Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
B31 — Women turn into aquatic mammals.
Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of motif
OverviewA woman (usually after coming into conflict with a man or being left alone), or a man and a woman (spouses, lovers, brother and sister) turn into aquatic mammals.
Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 7, Etiology of plants and animals and of their peculiar features, particular animals as protagonists of cosmological stories, metamorphoses, weather and calendar.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| E15 | 93.16% | People learn how to build boats and row from birds; a bird or part of its body serves as a model for building a boat. |
| B37 | 91.52% | The character decorates various birds (less often fish) and distributes fat to animals. Since then, the corresponding species have possessed their current characteristics. |
| F80 | 91.51% | The first men and/or women have no genitals, then they acquire them. |
| J37 | 90.18% | Transforming into a powerful bird or creating one, the hero lifts his opponent into the air and carries him away. |
| D9 | 90.18% | The raven or other large dark-coloured bird of prey is the owner, embodiment, spouse, provider or thief of fire, the sun or daylight. |
| F9E1 | 89.64% | A woman's womb is dangerous because it contains a toothy or stinging animal (not just its mouth) or many such creatures. |
| I22F | 88.04% | The character must pass small objects (trees, logs, blades) that constantly collide and diverge, fall and rise. |
| M75D | 86.83% | A man bereaves vultures of their hunting weapons or amulets |
| D13H | 86.11% | Those who have entered the world of the dead should not laugh. |
| J54 | 85.88% | The heroes of the narrative exterminate animals or demons of a certain species. This species could have disappeared altogether if one or more individuals (often a pregnant female) had not been saved. {This motif does not include aetiological endings, according to which the current creatures of a certain species originate from a dismembered original creature}. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Traditions
41 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 41 traditions: Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka), Melanesians and Papuans of Central Solomons: Vella la Vella (Bilua language), Shortland islands (Mono language), San Cristobal, Saint Georgia, Eddystone, Vangunu, Southern Solomons: southern part of Santa Ysabel (Bughotu), Guadalcanal, San Cristobal, Malaita, Ulawa, Palau (Western Carolines), Khmer, Viet, Muong, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Ainu, Chukchi, Asiatic Eskimo (Sirenek, Naukan, Chaplino), Aleuts, Central Yupik, Tanana, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Netsilik, Caribou, Iglulik, Polar Inuit, Baffin Land Inuit, West Greenland, Labrador Inuit (Koksoagmiut), Tillamook, Lower Chinook (Chinook proper), Locono, Guiana Kariña, Kaliña, Galibi, Wayana, Aparai, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Cubeo, Tariana, Juruna, Parintintin; Villa Bella (tribal affiliation unknown), Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Caraja, Tapirape, Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Puelche, Northern and Southern Tehuelche, Selknam, Faroe Islands, Palau
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