Mermaid Taxonomy

I updated the classification since doing the illustrations, so they don't match in all instances. Will I redo them later? Who's to say. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Undines nereides familiarius

Environment: coral reef
Social structure: chiefdom
Diet: omnivore
Tail: vertebrate fish
Dentition: heterodont
Respiration: lungs + gills
Coloration: crayola

Undines nereides kleftis

Environment: sea shore
Social structure: bands
Diet: scavenger
Tail: vertebrate fish
Dentition: heterodont
Respiration: lungs + gills
Coloration: sea

Undines nereides sirens

Environment: solitary rocky outcrops (salt water)
Social structure: bands
Diet: ???
Tail: vertebrate fish
Dentition: heterodont
Respiration: lungs + gills
Coloration: dreary/stormy sea
Special features: strong singing tradition

Undines polychroma

Environment: coral reef
Social structure: schools
Diet: small prey
Tail: vertebrate tropical fish
Dentition: homodont
Respiration: gills
Coloration: highly saturated
Special features: animal brain, upper body fins

Undines opscuri

Environment: deep sea
Social structure: ???
Diet: ???
Tail: vertebrate fishy
Dentition: homodont
Respiration: gills
Coloration: dark, cool colours
Special features: bioluminescence

Undines venator

Environment: open ocean
Social structure: lone hunters
Diet: carnivore
Tail: shark
Dentition: homodont
Respiration: gills
Coloration: grey
Special features: claws, ruthless attitude

Undines arctica

Environment: arctic
Social structure: bands
Diet: carnivore
Tail: predatory sea mammal
Dentition: homodont
Respiration: lungs
Coloration: natural
Special features: blubber, clothing

Undines ursulae

Environment: deep sea
Social structure: ???
Diet: ???
Tail: octopus/squid (invertebrate)
Dentition: homodont
Respiration: gills
Coloration: dark/desaturated purples & pinks (some blue)
Special features: unknown terror

Undines turbidae

Environment: swamp (sweet water)
Social structure: bands
Diet: mostly carnivorous
Tail: vertebrate fish
Dentition: homodont
Respiration: lungs + gills
Coloration: swampy greens & browns
Special features: claws, webbed fingers

Undines limnus

Environment: sweetwater lake
Social structure: tribes
Diet: omnivore
Tail: vertebrate fish
Dentition: heterodont
Respiration: lungs + gills
Coloration: cool pastels
Special features: glitter

Undines glaesum

Environment: river (sweetwater)
Social structure: tribes
Diet: omnivore
Tail: vertebrate fish
Dentition: heterodont
Respiration: lungs + gills
Coloration: warm
Special features: amberification, scalification