Species: selkie

A mythological creature from Scottish lore: These beings are thoguht to be seals who shed their skin to visit land. In legend, human men would find these shed skins and force the selkies--who were commonly beautiful women--to marry them and live with them. Eventually, most selkies would find their skin again, put it on and return to the sea, abandoning any husband or children behind them.

There are variations, of course: the selkie giving the man her skin and making him promise to keep it hidden away, for example. He may even be ignorant of her nature. Sometimes, it's a child who finds her old seal skin.

Male selkies, on the other hand, were said to seduce women crying into the ocean.

Selkies should not be confused with Kelpies.