While there is no evidence that mermaids exist outside folklore, reports of mermaid sightings continue to the present day. Mermaids have been a popular subject of art and literature in recent centuries, such as in Hans Christian Andersen's literary fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" (1836).

In human form, mermaids are practically identical in size to humans, ranging from barely 5ft to well over 6ft tall. Mermaids weight range varies drastically between forms and can range up to 300 pounds in the traditional form.