protect their homes.

Some stories depicted mermaids as perilous creatures associated with floods, storms, shipwrecks, and drowning. In other folklore (or sometimes within the same folk tradition) they can be benevolent, bestowing boons or falling in love with humans. The merfolk of Isla Sirena served as agents of the Sirens, dragging many sailors down to a watery grave. Other tales told that mermaids were known to gather at Whitecap Bay for hundreds of years, thereby striking terror in the heart of sailors and pirates alike. Drawn to the surface by man-made light and singing sailors, these scintillating mermaids entrance their prey before dragging them to the depths to devour them.

## History

### Legend

"*What is it? What is required?"* *"...A mermaid, Jack.*"
―Jack Sparrow questioning Angelica about the Profane Ritual[src]
Sailors have speculated for centuries about these magical creatures. Half woman, half fish, they rise up from the waves to lure men into their arms. As creatures of myth, legend and lore, mermaids, while beautiful, were also feared creatures, being referred to as "sea ghouls, devilfish" and known for their dreadful hunger for flesh of man.

Mermaids were also associated with legends regarding the Fountain of Youth, which was said to be discovered by Ponce de León in 1523. Those seeking the Fountain, who had knowledge of the Profane Ritual, had to find and capture a mermaid at Whitecap Bay. Only a mermaid's tear, placed in one of the Chalices of Cartagena, would set the rejuvenating forces of the Fountain to work. On many journeys to the Fountain, the Jungle Pools have been used to harvest mermaid tears. Tying mermaids within reach of water, yet leaving their bodies to slowly dry out. When the creatures die, they leave behind the remains of their marine form. Some time after Ponce de León's discovery, a mermaid would be drawn onto the Mao Kun Map, one of the few guides to the Fountain of Youth.

### Jack Sparrow

#### The Sword of Cortés

"*Our song will tear open your heart, and you will beg for more. It will tease you with your greatest desire till you grow mad. And this desire will eventually burn so fierce that you will drive yourself directly to us. Then it is our charge to deliver you to those to whom we answer.*"
―Morveren, Aquala and Aquila to Jack Sparrow[src]
Captain Jack Sparrow first encountered the mermaids in Isla Sirena, following the escape from Isla Esquelética, during his quest for the Sword of Cortés. His shipmates, the crew of the *Barnacle*, were affected by the song of the Sirens, though Jack himself remained immune to its influence. Unable to sway him, the mermaids instead transported Jack to Isla Sirena itself, where they attempted to enslave him by robbing him of his freedom. Jack was tricked into handing over a prized possession—the eye of Stone-Eyed Sam—in exchange for the lives of his crew. Further, his freedom would be forfeit the next time he visited Isla Sirena.

Despite realizing this stipulation, Jack was forced to return to the mermaids' lair in order to recover the eye to defeat the spirit of Hernán Cortés. He negotiated his enslavement with the blue-tailed mermaid leaders, and defeated two predatory beasts in order to avoid eternal imprisonment. He was allowed to leave the island, and later reclaimed the eye from Tia Dalma.

### Lost in Legend

"*I don't care what the Commodore ordered, I have to tell him! The pirates! They're cursed! They can't be killed!"* *"Don't worry, Miss. He's already informed of that. A little mermaid flopped up on deck and told him the whole story.*"
―Elizabeth Swann and Lieutenant Gillette[src]
Despite all the adventures embarked, mermaids still fell under the idea of various myths and legends of the sea. Prior to the battle at Isla de Muerta, Elizabeth Swann tried to warn Commodore Norrington's *Dauntless* crew about the cursed crew of the *Black Pearl*, only for Lieutenant Gillette to dismiss her warning, sarcastically telling her that "a little mermaid" flopped up on the deck and told the whole story. The stories about the mermaids of Whitecap Bay became more rumor than reality, even to Joshamee Gibbs, who was well-versed in lore.

### War of Jolly Roger

At some point after the battle of Isla de Muerta, the undead pirate captain Jolly Roger planned to take over the entire Caribbean and make himself a Pirate Lord. As he intended to unleash his terrible curse on the islands of the Caribbean, the mermaids somehow learned about his dreadful plan and warned the buccaneers about his evil intentions. Thanks to this warning, Jolly Roger's plan didn't succeed.

### War Against Piracy

"*Avast Captain! Your crew says they've spied monsters in these waters! Let's go hunt Mermaid!*"
―Joshamee Gibbs[src]
Mermaids, sea serpents, banshees, and other legendary creatures could be found in the waters of the Caribbean during the war against piracy. After the battle of Calypso's maelstrom they were mercilessly hunted by pirates for the resources their bodies provided.

### Quest for the Fountain of Youth

"*We're doomed. They be drawn to man-made light."* *"Sharks?"* *"Worse than sharks, boy. There'll be mermaids upon us within the hour, you mark my words! And we're the bait!*"
―Ezekiel and Cabin Boy[src]
During the quest for the Fountain of Youth, Blackbeard and his crew journeyed to Whitecap Bay to capture a mermaid for the Profane Ritual. Blackbeard used his crew as living bait, as well as using man-made light from the lighthouse to lure the mermaids. Scrum was forced to sing *My Jolly Sailor Bold* to attract the mermaids, and successfully attracted the attention of Tamara. As Tamara continued singing Scrum's song, other mermaids appeared to the longboat. Their beauty fascinated the sailors, but Tamara revealed her true form. The mermaids began a lethal attack on Blackbeard's crewmen. Jack Sparrow managed to set an explosion on the lighthouse to scare them away, even meeting an old flame, Marina, in the process. A young mermaid later named Syrena, who proved to be very different from her vicious kind, was left behind to be captured by Blackbeard's men. The day after, the mermaids returned to attack the HMS *Providence*, dragging it and the crew onboard to the depths.

## Biology and appearance

"*All these beautiful mermaids. Creatures of legend and lore, right in front of me! What an exciting adventure, indeed!*"
―Jack Sparrow[src]
The mermaids were amphibious beings, a hybrid of human and fish. The average mermaid had the appearance of a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair, and skin flecked with scales. From the waist down, however, a mermaid was comprised of a long, shimmering scaly fish-like tail. Further undermining their conventional beauty, mermaids hid sharp, fang-like teeth in their mouths.

The true form of mermaids however was very different to their beautiful guise; The mermaids of Isla Sirena had hair the colour of the sea and pearly skin covered in scales but if viewed peripherally, they lost their outward beauty and seemed to transform into creatures with clawed tentacles, fangs, and barnacles and boils covering their scales. They often spoke in harmony, singing a melody commonly attributed to the Sirens.

However the mermaids of Whitecap Bay appeared as very beautiful human women of various ethnicities above the water, but once under water their skin became covered in scales, fangs grew in their mouths and their eyes changed to unnatural colours and would appear at times to glow fiercely.

Mermaids were incredibly beautiful and incredibly seductive and they lured seamen to their deaths. Their greatest weapon was their radiant appearance. The light of the moon illuminated their skin, their long locks fell seductively, and their deep-as-the-ocean eyes possessed the power to entrap any adventurer.

Mermaids possessed superhuman strength and were strong enough to break through solid wood with their bare hands. In large numbers, they have even been known to topple great ships: they were able to pull a fully crewed and masted frigate, the HMS *Providence,* underwater with very little effort. The mermaids of Whitecap Bay were known to have fed on men, seeing them as something that sustained them. They may look lovely, but they can shred a human limb from limb in seconds. These mermaids have been known to use long strands of seaweed as a form of lasso to pull sailors off ships or cliffs out of reach.

Their long and powerful tails made them very fast swimmers, adept at hunting prey, and gave the mermaids the capability of leaping out of the water to take any unfortunate sailor in midair off of the decks of boats, before diving back in. Their tails were covered in a scaly translucent membrane which floats around them like tendrils in the water and was shed when they gained legs. They can survive long enough on land to drag a sailor back into the sea, where they can entangle them in a powerful grip. The mermaids of Whitecap Bay also have the ability to go on land in human form, beneath the skin of their tails was the suggestion of the legs they gain on land. However if they were partially in the water, trapped in mermaid form but not enough in the water to live, they can dry out and die. They also appeared to have red blood as shown when Philip Swift stabbed Syrena's fin.

Mermaids were known to have special abilities. It was common knowledge that a kiss from a mermaid would protect a sailor from drowning. In legends concerning the Fountain of Youth, particularly the Profane Ritual, a mermaid's tear was one of the required items needed in order to make the Fountain work. But as proud and ferocious as the seas in which they live, mermaids do not weep lightly. It was said that tears of joy were the more potent.

Mermaids also appeared to have some degree of psychic ability. Syrena seemed to show these abilities when she saved Philip Swift because she sensed he was "different" and that he "protects" compared to other men she and her kind encounter. Syrena also appeared to have sensed that the Chalices of Cartagena had fallen into the waters of the Fountain, and that Angelica needed saving as she told Jack Sparrow to not waste her tear.

## Society and culture

Stories and legends of mermaids commonly depicted sweet and innocent creatures, though more sinister versions told of corrupted merfolk who aligned themselves with the Sirens. In reality, there were thousands of the latter type in Isla Sirena alone, and this legion was known to congregate to drag sailors down to the depths, a trait also shared with the mermaids of Whitecap Bay.

### Isla Sirena

"*We are not the Sirens. We are the merfolk. We sing our own melody and we do the bidding of the Sirens.*"
―Morveren, Aquala and Aquila to Jack Sparrow[src]
The mermaids of Isla Sirena were part of the merfolk that did the bidding of the Sirens, who were in turn ruled by Davy Jones. They resided in chambers within Isla Sirena, and had control over various creatures that inhabited Davy Jones' Locker, including iguana monsters and sea beasts. The merfolk also had contact with Tia Dalma, and were aware of legendary artifacts such as the Sword of Cortés.

There were at least three separate sub-species of merfolk in Isla Sirena, distinguished by the color of the scales on their fish-like tails. Those with green tails were analogous to soldiers, and operated as the military arm of the society. They confronted sailors lured to Isla Sirena and dragged them down to the island itself. Red-tailed merfolk were the servants of mermaid society, and were commonly found wading around waiting for orders. They acted as guards and workers in Isla Sirena. Finally, blue-tails served as the leaders of the mermaids. The three blue-tails encountered by Jack Sparrow, Morveren, Aquala and Aquila, were named as "chairwomen" by the green-tails.  There however existed more sub-species of merfolk, each represented by a gem in the same color as their tails (red, green, yellow, orange, chartreuse, aquamarine, teal, brown, black, tan, blue, and hundreds more), crafted by god Hephaestus at the request of Poseidon. Blue-tails were the ones able to defy the power of the Trident of Poseidon, thanks to the power of the metal chamber created by goddess Calypso that shielded the blue-tails gem from its power, while green-tails, red-tails and the rest of the merfolk sub-species were still subjected to it.

#### Exceptions

The fourth sub-species of merfolk, called purple-tails, was a type unaffiliated with Isla Sirena. Those creatures were said to not adhere to the merfolk's strict code of life and therefore the only ones that could swim through the seas freely. According to Morveren, they didn't need protection that Isla Sirena's society afforded. They were also barely affected and unable to be fully controlled by the power of the Trident of Poseidon, due to their gem being flawed, but could still be influenced by it.

### Whitecap Bay

"*I heard it said a kiss from a mermaid protects a sailor from drowning.'* *"Don't be a fool. Mermaids are all female, son. And lovely as a dream of heaven. But when it comes time to churn butter, so to speak, they snatch a sailor out of a boat or off the deck of a ship, have their way, and then the sailors are pulled to bottom, and drowned, and eaten."* *"Or, sometimes, the other way around.*"
―Derrick, Ezekiel and Scrum[src]
Doom awaits any misguided mariner who sought out the perilous waters of Whitecap Bay. Myths tell of mermaids lurking beneath the pale, foaming breakers, but few knew that these briny beauties were actually flesh-eating creatures. When Blackbeard located these denizens of the deep, he and his crew found themselves surrounded by vengeful foes. Legend had it that man-made light and song attracted the sirens of the sea, so the longboat full of Blackbeard's crewmen—sent as the bait—is lit by the beam of the lighthouse and Scrum sings a swaying sea shanty.

The mermaids in Whitecap Bay seemed to be more independent from Sirens, and they also appeared to be far more aggressive and bloodthirsty. Beautiful, conniving and dangerous, these mermaids would do anything to protect their home in Whitecap Bay. Drawn to the surface by a man-made light and singing sailors, they entrance their prey into coming close before dragging them to the depths of the Bay to devour them. However, if the men caught on, which would presumably be right after the first one was taken, the mermaids would abandon their gentle disguise, and attack viciously, acting in a similar manner to sharks in a feeding frenzy. They were apparently very driven to catch their prey, so much that they clawed and punched through wood in attempts to snare their targets. The mermaids appeared to be very territorial, which was noted during the battle with Blackbeard's crew, as well as the sinking of the HMS *Providence* shortly after its arrival to the Bay.

The attraction to man-made light and song was often used as a way to capture mermaids. However, they were naturally afraid of fire, though this could be interpreted as a fear of any forms of general warmth, which can cause them to dry out. This can be noted by mermaids fleeing Blackbeard's Greek fire as well as legends of the Jungle Pools.

"*We say the One pours death into life, and life into death, without a drop spilt."* *"I like that.*"
―Syrena and Philip Swift[src] (screenplay draft)
A mermaid's bond with her sisters was hard to tell, but appears to be rather cold, as when Syrena was captured, the other mermaids retreated without any visible concern. Also, when Syrena was forced to look at the many mermaid corpses, and Blackbeard's taunting of the death of her fellow mermaids, she didn't seem to be particularly affected. However, she did apparently show a slight trace of emotion, perhaps anger at the men for their actions. Mermaids have been described by Blackbeard as being tough, and strong willed, making it rare for them to genuinely shed tears. Their tears of joy were said to be the most potent type of tear. The mermaid people believed that "the One pours death into life, and life into death, without a drop spilt."

However, not all mermaids were vicious. Some were capable of having a compassionate and loving side, most notably from Syrena. Syrena appeared to be unique among her kind as she was the only known mermaid to actually develop feelings for a human. Though it wasn't the same case with Marina, who had a relationship with Jack Sparrow at some point in her life.

## Notable mermaids

* Syrena
* Tamara
* Marina
* Morveren
* Aquala
* Aquila

## Behind the scenes

"*I heard Jack Sparrow once had the favor of mermaids."* *"Is that story still out there? A mermaid's favor, perhaps. That I might believe."* *"Is there a female anywhere, of any kind, safe from you?*"
―Garheng, Jack Sparrow, and Angelica[src]
* *On Stranger Tides* was the first of the POTC films to include mermaids, though they were first mentioned in *The Curse of the Black Pearl*. However, the mermaids' first appearance in the POTC universe was in *The Siren Song*, the second book in the *Jack Sparrow* series.
* The portrayal of mermaids differ throughout the POTC universe. In the *Jack Sparrow* series, the mermaids served as agents of the Sirens; while in *On Stranger Tides*, the mermaids appear to have siren-like qualities.
* While filming *On Stranger Tides*, all the mermaids were women who wore skin-tight swimsuits on with dots on them, which would make them 3-D Computer-generated with the work done by Industrial Light & Magic. Their performances were recorded using motion capture during actual filming on set, rather than in a motion capture studio during post-production.
* In the first screenplay draft of *At World's End*, Hector Barbossa starts to search for the Fountain of Youth, using the captain's journal of Juan Ponce de León that he took from Tia Dalma who in turn received it from a mermaid.
* *The Price of Freedom* author A. C. Crispin confirmed that "James" was intended to be Captain "James" Hook. Crispin figured that she'd include "James" as a joke since *The Curse of the Black Pearl* had a couple of Disney "in" jokes, using Gillette's comment about "a little mermaid" as an example.

* On October 2012, mermaids were added to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Walt Disney World. At the grotto scene, after guests ride past the ghostly projection at the start of the ride, a shape splashing in the water can be seen as guests enter the scene with skeletons on a beach, where a mermaid skeleton can be seen. An audio of the song *My Jolly Sailor Bold* can also be heard at this part of the ride.
* Mermaids, as well as the song *My Jolly Sailor Bold*, also appeared in 2012 attraction *The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow*.
* Shortly before the battle at Whitecap Bay, Garheng briefly mentions Jack Sparrow's previous encounter with mermaids. That scene was cut out from the final version of the *On Stranger Tides* movie, but it was written in the film's original script as well as being included in the film's junior novelization.
* At the world premiere of *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* Daphne Joy, who played one of the mermaids in the film, jokingly named her character Sadana. It is unlikely that the name is official, however.
* Mermaids were featured in Terry Rossio's original script for *Dead Men Tell No Tales*. Following the battle for the Fountain of Youth, their leaders would order Syrena to find the legendary Trident of Neptune and restore her people to the good will of the gods. Following that, she would be allowed to reunite with Philip Swift, but the magic of her nature caused her to forget him.

"*We are not the Sirens. We are the merfolk. We sing our own melody and we do the bidding of the Sirens.*"
―Morveren, Aquala and Aquila to Jack Sparrow[src]
The **merfolk**, also known as the **merpeople** and sometimes referred to as **Scaly Tails**, were legendary water-dwelling human-like beings. They are attested in folklore and mythology throughout the ages in various parts of the world. Female merfolk may be referred to as mermaids, although in a strict sense mermaids are confined to beings who are half-woman and half-fish in appearance, while male merfolk were called mermen. Depending on the story, they can be described as ugly or beautiful. The merfolk of Isla Sirena, the majority of them being mermaids and one known merman, served as agents of the Sirens, dragging many sailors down to a watery grave.

## History

The mermaids of Isla Sirena were part of the merfolk that did the bidding of the Sirens, who were in turn ruled by Davy Jones. They resided in chambers within Isla Sirena, and had control over various creatures that inhabited Davy Jones' Locker, including iguana monsters and sea beasts. The merfolk also had contact with Tia Dalma, and were aware of legendary artifacts such as the Sword of Cortés.

There were at least three separate sub-species of merfolk in Isla Sirena, distinguished by the color of the scales on their fish-like tails. Those with green tails were analogous to soldiers, and operated as the military arm of the society. They confronted sailors lured to Isla Sirena and dragged them down to the island itself. Red-tailed merfolk were the servants of mermaid society, and were commonly found wading around waiting for orders. They acted as guards and workers in Isla Sirena. Finally, blue-tails served as the leaders of the mermaids. The three blue-tails encountered by Jack Sparrow, Morveren, Aquala and Aquila, were named as "chairwomen" by the green-tails. Tonra was the only known merman in the merfolk species.