#fish-men

Now, let’s put everything back in place.

(Yeah, little bonus here. My 14-years-old four-pawed lady decided to show up. She loves to explore.)

But did you spot the Arlong Pirates’ Jolly Roger? 😛 It’s tiny, but it’s there.

"The room is mine now, mommy!"

So, I've seen this Q&A a few times now and it really got me thinking about Fish-man biology.

Now, to be clear, I think it's pretty clear Oda isn't being entirely serious. When you look at how he designs his characters he goes for whatever is fun. He's not doing extensive research on whatever aquatic species he slaps on his fish-men or Merfolk characters. This is why for a lot of them, if you look up what they are mixed with they rarely share much if anything with the animal he's picked.

Saying a character has two dicks is funny, so Hody has two dicks--that's all.

But taking the answer more seriously the idea that at least some (because they do vary so widely from fish-person to fish-person) have changed genitals because of their added fish anatomy is interesting from a world-building perspective.

As someone who has a special interest in animal biology and has watched a lot of documentaries I can say that fish have really diverse breeding strategies. So, I guess, if Hody can have two dicks because he's a shark, I wonder if this could be true for any other fish-people and merfolk.

We see that at least some fish-people do have children the same way regular humans do, but to my knowledge we don't see any pregnant mermaids. Given how much larger Neptune is then his wife, and how massive Shirahoshi is, I think it makes sense that perhaps like many fish, Otohime laid eggs that were fertilized separately (this is actually how goldfish mate).

It could be possible that the way mermaids or even fish-women have children depends on the father. If they are not compatible in size they can reproduce Ovuliparity (the way I imagine Otohime did), or if they are of similar size they either go the more human route or, after copulation they lay fertilized eggs (like the skate cases often called mermaid purses you find washed up on the beach).

There's also something to be said for the variations fish have with gender. Some fish are capable of changing gender. It's more common that female fish become male (protandry), usually the largest of a group replacing the dominate male in the group. This happens mostly with coral reef fish like wrasses, groupers and parrot-fish.

Meanwhile, anemone fish, like clown fish change from male to female. When the one female dies the remaining male will become female, while an outside male will become that new female's mate.

Then there are Black Helmet fish which are both simultaneously and take turns releasing eggs and sperm when they spawn.

So, if fish-people and merfolk had similarly diverse genders and ways of reproducing I think that'd just be really neat. It could also lead to some fun misunderstandings between fish-people, merfolk and humans.

Of course, I don't think Oda ever put that much thought into it. He just does whatever he finds fun character design wise. I mean, it's not like Arlong has barrels like Sawsharks do, and Jinbe looks nothing like a whale shark. On top of that the story isn't really focused on that type of world building. Nor do I think he could really showcase something that deals so much with sex--even if it is fish sex.

...specifically, a Clownfish-Man. ;D

Yup, the title says it all: I didn’t mean to have another one watching over me on my nightstand, especially since I have another one on the road that will hopefully turn up soon, but yeah, this one was gifted to me for my birthday. Can’t say I wasn’t delighted.

Now I have a cute version and a fierce one, and the big mousepad with some pictures of him I use as a coaster on my nightstand for my huge mugs with his alluring face on it—sweet dreams to me! 

I won’t lie, when I walk by my room now, I just can’t help myself.

And when the sun hits at the end of the day, the shadow of that fierce one is simply exquisitely threatening.

I adore it!

I’ll have to stop after the one on the road, though, otherwise I won’t have any more space on my nightstand, but…

-- Life Snippet --

Yesterday, I recalled this one from my daughter because she has recently updated me on the situation.

(‘Cause we all know I’m just a mother who knows nothing about what’s happening in the house!)

About a month ago, I was putting my daughter to bed, snuggling her into her comforter, when she asked me with a broad smile, “Mommy, where’s Arlong?”

Astounded and puzzled by her question, I blurted, “Wha…What do you mean?”

“When night falls, Arlong comes to sleep in the stairs, Mommy!” she exclaimed, her smile spreading even more across her face.

Of course, Mommy! Everyone knows that! Duh!

“And why does he sleep there?” I asked her, bracing myself for her answer.

“Because that’s the way it works, Mommy!” she expressed with a laugh.

I stared at her, hardly stifling my laugh, and then, I kissed her forehead, wishing her goodnight.

And then, yesterday, she came up with this one…

Once again, I was putting her to bed, and when I was about to leave for the night, “Mommy? You left some warm blankets on the bed in the basement, hmm?”

One more time, I was confused. “The bed is always made in the basement, sweet pea. Why are you asking this?”

“’Cause Jinbe sleeps in the basement,” she affirmed with a cute grin.

I crossed my arms and gazed at her curiously, “And Arlong got nothing but the stairs to sleep?”

“No, he’s sleeping on the sofa, now,” she revealed proudly.

I smirked at her response and wished her goodnight, grateful for my little girl’s endless imagination.

…