For centuries humankind has been fascinated by legends of mermaids. Lonely sailors were said to have mistaken manatees for the mythical beauties. Manatees, also known as "sea cows," may have taken credit for these fanciful visions, but the truth is only slightly stranger. Sea cows they are: we are talking about the species Sirenia Maribo , the Mermoo.
Little is known about Mermoos. Until recently, scarcely anyone was aware of them at all. In the mid-1980s, Jayne Goodsome, a marine biologist from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, was vacationing on an Oregon beach when she noticed some curious-looking bones washed up by the morning tide. Untangling the strands of kelp wrapped around the remains, Dr. Goodsome observed that the bones had both bovine (cow) and cetacean (whale or dolphin) characteristics. Naming her find "Sirenia Maribo," Dr. Goodsome has devoted herself to studying this fascinating hybrid creature ever since. In the last 23 years, she has documented numerous eyewitness accounts, gathered physical evidence, and even discovered a few pieces of art depicting the elegant animal.
Most Mermoo sightings have occurred along the shores of Tillamook County, Oregon. This is not surprising, since Tillamook has long been known for its dairy farms. But how Sirenia Maribo came to be may remain forever a mystery.
As Dr. Goodsome nears retirement, she remains passionate in her search for all things Mermoo. She is currently writing a book documenting her findings.
