Sorry if someone had already pointed this out, but this is a thread I had been wanting to make for years and just forgot to get around to doing it.
So I used to have a big aquarium and was a total fish nerd. I loved learning all about the anatomy of fish, all the great fins, movements and just how they worked. One of the things I had always remembered learning about was this thing called a lateral line. The lateral line is a system of sense organs found in aquatic vertebrates, used to detect movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the surrounding water (Wikipedia).
All fish - including sharks - have it. In some fish it is very apparent...
(x)
(x)
...In others, not so much.
(x)
(x)
In any case, it can look very much like a seam that runs down a fish's side, much like the seams on a fabric or partial silicone tail! If we were real fish, that seam would serve a great purpose. So for those merfolk who like to teach children about the ocean and marine life, go on and tell them about this lateral line if they comment on the seam of your tail. Just thought I would share a little bit of fishy knowledge and brighten your day if you're worried about your seams
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