What would Ariel look like if she lived in different Ocean environments?

Our lovely Ariel has always been a sight in the deep waters of Atlantica, the society of the merfolks somewhere in Atlantic. Truly she is a great piece of imagination but if you try broaden your imagination you can always ask yourself;

Ariel in Atlantic!
Ariel in Atlantic!

What would Ariel look like if she evolved at some time and decided to try living in some other waters other than of Atlantica?

While we can fill in all the exquisite details about this adventure with our most imaginative minds let’s take a view of an aquatic evolutionary expert Joseph Shaw who is currently an associative professor at Indiana University and that of her mermaid expert daughter Emma.

Let’s look what our imagination can do with a bit of science in it 🙂

#1. An adorably tiny coral reef Ariel

Coral reef Aerial!
Coral reef Aerial!

So we can expect frills, colors and pizzaz for the coral reef mermaids. They would be tiny and yet so lovely creatures who could hide in the corals whenever there is an evil predator lurking around.

#2 Sleek and wonderful in open ocean!

Aerial in open ocean
Sleek and traveling in groups!


Ariel will have some different body colors, a darker back (dorsal) and a light colored belly (ventral), making her difficult to spot by the predators. The open ocean being a more dangerous place Ariel would have no frills and an extremely sleek body for a much needed faster speed to escape a predator.

#3 Blubbery and pale, like a Beluga whale!

Aerial in Antarctic
blubbery and pale, like a beluga whale!


The pale feature will help Ariel to blend in with the Icebergs floating around her thus an excellent camouflage for hiding from a predator.  The special antifreeze genes and an extra layer of blubber will help her survive in the freezing waters.

#4 Deep Sea Nightmare!

Aerial in deep sea
Deep sea nightmares!

The deep sea ocean evolution will not be a pleasant sight.  Shaw says, “In the deep ocean, one might expect merpeople to have evolved long appendages to provide an enhanced sense of touch to help orient them, because the complete lack of light would eliminate sight. For this reason, some might even acquire bioluminescence to attract potential mates or lure unsuspecting meals.”

Since food is so scarce in the deep sea, Ariel would have gnarly chompers in order to ensnare prey.

Ariel in deep waters
Deep Sea Nightmare

Source: www.buzzfeed.com

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