Do you think of mermaids as mammals?

[mermaid mazu]

I do, I think of us like dolphins. I've had this conversation with lots of of my nonmer friends. We have mammary glands and belly buttons and hair...we are mammals. However in this train of thought it was brought to my attention that my current tail hides my belly button. I made my first tail low but it had too much gapping so I made my next one high waisted with a skin fade. So I'm thinking of creating a belly button in the silicone on my next tail lol what are your thought on all of this? Just random mermaid thought while at work being forced to be an adult human lol.

[Rebela Hunter]

I actually haven't considered that! I mean, all fish lay eggs, but humans are mammals, so that's an interesting topic...

I'll have to think on that !
I'd go for the belly button idea, if possible! :)

[Neerai]

I think we are scaly mammals, with belly button and mammary glands, like Mazu says... Maybe some mer can me more "fishy", but for my mersona, I'm a mammal one.

[Nerdmaid Faith]

I like to say we are mammals like whale and dolphins as we come up to the surface for air (at least I do lol) From an evolutionary standpoint, whales and dolphins are to mermaids as apes and monkeys are to humans. Just some food for thought.

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[Sabrina the Selkie]

One of my favorite theories to come up on the forum is that mermaids are monotremes - mammals that lay eggs. Like platypuses.

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[mermaid mazu]

Hmm but I've seen pregnant mers. It's an interesting thought. I think I gave live birth though. I love that you guys are actually commenting on my random thoughts lol. I really am going to but a belly button on my next tail.

[Neerai]

So... are seals merdogs? :lol:

[Merman Dan]

I'll second the monotreme discussion. Did you know that shark egg cases were also called mermaid purses and that some sharks born from them have bellybuttons (umbilical scars) after hatching? Also, those sharks have egg teeth, like baby chickens, to help cut themselves free of the egg case. How cool would a mermaid's egg tooth be? :)

[mermaid mazu]

That's awesome! And seals are absolutely mer dogs and otters are mercats lol

[Sabrina the Selkie]

I love how thoroughly you thought that out Dan. But a mermaid's egg tooth would be really cool to see.

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[Merman Storm]

Fish have tails that go side to side. Mammals have tails that go up and down. We have tails that go up and down. In that sense, we are more like mammals.
Actually, the only thing fish-like about us is most mers put scales on their tails. Then again, some mammals have scales.

[mermaid mazu]

Agreed merman storm. I'm genuinely loving this conversation lol. I have several different threads on here but this has to be my favorite

[Rebela Hunter]

Merman Storm, if you're referring to the pangolin, the scales serve a different purpose than a mermaid's scales do, though!
Their scales are for protection while mermaid scales don't have much of a function, to my knowledge!
I'm not trying to be mean - just pointing that out to see your thoughts on it C:

I do agree that seals should be called merdogs, Neerai <3

[Sabrina the Selkie]

Fish utilize scales for protection and water filtration - and even regardless of the tetrapod orientation of the mermaid spine the lower half is modeled off of a fish.

So I would assume similar reasoning for mermaid scales.

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[The Water Phoenix]

Merman Storm, if you're referring to the pangolin, the scales serve a different purpose than a mermaid's scales do, though!
Their scales are for protection while mermaid scales don't have much of a function, to my knowledge!
I'm not trying to be mean - just pointing that out to see your thoughts on it C:

I do agree that seals should be called merdogs, Neerai <3

Mermaid scales actually do serve a purpose, much like fish scales do! Fish scales prevent parasites from feeding from the fish so I'd think they would serve the same for mers! :) Just my two cents :)

[Slim]

Considering whales were once land mammals over 60,000,000 years ago, maybe there is hope for us to be merfolks in another 60,000,000 years. To bad it will never be in my lifetime. For now, I'll let people believe I'm a merman.


I like to say we are mammals like whale and dolphins as we come up to the surface for air (at least I do lol) From an evolutionary standpoint, whales and dolphins are to mermaids as apes and monkeys are to humans. Just some food for thought.

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[Slim]

I laugh to hard at this. I can't stop thinking seals as merdogs now.


So... are seals merdogs? :lol:

[Keiris]

A mer-dog would definitely be a must have!

[TritonsGuard]

I actually haven't considered that! I mean, all fish lay eggs, but humans are mammals.


Um. No. Not all fish lay eggs. A lot of sharks and many others are born live, so merfolk reproducing that way would be well within reason.

As for what I would categorize merfolk as, probably neither. I don't think there is a category that mers would fit into as we are too unique.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Platypuses are mammals that lay eggs.
We have eggs AND we birth babies.
Are we in the extreme or in the middle?

[Slim]

Um. No. Not all fish lay eggs. A lot of sharks and many others are born live, so merfolk reproducing that way would be well within reason.

As for what I would categorize merfolk as, probably neither. I don't think there is a category that mers would fit into as we are too unique.

I agree with this so much. As Stella the Siren said in one of videos "Mermaid are human and fish, not really belonging in either world. Mermaid being magical". That's a loose quote btw.


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[Aquos Savar]

So this may be a bit late buuuuuuuuuuut...the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs, so there's a posibility that another species that hasn't yet been found by the common land people (Cmon, we're all merfolk here) could lay eggs, so merfolk can still be mammals and lay eggs. Just saying.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Though I love the aesthetics of gills, I'm a mammal so you CANT HOLD ME UNDERWATER CHILDREN! I STILL BREATHE AIR! I WILL DIE PLEASE LET ME BREATHE THANK YOU.

[mermaid mazu]

I hadn't even considered usin this as part of a mersona at a gig. I love gills too, I've worn them for a dry event but I suppose if I stand by my thought that we are indeed mammals then I should probably forgo those in future events lol

[Mermaid Wesley]

I'm kindof a hypocrite though. I do want to make a top, longline bra style, with gills. (and we can always say mermaids are unique because of our ability to live in drastically varied environments so we have both gills and lungs) ((And that we can't breathe pool water because of the chlorine, not because of human lung requirements....))

[mermaid mazu]

Hmm I like it lol

[MerGreg]

WOW, I love this discussion. Couple of points:

1. Are seals mer-dogs, and otters mer-cats? If so, Mer-Cats never cease to be kittens. Otters act much more like dogs and puppies to me. I would rather say that some seals are your mer-German Shepherds, mer-Rotties, mer-Mastiffs (the single best-tempered dogs out there, btw), other seals like sea lions would be the mer-Retrievers, and otters are more the mer-terriers, mer-Doxies, mer-Scotties, etc. They're the playful ones, where the seals are the helpers.

2. Sharks are oviparous, viviparous, and ovoviviperous - some lay eggs, some give live birth, and some actually keep their fertilized eggs inside their bodies until birth. My guess is that mermaids are one of the latter two, but still as mammals. The hair, mammary glands and tail flukes are the dead giveaways there, to say nothing of the warm blood and the fact that we, like seals and dolphins, eat far more often than fish do.

3. Yes, we have scales, and thank Poseidon for that. Protection against parasites, and pure solid silicone to help armor us from shark bites. ;)

Okay, okay - not a straight-up munch from a Great White. But maybe a test bite from, say, a 9-ft. lemon or hammerhead. :lol:

[Sabrina the Selkie]

That is perfect, MerGreg

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[MerGreg]

That is perfect, MerGreg

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Why, thank you kindly! I grew up near Chicago myself, so I realize that lake will never really warm up. :cool:

[Rebela Hunter]

MerGreg, you now make me want a sea cat! That sounds so adorable <3 !!!

[Neerai]

WOW, I love this discussion. Couple of points:

1. Are seals mer-dogs, and otters mer-cats? If so, Mer-Cats never cease to be kittens. Otters act much more like dogs and puppies to me. I would rather say that some seals are your mer-German Shepherds, mer-Rotties, mer-Mastiffs (the single best-tempered dogs out there, btw), other seals like sea lions would be the mer-Retrievers, and otters are more the mer-terriers, mer-Doxies, mer-Scotties, etc. They're the playful ones, where the seals are the helpers.

2. Sharks are oviparous, viviparous, and ovoviviperous - some lay eggs, some give live birth, and some actually keep their fertilized eggs inside their bodies until birth. My guess is that mermaids are one of the latter two, but still as mammals. The hair, mammary glands and tail flukes are the dead giveaways there, to say nothing of the warm blood and the fact that we, like seals and dolphins, eat far more often than fish do.

3. Yes, we have scales, and thank Poseidon for that. Protection against parasites, and pure solid silicone to help armor us from shark bites. ;)

Okay, okay - not a straight-up munch from a Great White. But maybe a test bite from, say, a 9-ft. lemon or hammerhead. :lol:



Oh my fins! So my merdog is a seal... a Mer-podenco hound Hahahahahahaha

[SelkieLuna]

I'm a selkie, so yes mammal!

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[SelkieLuna]

Us seals actually share a common ancestor with wolves, whereas whales and cows share a common ancestor. I prefer wolf, I'm no tame baby.

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[polyhymnia113]

So... are seals merdogs? [emoji38]
Lots of old sailors call seals sea-dogs, so yeah I would basically they are absolutely merdogs.

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[Mermaid Kalahari]

So this may be a bit late buuuuuuuuuuut...the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs, so there's a posibility that another species that hasn't yet been found by the common land people (Cmon, we're all merfolk here) could lay eggs, so merfolk can still be mammals and lay eggs. Just saying.

Actually there is another mammal that lays eggs, 4 species of echidna 😜.

[Slim]

I really never realized how many mammals laid eggs until this post. Very educational.

[New York Mermaid]

I tell kids Im a marine mammal type of mermaid, Like dolphins i breath air and have hair and am warm blooded. I also tell them there are many other types of mermaids and mermen of different species. Being a marine mammal type of mermaid to me anyway it makes sense that we give broth to live young instead of eggs, but thats me.

[Nerdmaid Faith]

Also random thought: does anyone else feel that different mermaid tail companies are subspecies of mermaids. For example, mertailor mermaids are to finfun mermaids as wolves are to poodles. Anyone else agree? Because I feel like someone with a similar tail as mine is a member of my family!

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[Slim]

I always thought this this too but with different animals. I always consider the silicone tails as the sharks and whales in the seas. While those of us with finfun tails to be guppies. I guess we're family until the next 6 weeks. After that; I guess the hybrid tail coming my way will makes me a dolphin.


Also random thought: does anyone else feel that different mermaid tail companies are subspecies of mermaids. For example, mertailor mermaids are to finfun mermaids as wolves are to poodles. Anyone else agree? Because I feel like someone with a similar tail as mine is a member of my family!

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[PearlieMae]

A: Merfolk breathe air;

B: Mermaids have live births - thus bellybuttons - and mammary glands to feed our milk to our young;

C: We have horizontal caudal fins/flukes like other cetaceans;

D: Most merfolk have hair of some sort or another. Keratin based, like scales, horns, and fingernails, leading into the following observation...

The thing that would be 'incorrect' on mers is fish-like scales. Perhaps, to be more accurate, we would have smooth dolphin skin or seal fur...or maybe scales like pangolin or armadillos, but in a more hydrodynamic fashion.

I think there's room for all kinds of merfolk, though. From the mythical to the evolutionarily-sensible, I'd love to see all kinds of mers!

[MerGreg]

Once again. This thread just Does Not Disappoint.


Also random thought: does anyone else feel that different mermaid tail companies are subspecies of mermaids. For example, mertailor mermaids are to finfun mermaids as wolves are to poodles. Anyone else agree? Because I feel like someone with a similar tail as mine is a member of my family!

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So, FOTB - is Mertailor not to be trusted? If so, I'd say they were Sharks...

[MerGreg]

A: Merfolk breathe air;

B: Mermaids have live births - thus bellybuttons - and mammary glands to feed our milk to our young;

C: We have horizontal caudal fins/flukes like other cetaceans;

D: Most merfolk have hair of some sort or another. Keratin based, like scales, horns, and fingernails, leading into the following observation...

The thing that would be 'incorrect' on mers is fish-like scales. Perhaps, to be more accurate, we would have smooth dolphin skin or seal fur...or maybe scales like pangolin or armadillos, but in a more hydrodynamic fashion.

I think there's room for all kinds of merfolk, though. From the mythical to the evolutionarily-sensible, I'd love to see all kinds of mers!

Concerning Point B: They're there for the young, but, just like toy trains at Christmas, it's always the mer-daddies who end up playing with them. :cool:

Who's to say Pangolins aren't hydrodynamic? I honestly don't know. Whatever it would take to get them away from Chinese hunters before they go extinct.

[mermaid mazu]

I'm in process of making a dragon inspired tail, I'm not sure what family that would put me in lol

[Neerai]

I'm in process of making a dragon inspired tail, I'm not sure what family that would put me in lol

You're a reptilian from planet Nibiru Hahahahahahaa

[Rebela Hunter]

Could some species of mermaids be air-breathers and surface-skimmers and some are more deep-sea water-breathers?
I definitely am a surface skimmer, since I can't swim down more than 6 - 7 feet and I love the vibrant tails...

I just randomly had that thought inspired by this thread :P

[Slim]

I know I'm more of a deep water breather once I can get pass figuring how how to equalize ear pressure.


Could some species of mermaids be air-breathers and surface-skimmers and some are more deep-sea water-breathers?
I definitely am a surface skimmer, since I can't swim down more than 6 - 7 feet and I love the vibrant tails...

I just randomly had that thought inspired by this thread :P

[HamptonsMermaid]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170222/ee2c82e3ea4b3718629c124c7c5bbf9a.jpg

Just gonna leave this here ;)

[HamptonsMermaid]

Omg these are just too good, had to share...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170222/eede1f4e93daca517bfbc8a381a519f0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170222/0ae929baeb86f0e446cf2673ad36d162.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170222/8bd9f9f5c7b188e3b16f12a7e18567ab.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170222/8d7efa0bebcf22468d8ebc8e86ba7194.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170222/f3f8cd875163056dec3ed2a977fefb38.jpg

[Merman Dan]

Grotesque Human And Animal Hybrid Sculptures By Liu Xue (http://beautifuldecay.com/2013/12/13/grotesque-human-animal-hybrid-sculptures-liu-xue/)
http://beautifuldecay.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/xue11.jpg

[SelkieLuna]

Actually seals are closer related to bears and raccoons.

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[Sabrina the Selkie]

I think they're just bringing up the similar adorable-ness

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[PearlieMae]

Could some species of mermaids be air-breathers and surface-skimmers and some are more deep-sea water-breathers?
I definitely am a surface skimmer, since I can't swim down more than 6 - 7 feet and I love the vibrant tails...

I just randomly had that thought inspired by this thread :P

I've had that very same thought. In fact, at one point, I thought that females were air-breathers to care for the young, while males were more suited to deep water. This explained the proliferation of merMAID sightings and virtually no merMEN.

Also, I saw a hashtag yesterday that I rather liked, I think better than 'merfolk'... #merma

Thoughts?

[Sabrina the Selkie]

I've had that very same thought. In fact, at one point, I thought that females were air-breathers to care for the young, while males were more suited to deep water. This explained the proliferation of merMAID sightings and virtually no merMEN.

Also, I saw a hashtag yesterday that I rather liked, I think better than 'merfolk'... #merma

Thoughts?
Oh that is a cool thought. A lot of marine species evolve like that too, females staying closer to the surface.

And merma sounds interesting. Not sure how I'd rank it against merfolk, though.

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[mermaid mazu]

Is it weird that I get a little star struck when someone like pearliemae comments on my stuff lol there are certain mers that I've seen so much of through my tail research and instagram and such that they have reached sort of celebrity status in my mind

[MerGreg]

I've had that very same thought. In fact, at one point, I thought that females were air-breathers to care for the young, while males were more suited to deep water. This explained the proliferation of merMAID sightings and virtually no merMEN.

Also, I saw a hashtag yesterday that I rather liked, I think better than 'merfolk'... #merma

Thoughts?

What would Lewis say to this? Let's just ask him!


"Why! It's a city or a huge castle," said Lucy to herself. "But I wonder why they've built it on top of a high mountain?"

Long afterward when she was back in England and talked all these adventures over with Edmund, they thought of a reason and I am pretty sure it is the true one. In the sea, the deeper you go, the darker and colder it gets, and it is down there, in the dark and cold, the dangerous things live - the squid and the Sea Serpent and the Kraken. The valleys are the wild, unfriendly places. The sea-people feel about their valleys as we do about mountains, and feel about mountains as we feel about valleys. It is on the heights (or, as we would say, "in the shallows") that there is warmth and peace. The reckless hunters and brave knights of the sea go down into the depths on quests and adventures, but return home to the heights for rest and peace, courtesy and council, the sports, the dances and the songs. {C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, pp. 241-242}

Perhaps our best proper name would be Merma, but merfolk being the more common term, and sea-people a more poetic one?

[MerGreg]

Is it weird that I get a little star struck when someone like pearliemae comments on my stuff lol there are certain mers that I've seen so much of through my tail research and instagram and such that they have reached sort of celebrity status in my mind

It's not weird at all. Such people are your forerunners and online mentors, even if they didn't know it.

[Slim]

Mazu, you aren't the the only one. There are a couple mers here that I would love to have an autograph to hang on my wall and dresser because I get a little struck too. It's a small list in my case but those mers are: Freshwater_nim, Pearliemae, most definately Faithonthebass as I think this is the year she becomes the next breakout star on youtube (you can see the quality jump in the last couple months which is why I feel this is her year), Raina, you actually got on that list because your tail quality is unique and seen more love put into it compare to some of the other tail makers, and Celeste. I still answer back like everyone human though because we are all equal.


Is it weird that I get a little star struck when someone like pearliemae comments on my stuff lol there are certain mers that I've seen so much of through my tail research and instagram and such that they have reached sort of celebrity status in my mind

[Mermaid Alea]

I've had that very same thought. In fact, at one point, I thought that females were air-breathers to care for the young, while males were more suited to deep water. This explained the proliferation of merMAID sightings and virtually no merMEN.

Also, I saw a hashtag yesterday that I rather liked, I think better than 'merfolk'... #merma

Thoughts?

Woah! I love that idea! I have been trying to find a good explanation for why it is always mermaid sightings and not mermen. Very awesome idea.

I definitely imagine there being merfolk that live at different levels in the water column. I like picturing some mers that live so deep down that they have huge, dark eyes and they collect little light up creatures and put them in a lantern and then they catch and eat the fish that are attracted to the light. They are always wishing that a decaying whale carcass will fall to the seafloor for them to gorge themselves on. Some of them take the whale bones and carve them into what they imagine land looks like. Others like to go giant squid ridding - because why not.

Some of the reef dwelling mers like to hang out with lots of fish and you can hardly see them as they swim across the reef because they are surrounded by a cloud of colorful fish. This could help them avoid being spotted by humans.

[Slim]

Can't we just copy the Legend of Zelda: OoT explanation of Ganondorf that only one male is born into the village every 100 years and say it's the same in the ocean with merman?


Woah! I love that idea! I have been trying to find a good explanation for why it is always mermaid sightings and not mermen. Very awesome idea.

I definitely imagine there being merfolk that live at different levels in the water column. I like picturing some mers that live so deep down that they have huge, dark eyes and they collect little light up creatures and put them in a lantern and then they catch and eat the fish that are attracted to the light. They are always wishing that a decaying whale carcass will fall to the seafloor for them to gorge themselves on. Some of them take the whale bones and carve them into what they imagine land looks like. Others like to go giant squid ridding - because why not.

Some of the reef dwelling mers like to hang out with lots of fish and you can hardly see them as they swim across the reef because they are surrounded by a cloud of colorful fish. This could help them avoid being spotted by humans.

[crystalleaf]

Woah! I love that idea! I have been trying to find a good explanation for why it is always mermaid sightings and not mermen. Very awesome idea.

I definitely imagine there being merfolk that live at different levels in the water column. I like picturing some mers that live so deep down that they have huge, dark eyes and they collect little light up creatures and put them in a lantern and then they catch and eat the fish that are attracted to the light. They are always wishing that a decaying whale carcass will fall to the seafloor for them to gorge themselves on. Some of them take the whale bones and carve them into what they imagine land looks like. Others like to go giant squid ridding - because why not.

Some of the reef dwelling mers like to hang out with lots of fish and you can hardly see them as they swim across the reef because they are surrounded by a cloud of colorful fish. This could help them avoid being spotted by humans.
This sounds sooo awesome [emoji7]

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[Mermaid Kerenza Sapphire]

This is the best thread (and has perked up my dull morning at day job wonderfully!)

I'd go with mammal, and have long wondered how I can incorporate my two silly kittens into my mersona - otters it is! Also I usually sign off emails "with love & narwhals (because underwater unicorns)" - if I have my cats and a unicorn, I'm good!

Sea-people is poetic... but what about the mers who are lake and river people?

[Leila]

My personal opinion is mammal, based off a number of traits including hair follicles and being warm blooded (an exception to this trend being the tuna), also the presence of sweat glands (which aren't very useful in water....)
Another mammalian trait is a 4 chambered heart, whereas reptiles ( with the exception of the crocodile) and amphibians have three chambers and fish have 2 chambers
It would also be nice to think of mermaids being related to dolphins and whales in some way too :P

[MerGreg]

Sea-people is poetic... but what about the mers who are lake and river people?

"Sea" is a much less scientific / exact term than "ocean." Yes, it certainly connotes salt water, but again, as a poetic term, I think it clearly includes fresh-water mers.

[PearlieMae]

"Sea" is a much less scientific / exact term than "ocean." Yes, it certainly connotes salt water, but again, as a poetic term, I think it clearly includes fresh-water mers.

That's why I prefer 'merma'...it defines the creature, not its habitat.

[Mermaid Kerenza Sapphire]

"Sea" is a much less scientific / exact term than "ocean." Yes, it certainly connotes salt water, but again, as a poetic term, I think it clearly includes fresh-water mers.

This is true! :)

[crystalleaf]

I would tend towards Seafolk. Because it would be translated as Seevolk in German and See has two meanings. One is the sea as in ocean and the other is Lake. So it would fit for both fresh- and saltwater mers.

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[crystalleaf]

Seapeople

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[Mermaid Wesley]

Well if we get specific, "mer" does also mean ocean, think spanish- mar, french- mer English- Marine and etc. I still like Merma though!

[Merman Dan]

The Sea People (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sea_People) was also the name of a D&D supplement from 1990. :)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/PC3_TSR9277_The_Sea_People.jpg

[Merman Dan]

As for me, I prefer a term I heard in Man From Atlantis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_from_Atlantis) back in the 70s.
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