Did people mistake narwhals for mermaids?

Answer 1

No, they were often mistaken for unicorns, though, as their tusk used to be sold as 'unicorn horn', and was a common cure-all.

Yes, often fisherman mistook Narwhals for mermaid's.

{I really don't under stand that... thin person.... Fat dolphin}

Answer 2

Manatees are very curious and trusting. They will swim up to a vessel to see what is going on, and pop up to the top of the water to people watch. However, seeing they look absolutely nothing like a mermaid, it may have been the behavior of the sailors that actually made them make that mistake. Too many days out at sea, a vivid imagination, a bottle of rum was more likely the culprit.

Answer 3

Yes, infact Christopher Columbus had once mistaken manatees for mermaids.

Answer 4

Sailors thought manatees were mermaids because of their long tails.